Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-26

graph and railroad communication is
demoralized.
The disaster locally is due chiefly to
the fact that the whole marvellous un-
derground architecture of the city,
which. is honeycombed with labyrinths,
is filing up with water, causing the
sewers to burst and the streets to cave
in and threatening the foundations of
buildings.
The scene on the river front is ma
jestic, but appalling. The stream mas
broken it's barriers at several points
and is pouring its yellow torrents into
the surrounding streets, converting
them into veritable lakes. At any MIN
ute 1t may be necessary to blow up
Alma bridge, where the water IS put
a few inches from the keystone OF the
arch. as a dam there might turn the
course of the Seine in such way as 10
flood several of the most fashionable
sections Of the city.
A tremendous explosion which awak-
ened the stricken city at O'CLOCK
proved to be in a chemical factory at
Ivry- Sur Seine, eight miles above
where the heavens were lighted by the
burst of flames. 1t is presumed that the
water surrounding the factory came in
contact with chemicals, causing the ex-
plosion.
During the night the subway stations
at the Orleans terminus and at Qual
D'Orsay were flooded and closed and
the sinking of the Rue De Poitiers let
the water through foot and a half
deep into the Rue De Lille and the Rue
De L'Universite, streets in which live
many of the old aristocracy. The Vau-
gierad district near the Boucicault hos
pital is also inundated.
The weather grows worse and at
noon Paris was the center of an area OF
low pressure. and bitterly cold storm
Of rain and sleet throughout the flood
ed regions added intensely to the SUI
fering of the poor and homeless. the
price of bread and other food has also
increased and communication with the
provinces is crippled. No trains from
the south are coming beyond Cholsy-
Le-Roi The depleted supply of drink
ing water has caused greatest alarm.
With the rise of the flood but a Few
inches higher the pumping stations still
in operation must stop. and Paris. III
the midst of a miniature ocean, VIII
be without water fit to drink
The situation at between 20 and 30 sub
urban towns above this city is worse than
in the capital itself At Charenton, where
the swollen river Marine enters the Seine,
an area of 200 square miles has been
flooded The submerged district includes
Alfortville and -Sur-Seine, with their
total population of $4,000. At this point
the soldiers and fremen are rescuing
families in boats and pontoons.
At Alfortville the cemetery has been
washed out and caskets are floating
downstream. From Auteuil to st. Ger
main, the lower portions of all the river
side towns are deep beneath the waters
and soldiers are forcing the residents to
evacuate their homes.
Appeals for funds issued by the Red
Cross and other societies are meeting
with generous responses. Edmond Rost-
and has offered to give the receipts, which
are expected to be enormous, from the
first nights presentation of his play
"Chantcleer" Physicians fear an cpl
demic when the floods subside, as the
overlooking sewers are likely to contamin-
ate the drinking supply of water and rats
driven out of their underground homes
are invading residences.
Before noon the police compelled the
evacuation of the Hotel Palais D'Orsay
near the Quai D'Orsay and the surround
ing houses. The Palace of the Legion
D. Honneur is menaced and an accumula-
ton of driftwood above the Isle of ST.
7 10
rier of piles and the Pont Des Arts. News
from the provinces show there is gen.
eral improvement in the flood situation
this afternoon, except in the east and at
the afIluents of the Seine at Mouse.
Water laps the quays at the Place De
La Concorde and the Cours La Seine.
Telegraphic communication in the south
Of France is going to pieces rapidly. Traf-
tic between the Pont Des Arts and Pont
De Neuf is suspended. A three-story
building on the Quai De La Rapee col
apsed this afternoon. The river Yonne
is now falling. The rising water is rapid
Iy getting the better of the pumps in
the main power house of the subway and
but single line of the road is ow in
operation. A great assure has opened in
the ground, cutting off the lighting sup
DIV from the Place De LIE Clichy and the
neishboring streets. Last night the cleo
tricity failed at the residence of Ameri-
can Ambassador Bacon and the family
were obliged to depend upon candles.
Communications this afternoon from the
provinces indicate that the waters are
falling but from all directions come pitt
full stories Of suffering and narrow es-
capes from death.
Many isolated families in the country
districts have been rescued after days
spent without food.
A boat load of life savers was caught
in the mad current of the River Marine
and all were drowned.
The Renault factory below Paris has
been abandoned. throwing $500 men out
OF work.
Several areoplane shops on the banks
of the Seine, where machines were being
built for use at the meeting at Heliopolis,
Egypt, have been destroyed.
The upper waters of the Loire was ris-
ing rapidly today threatening a new dis
aster
WATERFOWL AND BRIGHTON
slAECrnNK MA0KE-