Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-01-26
HOPELESS RUIN
AND DEATH in
WAKE OF FLOOD
100, 600 Left Destitute by
Deluge in France, and
Horror Increases
VAST AREA ISOLATED
Many End Lives as Result
of Losses--Appalling
Scenes Depicted
VAST AREA ISOLATED
Especial Cable to The Heraldl

N ARIS, Jan. 25.-With one-third of
Paris under water, from three
n to twenty-six feet deep, one
hundred thousand soldiers and gend-
armes working like beavers to check
imperiled families, eight suicides re-
sulting today from property losses,
1870, 900 persons left homeless or other
wise impoverished by the deluge,
Paris and it's suburbs tonight are in
desperate straits, with still no pros
poets of the flood subsiding before
y-eight hours.
Twenty-seven villages along the
Siene, Marne and other rivers and
their tributaries are practically iso-
lated, and great suffering and loss of
life are reported hourly.
The general expectation that the
reached tonight has not been realized.
The Seihe tributaries are rising
steadily, and the official estimate to-
night is that the Seine will be at least
fifteen inches higher tomorrow after
noon.
Victims Of the flood number more
than 100000, and the monetary loss is
[ incalculable. Thousands of poor are
phopelessly ruined.
Inc government HAS TequlSlllOHGu
army and navy material to house the
sufferers and boats for the rescue of
the stricken as well as those i'm
prisoned in houses in flood centers on
all sides of Paris.
The region of inundation Is steadily
enlarging, and scores of villages are
completely submerged and the people
fleeing for their lives and abandoning
everything. In many cases soldiers
! - -
pelling the inhabitants to leave their
homes. Hundreds refused to go,
clamoring only~for food and water.
Situation Worse
In Paris the situation is rapidly
becoming worse, floods Sparing neither
rich nor poor.
The flood is invading the compactly
built area, undermining buildings and
forcing the evacuation of many houses
All the streets in one reimbursement
are running rivers. Subway and tram
service is diminishing, and in every
section gas and electric lights are
failing.
Paris is practically cut off south and
west, and if present conditions contin-
ue the question of food will become
menacing.
The senate today appropriated $780,
900 for national relief. The public aid
fund for this purpose is swelling.
President Fallieres heads the list with
$4,000. The Rothschilds have given
$4,000.
The entire population of Ivry-Sur-
Seine and adjacent places is in a des-
perate state.
Only the tops of the houses at AL
fortville are visible, the water aver
aging twelve feet in the streets. At
this place since o'clock this morning
5000 persons. have been rescued by
boats, and 10000 others from this Sec
tion have found safety by their own
efforts.
GhouIs Are Busy
Rescuers had more to contend with
than the turbulent waters. Groups of
ghouls also were engaged in piracy
They seized several boats and robbed
rescuer and rescued alike. In some
cases they entered houses and carried
on their depredations. Finally force
of soldiers drove off the looters.
There were many cases OF drowning,
and many aged and sick died as
result of shock and exposure. Old and
infirm, and finding themselves unable
to leave, a man and a woman hanged
themselves to bed post.
The hospital at Ivry, containing 1000
patients, is surrounded by water. AS
there is no means of cooking food or
of heating the building, the patients
must be removed unless the flood sub
sides. Physicians fear serious results
will follow.
President Fallieres and Premier
BRAND made an automobile trip this
afternoon through the flooded districts
in the eastern section of Paris. They
walked through some streets knee deep
with mud and water and saw the
crowds fleeing, men tugging at Valises
and trunks, and weeping women bur-
dened with children and household be-
longings.
Went for Relief
The president and premier hurried
away to seek relief for the suffering
people.
River authorities early this morning
announced the Seine would continue to
rise until Thursday and will exceed
the high record of 1902. The Lyons
Railroad company sent out notifca-
ton that all service out of Paris has
been suspended.
The great bonded warehouses at
Bercy appear to be doomed to de-
struction, involving an immense loss.
Merchants are removing what they
can.
The Seine at Colombes threatens
momentarily to mount the parapet and
flood the working class suburb of Cen
nevilliers. This place has population
of 1000.
Military authorities have telegraphed
to generals in the PROVINCES to hurry
pontoons, bedding and sappers to
points where the floods are most Sc
we're, and the minister of marine has
ordered authorities of the ports to send
lifeboats and crews to Paris.
A steamboat pontoon was swept
against one OF the arches of the Pont
de PAlma, completely obstructing the
river at that point 1t probably will
have to be blown up.
Fifty thousand soldiers, comprising
the garrison of Paris, were placed at
the disposition OF the municipal au-
thorities to fight the flood.
Water Rises Rapidly
At o'clock this morning the water
at Pont Royal had touched 26 feet
above low tide and was rising at the
rate of nearly half an inch an hour
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