New-York tribune., 1910-01-31
PARIS In DARKNESS
LANTERNS IN STREET.
CANDLES IN HOUSES.
Thousands Saucd and Fed
Many Looters Shot-Seine
lSIoscly Falling.

since yesterday morning mas fnedSuleo
only fifteen ard one-half inches. At this
rate, il would require a fortnight for
the river TO reach its normal level. Fort
unateir, tidings from the flooded sections
above Paris give hope Of a more rapid
subsistence after tomorrow.
IN the mean time the situation in
Paris and in many places throughout the
country shows little Improvement In
deed, the ravages OF the flood within the
city seemed actually to increase to-day.
The water was higher in some of the
streets while the situation at the inun-
dated towns between Paris and st. Ger
main was distinctly graver. A stream Of
water twelve feet deep was rushing
through Gennevilliers and Colonies,
making the work OF rescue and succor
more difficult even than yesterday. Sew
ersi of the houses collapsed, and many
persons were taken from the roofs of
their homes, where they had been cling
ing for days.
Hundreds are reported without food OF
shelter, and all day an army of troops
and civilians worked ceaselessly in the
flooded territory, bringing succor to the
boats TO the thousands of victims sur
rounded by water who refused TO quit
their homes. Within the city itself great
thronss Of sightseers in the bright sun
shine besieged the cordons OF troops
which fringed the flooded districts or
climbed 20 points OF vantage. from which
they could survey the wide yistas Of
water stretching off in every direction.
On account of the danger of cave-ins
from the pressure of the boiling waters
beneath, hundreds of points were rigor-
ously guarded. Pumping engines, belch-
ing forth smoke and sparks. added TO the
thrill and gave an impression that
universal confagration was raging. The
city was plunged in darkness tonight.
relieved only by the camphres of the
soldiers ar the waters edge. or the flick
ering torch of some floating sentinel. re-
fected veirdly IN the water covered
areas which once were streets or ave-
nues.
A PLAY By CANDLE LIGHT.
The Champs Elysees, ordinarily a
pathway of brilliant light, had hand Ian
terms strung along the curbs tonight
The usually gay boulevards were
wrapped in silence and darkness. The
restaurants and cafes were reduced to
dim candles and Venetian lamps Most
of the theatres were closed, but the
Coincide Francaise, with both its cleo
tricify and heat gone. was open, Jules
Claretie, the manager, explaining TO the
meagre audience before the curtain rose
l.
atre of France should not close its doors.
We Will give q performance" he said,
with candles. as in the days of Moliere,
and show The world that Paris can be as
heroic as in the time of revolution"
Although there is no intention on the
part Of the government TO declare mar
'ial Law, the completely submerged dis
irlcts, such as Javel, are in the hands
OF the military TO prevent pillaging. The
soldiers have orders to give short shrift
TO criminals caught in The act of looting.
Thus far there have been no such cases
within the city, but the danger is great.
IS the French usually keep their money
,no valuables in their homes.
Outside OF Paris, however. many de-
plorable instances OF looting have been
reported a regular band OF thieves has
been at work in the vicinity of Charen-
ton, but the soldiers have been shooting
them at sight. The Zouaves last night
killed two Of the pilla gers al Ivry and
TWO at Brie. The ghouls have now
transferred their operations TO the de-
NaEtated region below Paris, many at
tempts to loot the deserted villas and
hof.les being reported. The papers re-
count many deeds Of heroism by priests
al Aifortrille. who continued the work of
rescue between midnight and daylight,
when the soldiers. sailors and firemen,
after several days without rest. had be-
oone exhausted. Sisters Of Charity
roTed to houses, giving assistance in
several cases OF starvation.
Besides the aid distributed directly bv
the government and the municipaIity.
more than $4,000 from the fund raised
by the newspapers has been handed over
10 the various relief societies and the
local authorities of the various towns
znd Villages near Paris. The press re-
fers gratefully TO the spontaneous help
coming from abroad, and makes partic-
nlar mention Of the evidences of SYM
pathy in the United States.
PLIGHT OF THE RAGPICKERs.
pitiahle feature Of the food in Gen
neFilliers Is the plight of the COLONY of
5000 raspickers, fourth Of whom are
children, They are the poorest Of all the
Paris poor, and early each morning they
cross the Seine 10 sort the refuse barrels
OF the great city. Their village was a
cluster Of miserable novels OF plaster
and earth, flanl7ed with heaps of bones.
rags, iron and odds and ends. On the
bursting OF the dam the torrents of the
Seine swept away everything. Those of
the rsspickers who had remained in the
village snatehed up their children and
fed for their lives, most Of them being
scantly clad. They suffered bitterly
from the cold. but after few hours the
authorities we're able 20 find shelter for
them in the public buildings OF the sur
rounding towns. But 10 the entire col
ony the acod means ruin.
AT a meeting OF the Municipal Council
to-day one OF the members protested
against the exasgerations now being
spread in various countries, representing
that Paris Tould become a vast necrop-
Oils after the water subsidies, because of