Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-31


minent peril is over, the fall of the
Seine since yesterday morning has
measured only 15h inches. AT this rate
it would require fortnight for the
river to reach its normal level. For
tunately tidings from the flooded Sec
tiCns above Paris give hope of more
rapid subsistence after tomorrow.
In the meantime the situation in
Paris and in many places throughout
the country show little improvement.
Indeed, the ravages of the flood within
the city seemed actually to increase
today. The water was higher in some
of the streets, while the situation at
the inundated towns was distinctly
grave. A stream of water l. feet deep
was rushing through Genncvilliers and
Colonbes, making the work of rescue
and succor more difficult even than
yesterday. Several houses collapsed
and many persons We're taken off the
roofs of their houses. where they had
been clinging for days.
Hundreds are reported without food
or shelter, and all day an army of
troops and civilians worked relentlessly
in the flooded territory, bringing sue
COi " LHc ulSlISSSell eliiC uiSti
provisions by boats to the thousands
of victims surrounded by water who
refused to quit their homes. Within
the city itself, great throngs of sight
seers in the bright sunshine beseiged
the cOrdOnS of troops which frinSed the
flooded districts or climbed to points
of vantage from which they could
survey the wide vistas of water
stretching off in every direction.
On account of the danger of cave
ms from the pressure of the boiling
waters beneath, hundreds of points
We're vigorously guarded. Pumping en-
gines belching forth smoke and sparks
added to the thrill and gave an i'm
preston that a universal conf1agra-
ton was raging. Tonight the city was
plunged in darkness, relieved only by
the camp fires OF the soldiers at the
waters edge or the Pickering torch of
some floating sentinel, reflected weird
ly in the water covered areas that
once were streets or avenues.
The Champs Elyses, ordinarily
pathway of brilliant light, tonight had
hand lanterns strung along the curbs.
The usually gay boulevards We're
WTdDDcu III SllSllCt anu detl hhSoS- = ~
restaurants and cafes were reduced to
dim candles and Venetian lamps. Most
of the theatres were closed. but the
Coincide Francois, with both it's cleo
tricity ard heat gone, was open, jules
Charetie, the manager, explaining to
the meagre audience before the curtain
rose that he considered that the ma
tional theatre Of France should not
close it's doors. 1--WE will give a per-
Torrance" 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 the revolution"
Although there is no intention on the
part Of the government to declare mar
tial law, the completely submerged dis
tricts, such as laval, are in the hands
of the military, to prevent pillagine
The soldiers have orders to give short
shift to criminals caught in the act OF
looting Thus far there have been no
such cases within the city, but the
danger is great, as the French usually
keep their money and valuables in
their homes.
Outside of Paris, however, many depor-
able instances of looting have been re-
ported. "A reg Ddiu VI llIltNCS nav
been at work in the vicinity of Charen-
ton, but the soldiers have been shooting
them at sight. The soldiers last night
killed two of the pillagers at Ivry and
two at Brie. These robbers have now
transferred their operations to the dew
astated regions below Paris, many at
tempts to pillage the deserted villas
homes being reported.
The papers recount many deeds of her
oism by priests at Alfortville. They
continued the work of rescue between
midnight and daylight, when the soldiers.
bluejackets and firemen after several
days without rest had become exhausted.
Sisters of Charity rowed to houses, CIV
ing assistance in several cases of starva
ton.
Besides the aid distributed directly by
the government in the municipality, more
than s25O,0O0 from the fund raised by the
newspapers has been handed over to the
various relief societies and the local
authorities of the various towns and vii
lagos near Paris. The press feels CRATE
full from the great help coming from
abroad and make particular mention of
the evidences of sympathy in the United
States.
A pitiable feature of the flood in the
Gennevilliers is the plight Of the colony
of 1000 rag pickers. fourth Of whom are
children. They are the poorest Of all the
Paris poor and early each morning they
cross the Seine to sort the refuse barrels
of the great city.
Their village was a cluster Of miserable
novels Of plaster and earth flanked with