Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-25
STREETS IN PARIS
CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
SECTIONS OF THE CAPITAL ARE
COVERED WITH WATER AND
PEOPLE ARE IN CONSTANT
STATE OF PANIC.

Paris. Jan. 24.-The flood situation,
Is critical. The Seine has risen nine
inches since o'clock this morning and
now registers 1853 meters at pont
Royal This is the highest the river
has been since 1902 when 1t reached
$50 meters, the highest recorded In
the history OF France except In the
year 1915. A terrible tempest of rain
and wind broke over the city at day-
light and added horror to the situa-
tion and suffering to the poor and
| homeless.
The situation in suburban places up
and down the river is deplorable. The
lower quarters of all towns below
Paris are under water, the streets OF
Auteufl resembling Venice. A dyke
near st. Germain broke today flood
ing the valley as far as Malmaison.
One-Fourth of France Under Water.
Judging from today's report a
! quarter of France Is under water.
| Southward Of Paris railroad traffic is
completely suspended. The streets
around the chamber OF deputies are
considered unsafe and traffic on these
thoroughfares is forbidden. The re-
tanning walls OF the foreign otiiesS are--
| surrounded by water and the beanti-
full garden In the rear is veritable
lake.
/ Property Loss Runs Into Millions.
1t is impossible to estimate the prop
ISerty loss as results of the floods, but
1t Will run into millions Of fracs.
! Fortunately the loss of life has been
small. The eastern, central and south
eastern districts of France are terribly
afflicted. Valleys and plains are In.
undated and cities and towns are In
darkness. Troops everywhere have
been ordered to work of rescue.
1 The dixie at Saone au Doubs broke
this afternoon inundating ten vii.
lagos. Hundreds of persons are on
the roofs of submerged homes crying
for help. Two persons were drowned
at Chalons. Boats are being used by
rescuers.
Serious Accident Occurs.
A serious accident occurred Sunday
night. One of the water mains, serv.
ing five Of the most populous districta
in the south and east of the city,
burst, and these sections are without
water. 1t is feared that the city will
be in like condition very soon, as the
flood Is invading the pumping stations.
L nv Sciii pb CsooCh OIL laSICly, buP'
plies the elevators in Paris, has also
been forced to shut down.
One Of the great engines which
pump the sewage in the eastern sec.
ton Of Paris broke down on account OF
the flood, and as a result the sewers
threaten to overflow the streets.
Several quarters are without electric
, light, and all the trolley lines to the
: eastern suburbs are out Of commission,
The main track Of the Lyons railroad
! has been partially cut, and 1t is feared
that traffic on this line will be com
, pletely suspended today.
The officials of the prefecture arc
busy providing for the homeless, but
they are finding great difficulty in Sc
curing shelter. Several Of the streets
on the river sides of Passy and
Auteuil are uninhabitable. Many OF
the residents were compelled to vacate
their quarters Saturday and about 200
more vacated Sunday. A considerable
number of houses have sunk in the
soft mud and water and on the boule-
ward of st. Germain. A building under
construction Is tottering and threaten
ing to fall on the Chamber of Deputies.
Big Gas Pipe Breaks.
There is big hole outside of the
foreign office and the main gas pipe
in the adjoining street has broken, Civ.
/ ing rise to considerable apprehension.
l The Invalides railroad station next
], door is partially inundated while the
+ cellars of the Palais d'Orsay hotel are
s flooded The basement Of the Louvre
Y museum is invaded and the military
k storehouse flooded, the steam heating
e plant OF the former being ruined.
i, The situation in the outskirts OF
+ Paris Is even worse than within the
Y city proper. The perfect of the Seine
Q department made an urgent request to
n the government last night for funds to
d assist the homeless. At lie st. Denis
n Ivry, Vitry, Maisons- -Laffitte, Argenteuil
and Poissy, all the lower quarters are
y inundated The aviation ground al
d Juvisy is half submerged. At Abort
n Vile the dam burst, overwhelming 200
S houses, the people being forced to fly