Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-16
MANY STREETS COLLAPSE
AND GAS MAINS EXPLODE
Number of Buildings Cave In
Troops and Police Aid Firemen
in Rescue Work.

persons were reported missing the
search Of the debris was continued. Ma
chinery was used to hasten the work.
The minister of the interior urged
upon the government the necessity of
taking measures to prevent repetition
of the occurrences. Three bodies were
recovered today from deep hole at
the junction of the Rue du Havre and
the Boulevard Haussmann. near the
Saint Lazare station. The court yard
of hotel in the Rue Pierre-Ginier at
Montmartre fell in today, but there
were no casualties.
In another locality the walls of a
building under construction collapsed
and two workmen were severely in
jured.
Water and Light Cut Off.
The population of the entire city was
deprived Of water. gas and electricity,
cut off as precautionary measure
against floods. explosions and fires.
Several lives are known to have been
lost through vehicles falling last night
into cavities in the earth. Heavy rains
today added to the difficulties of the
f1remen engaged in searching for tho
bodies of people believed to have been
engulfed or buried beneath the debris.
Strict precautions were taken to pre-
vent the public approaching spots
where there was danger of further sub
sidence. Many streets were barred to
wheeled traffic entirely, while the po-
lice kept back pedestrians to a safe
distance.
A street collapsed early today in the
northern district of Montmartre behind
the great cemetery. far from the other
cave-in People III the vicinity scurried
away as the ground began to sink and
oil rAH IN
When communication with the suburbs
had been partially restored today it was
learned that fruit and vegetable growers
had suffered enormous damage from the
storm.
Rain ceased later in the day, but the
weather continued very threatening.
Storm Rages Three Hours.
The storm last evening ragged for three
hours. The rain flooded the streets and
caused the bursting of sewers.
The most serious cavern occurred at
the junction 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. car
rying with 1t a number of persons who
had taken shelter under the awning OF
a cafe. Water spurted from the broken
mains and, added to the torrents from
the skies. converted the whole district
into a river.
The quarter was Immediately isolated,
and large detachments of police were
hastily summoned, but for long time
nothing could be done owing to the
darkness. Firemen arrived with power
of gangs of laborers began exploring
the wrecked street. Meanwhile the oc-
cupants of two large houses In the Rue
la Boetie were ordered out OF the build
ings, as it was feared that the founda-
tions might be undermined.
AS soon as he was informed Of the
accident President Poincare sent
member of his military household to
aid the police and firemen in their ef-
forts at rescue.
Passing Taxicab Engulfed.
About the same time a large section
of the roadway in the Place Saint Au-
gustin suddenly collapsed. A passing
taxicab was engulfed. Eyewitnesses
saw a woman's hand waving from the
vehicle as the taxicab disappeared.
Almost Immediately a great block Of
stone fell upon it. A large wagonette
lust missed the same fate, the rear wheels
sinking axle deep in the soil, but the oc-
tions the firemen were able to uncover
the taxicab and remove the bodies of the
chauffeur and his passenger, Nine. La
VOLT.
trace Of bodies could be found. The engi-
neers engaged in the work believe that
they may have been carried away by the
great rush of water which caused the dis
aster.
A second section Of the roadway at this
point collapsed. leaving a hole 130 feet
long, Several persons called at the city
hall, in the neighborhood. and reported
relatives missing.
The Boulevard Ney was inundated to q
depth Of two feet; the inner belt of the
railroad was flooded and the train service
stopped. Lightning struck and set fire
to cafe opposite the Care du Nord, Sc
riouosly burning girl standing beside
the counter.
Almost at the beginning of the storm
the roadway at the junction. of the Rue
Tronchet, the Rue Auber and the BouIe-
ward Haussmann, one Of the busiest Sec
tions of Paris, disappeared, leaving an
opening thirty feet long and fifteen feet
wide, into which the water from a broken
main poured in a torrent.
Broken Gas Main Explodes.
Suddenly sheet of flame shot up to
the house tops. with terrific detonation.
Gas from a broken pipe had caught fire,
and the crowd, seized with a mad terror,
sought safety in the surrounding houses.
A sewer burst alongside the subway in
the Rue De Rivoli. putting it out Of COM
mission. Another burst in the Rue
Boissy d. Ahnglas. carrying away many
feet Of the pavement and flooding the
new subway line under the Place de la
Concorde.
The steeple Of the Rumanian church in
the Rue Jean de Beauvais was set on fire
Five workmen were struck by light
ming in the Place de rAlma, and a
river steamboat passing the bridge at
this point also was struck, several
passengers being knocked down.
Close by. in the Avenue d'Antin. the
roadway collapsed, leaving hole
twenty five feet deep. just as a
crowded street car approached. The
car driver managed to stop within two
| feet of the gap.
At Choisy -le-Roi, six miles south of
Paris, two persons were killed and
eight seriously injured by lightning.
which struck house in which they
had taken shelter from the storm.
At st. Denis lightning struck and
demolished wall 100 feet long. The
af