Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-26
WATER TWELVE FEET
IN VILLAGE STREETS
Thousands of People Are Fleeing
From Homes In Order to Save Ives
lin Some Towns Only Tops OF
Houses Are Visible and Hundreds
of Starving Persons Are Homeless.


PARIS, Jan. 25.-The floods have
brought disaster to q large part of
France. The Seine is now raging
torrent and rising at the rate of more
than half an inch an hour. AS it fur
iously PUSHES seaward it sounds the
message of increasing misery and des-
truction The official estimate tonight
is that the Seine viii be at least 10
inches higher by tomorrow.
The victims CT the flood number
more than a hundred thousand and
the monetary loss is incalculable
Thousands of poor are boplessly ruin
ed and are fleeing to Paris.
The government, by urgent meas
ures, has requisitioned army and navy
material to house the sufferers, and
btats for the rescue of the stricken,
as well as those imprisoned in the
houses in the food centers on all
sides of Paris.
Villages Submerged.
Thesregion of inundation is steadily
enlarging, and villages, in scores of
places are completely submerged. the
people fleeing for their lives and
abandoning everything. In many
cases the soldiers have been Obliged
10 use force in compelling the inhabi-
tants to evacuate their homes. Hun
dreds of them refuse 10 leave, clamor-
ing only for food and water
In Paris the situation is rapirdly
becoming worse, the foods sparing
neither the rich nor the poor.
Situation Serious in Paris.
The flood is insiducusly invading
ha otf " htrf1t
side OF the winding Seine. undermin-
ing the residences and public build
ings and forcing the evacuation of
many houses. All the streets in the
southeastern section are running riv-
ers. Every hour helps to complete
the tie up of the telephone. Telegraph
and railroads. The subway and tram
service are diminishing and in every
section gas and electric lights are
failing Paris is practically cut OF
south and west, and if the present
conditions continue the question OF
food will become menacng.
The senate today made an ap-
preparation of 100000 for national
relief and various societies are send
ing out calls for aid President FaI-
lies heads the list with $4,000 and
other gifts aggregate $4,000
Only House Tops Visible.
The entire population of Invry-Sur-
Seine and adjacent places. which are
completely covered with water, are
in a desperate state. Only the tops
of the houses at AlfOrdville are Wis
bile. the water averaging twelve feet
ir the streets. At this place since .
o'clock this morning LOCO persons
have been rescued by boats and co.
zoo others have found safety by their
own efforts.
in many towns along the rivers the
houses are collapsing and the wreck
age is whirled off in the stream.
Two instances OF death were par
ticularly pathetic. Aged and infirm.
finding themselves unable to move, a
man and a woman hanged themselves
10 a bed post
President FaIlieries and Premier
Rri3nd made an automobile trip this
afternoon through the flooded dis
trictS in the eastern section of Paris.
They walked through some OF The
streets knee deep with mud and
water and saw the crowds Of fleeing
men tueging at valises and trunks.
and weeping women with children and
an sorts Of household belongings The
conditions were appalling. and the
Prcsiden; and premier FASTENED away
20 seek means Of relief for the suffer
ing people