Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-01-29
FRENCH FLOOD
NOW A CALAMITY
The Present Loss Estimated at
S2OO,OOO,OOO.
$4,000 PEOPLE HOMELESS

Whole Sections Of France Are Under
Water and rivers Are Still Rising.
Troops Aid In Reseuing People From
Their Homes.
Paris, Jan. 27.-The foods through
out France are steadily growing worse
and have now become a national ca
lamity. Over 10000 people are home
less and the property loss Is estimat-
cd at s200.000.000.
In this city the situation became
more desperate as the day progressed.
The Rue Royale between the Place de
la Concorde and the Madeleine. the
famous church edifce. began to sink
and was hurriedly roped of.
Several big assures have occurred
in the Javel region. The boulevard ad-
Joining the Pont de Bercy and the
street in front OF the Louvre museum
also began to cave in.
Foot passage across the Pont des
SITS. Peres has been stopped. The flood
invaded streets are filed with row.
boats. the owners OF which demand
fabulous prices TO remive furniture
and valuables.
Large portions OF the capital are
under water. six square miles OF the
historic Bots de Boulogne being sub.
merged. while the Seine has filled the
subways. inundated the Palais Bour-
bon. the foreign Office and scores Of
historic monuments along each side Of
the river.
a binding snow storm Is raging in
Paris. and. coupled with the bitter
cold. added to the suffering and mis-
cry of the poor and homeless.
The many bridges which span the
river are threatened with destruction.
as vast accumulatlons are banked
against them by the terrific force OF
the onrushing food.
Military forces have been summon.
ed from all parts OF the country. and
the city has been divided into Ave mil.
itary divisions for rescue and relief
work
The Seine continues to rise an inch
an hour. II is believed that the wa
ter will reach a maximum OF thirty.one
feet. or height greater than that
reached by the disastrous food Of the
year 1902.
II is impossible to predict anything
with accuracy. as the whole OF France
is still In the grip OF an unprecedented
storm. Rain. snow and hail are falling
everywhere. the coasts are storm.
bound and ships are fleeing TO har.
bors for refuge.
West street. at the west OF the for.
eign Office. is In imminent danger OF
collapse. being sustained only by the
compressed air forced from the flooded
subway beneath.
Should this fail the entire street
must cave In. The archives OF the
foreign office, In an adjoining building.
appear safe.
Foreign Minister Pichon ordered the
evacuation of the wing OF the foreign
office building which borders on the
flooded Rue de Constantine All active
working departments were closed.
The water has reached the postof-
nee building and forced employees to
nee. II also reached the chamber of
deputies. though the members contin.
ued In session.
The hood has reached the top OF the
presidential tribune at the Long
champs race course. Six square miles
OF the Du Bots de Boulogne are sub.
merged.
The capital Is beginning to feel the
pinch OF hunger. The supply OF fresh
meat and vegetables is falling and
prices are rising to famine figures.
Some bakers who attempted 10 dou-
BILE the price OF bread were roughly
handled and two OF them were thrown
into the Seine at Clarendon.
Half OF the ACCOMPLISHMENTS Of Paris
are affected directly now. and the rich
as well as the poor are beginning to
suffer. The wealthy Champs Elysees
district Is without gas or electricity
andsome OF the homes have no heat.
Project OF Police Lepine has taken
up headquarters In that district and
is directing rescue work. After cease
less work throughout the night with
rowboats and autoboats they found
more than 5000 persons Imprisoned In
the second stories OF their homes.
Details from flooded regions OF the
provinces are narrowing in their mo.
notony OF broken canal bikes and in.
undatIon OF villages.
Newspapers are filled with pages OF
recitals Of death and desolation. of
ruined homesteads and fleeing refu.
gees