Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-16
Streets in Main Part OF
City Cave and Populace
is Terrorized.
DEAD ARE UNNUMBERED
Water Spurts From Broken
Mains and Adds to Tor
rents From the Skies.

Paris, France, June 16.-Parts of
Paris presented a scene of devastation
today with gaping holes in some of
the main thoroughfares, the result Of
yesterdays terrific storm. The popu-
lation Of the entire city is deprived of
water, gas and electricity, cut of as
precautionary measure against floods,
explosions and fires. Several lives are
known to have been lest through We
hicles falling last night into the cavi-
ties in the earth. The exact number
is not known this morning, as 1t is be-
lieved some disappeared into sewers.
The heavy rams were early today,
but they ceased later. Many streets
are barred to wheeled traffic in the
city. A street collapsed early today
in the district of Montmartre, behind
a great cemetery, far from the other
cave-ins. People in the vicinity hur-
ried to safety. Fruit and vegetable
growers in the suburbs suffered enor-
nous damage.
500 Feet of Roadway Sinks-
The most serious cave-in occurred
at the functions of the Rue La Boetie
and the Faubourg Saint Honore.
When the storm was at its height 500
square feet of the roadway heaved up
and sank, carrying with it a number
of persons who had taken shelter un-
der the awning of a cafe.
Water spurted from the broken
mains and, added to the torrents from
the skies, converted the whole district
into veritable river. Gas mains, tele-
phone wires and the electrical supply
were broken off.
The quarter was Immediately iso-
lated and large detachments of police
were hastily summoned, but for long
time nothing could be done, owing to
the darkness. Firemen with search
lights finally began exploring the
AS soon as he was informed of the
accident, President Poincare sent a
member of his military household to
the scene and troops were ordered to
aid the police and firemen in their
efforts at rescue.
Taxicab Disappears.
About the same time a large Sec
lion of the roadway in the Place Saint
Augustine suddenly collapsed. A pass
ing taxicab was engulfed. Eye wit
nesses saw a woman's hand waving
from the vehicle and the head of the
chauffeur as the taxicab disappeared.
Almost Immediately a great block of
stone fell upon it.
Almost at the beginning OF the
storm the roadway at the Rue Tron-
.het, the Rue Auber and the Boule-
yard Haussmann, one of the busiest
sections of Paris, disappeared, leav-
ng an opening 80 feet long and Is
eet wide, from which a geyser of
lanes shot up to the housetops, with
! terrific detonation. Gas from a bro
ten pipe had caught fire and the crowd
eized with mad terror, sought safety
n flight.
The steeple of the Roumanian
hurch in the Rue Jean de Bauvais
vas set on fire by lightning.
Bodies Are Recovered.
BY superhuman efforts the firemen
1ere unable to uncover the taxicab
nd remove the bodies of the chauf-
eur and his passenger, Madame La
olti.
Every hour adds fresh reports of
he great havoc wrought by the storm.
9th in Paris and the surrounding dis
riots, which is described as the worst
n the memory of generation.
The boulevard Ney was inundated
o a depth of two feet, the inner belt
/ the railroad was flooded and the
rain service stopped. Lightning
truck and set fire to a cafe opposite
he Care du Nord, seriously burning
girl.
Five workmen were struck by
ghtning in the Place L'Adma and
river steamboat passing the bridge
I this point was also struck. several
being knocked down.