Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-24
From The Terrible Floods,
The Worst on Record.
Beyond Power Of Man 10 Con-
tro|---AIready Great Loss.
Extend Throughout Country and
Become National Disaster.

exceed all records and are fast assum-
ing the proportions of national dis
aSter. In the north, east and west,
hnudIe eds are homeless and ruined. Al
though It is impossible at the present
time to estimate the damage, it will
be very great.
The rise in the waters continued all
today. The torrent at Paris almost
touched the arches of the beautiful
bridges, threatening their destruction.
The sharp cold of yesterday led to
the hope Of abatement of the floods,
but this morning, heavy snow set
in, turning in the afternoon to rain,
which is still falling. This aggravated
the situation and caused great suffer
ing to the victims.
A dispatch from Marine
says that huge volume of water is
sweeping down stream towards Paris.
NJ. Lepine, project of Paris. after
tour of inspection in an automobile
this afternoon took the graves; view
Of the situation.
1.-THE weather bureau" he said
forecasts a further rise of 81 CEN
timetres tonight. ] do not know what
to do in the face of this situation
A serious accident occurred tonight.
One of the water mains serving five
Of the most populous ACCOMPLISHMENTS
in the south and east of the city burst
and these districts are now without
water. 1t is feared that the city will
he in a like condition very soon for
the flood is invading the pumping sta
tions. The compressed air factory
int, hn oil TOW in, ars
has also been forced to shut down.
)ne Of the great engines which
pumps the sewage in the eastern sec
ton Of Paris. broke down on account
of the flood and as result the sew
ers threaten to overflow the streets.
Several quarters are without electric
lights and all the trolley lines to the
eastern suburbs are out of commits
sion. The main track of the Lyons
Railroad has been partially cut, and it
is feared that traffic on this line will
he completely suspended tomorrow
The officials of the prefecture are
busy providing for the homeless but
they are finding great difficulty in
securing shelter. Several of the streets
on the river side of Pas5ey and Auteuil
are uninhabtable. Many of the resi-
dents were compelled to vacate their
quarters yesterday ard about 200 va
Gated today. A considerable number
of houses have sunk in the soft mud
and water. and on the Boulevard of St
is lettering and threatening to fall on
the Chamber Of Deputies.
There Is a big hole outside of the
nnI xtso ,n:,
in the adjoining street has broken. The
Invalides Railroad station next door
Is partially inundated. while the sellars
of the Palace dOrsa hotel are flood
ed. The basement of the Louvre Mu-
scum is inundated and the military
storehouse Hooded, the steam heating
plant of the former being ruined
Thousands of people thronged the
banks OF the river all day, watching
the waters rushing by. One of the few
casualties reported was the sweeping
away of man who was trying to drag
out some floating logs.
The situation in the outskirts Of
Paris is even worse than within the
city proper. The project of the Seine.
department made an urgent request
to the government tonight for funds |
to assist the homeless.
Owing the the widespread Interrupt
tion of teegraphic and telephone |
communications. the exact situation |
in the provinces is difficult to define |
btu there are signs of improvement |
in the situation in Loire, Rhone,
Marine. Yonne. the upper reaches of the
Seine and Aube. On the other hand |
the Saone and Doubs valley is one
huge lake 10 miles broad. Of six viii |
lagos the roofs alone are showing
above water 1t is said that this lake |
Is now falling, but snow storm has |
just set in.
Most of the bakers of the troops are
making bread as few of the great bake
houses have escaped destruction. The
whcle champagne region is in a criti-
cal position. Viotry- e-Francois, in
the department of Marine, stands iso-
late in the midst of lake a mile or
Two wide. Several villages a little out
SIDE of Marine are submerged. The
damage Is enormous. The main road
from Troyes to Chalons has been cut
through the collapse of bridge,