The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-28
Ruin Of The Beautiful Cit Con-
tinues With the Rising
Waters Of the Seine
CRUST OF CITY SEEMS
READY TO SINK DOWN
Soldiers Are Working Day and Night
Building Dams To Protect the
Lower Parts of the City
City From the Water.

Paris. January 21-Another day has
passed, but the inexorable yellow tide
creeps slowly higher each inch of water
widely extending the area of destruction,
desolation and ruin.
Although the barometer is rising rapid
ly and bright sunshine today succeeded
the raging storms, a feeling of conster-
nation bordering panic prevailed to-
night when the authorities who yesterday
promised the maximum of the flood for
today, announced that this would not be
reached until tomorrow
Official figures of the stage of the water
are difficult to obtain, and the city coun-
ell at a stormy session tonight charged
M. Lepine, prefect of Paris. with with
holding the true gravity of the situation.
The prefeet defended his attitude by
saying that he was governed by the neces-
sty of not unduly alarming the people.
In the meantime what is happening is
enough to strike terror to the hearts of
all. The very crust of the city seems
ready to sink into the flooded subter-
ranean labyrinth beneath it, Every hour
drains are bursting in new localities,
causing a subsistence of the streets or
bulging them up. sometimes several feet
above their normal level being reported,
while the overflow of surface water ffaSa
the river is transforming the inundats
districts into brnidable lakes and az
streets into canals.
Six Feet Deep in Streets.
In the Bercy quarter the water is six
feet deep In the streets, and the entire
left bank of the Seine from above the
islands to Auteui. comprising the law
court institute, the fashionable ST. Ger
main district, the foreign office, the
chamber of deputies and the Champs de
Mars is submerged in from one to 10 feet
of water.
Some of the deputies left the Palais
Bourbon tonight in rowboats and others
got out on the backs of attendants.
The walls of the Invalides station are
crumbling and both that structure and the
wing of the foreign office opposite are in
danger of collapse. Nevertheless Madame
Pichon wife of the foreign minister held
her regular reception this evening" oil
lamps and CRATE fires being employed in
the absence of steam heat and electricity
The streets surrounding the st. Lazarre
station have sunk three feet and the sit
uation there is regarded as desperate 1t
is also feared that the foundations of the
two big neighboring department stores
are being undermined
The overflow of the broken sewers into
the flooded Easements menaces theatres.
and the smell of sewage is already per-
meating tenements, but Notwithstanding
this condition tonight. the police notified
the wealthy classes who are using auto
mobile engines for pumping purposes that
they must exercise the greatest care as
the removal of the water pressure would
likely cause the foundations to sink or
collapse.
Water Still Rising.
At midnight the water at the Pont
Royal was still rising but only small
fraction of an inch an hour 1t was ex-
pected that the high mark would be
reached between and 10 O'Clock tomor-
row morning when it would be within a
few inches OF the highest flood recorded
i'll 1865. gradual fall is looked for after
that unless there is a change in the tenn
perature.
Reports from Marine and Yonne, up the
Seine say the water is lowering in those
sections. Bluejackets have succeeded in
removing the wreckage that had gathered
at all of the bridges removing in meas
ure the danger of various villages being
flooded IS a result of the daming
At Alfortville pillaging reached such
proportions as to necessitate the sending
out of extra patrols tonight with iRstruc-
tions to shoot at sight vandals.
The King OF Belgium has sent 5000 to
the flood victims.
Soldiers Build Dams.
Soldiers are working desperately by
the aid of torches disentangling drift
wood above the Solferino and Henry
~ bridges, while large forces of men
are still engaged in constructing dams
to divert the course of the swiftly
moving currents.
There was a further shut down OF
electric light plants tonight leaving
the city in semi darkness The relief
wrok is proceeding bravely, none be-
ing refused food or shelter. Archbishop
Annette has ordered public prayers in
all the churches and collection taken
up for the victims.
In spite of the crippled water supply
the auth critics say that the reservoirs
are intact and that there is no dam
ger of famine II the water is hus-
Dandeu careluliy ana cohnned STRICTLY
to drinking purposes. At the same
time warning Is again issued that the
water should be boiled.
The situation below Paris is becom-
ing appreciably worse. The stretch Of
water which ens-ulfs Boulogne. Neuiiiy.
Puteaux, Sevres. Asnleres. Maisons-
Lofhtte, Lepecq and Poissy is widening
rapidly, while further below the swoi-
len Oise is pouring in new torrents over
the Pontoise section.
Owing to defective communication
with the provinces few dispatches have