The Sentinel=record., 1914-06-16
STREETS OF PARIS
 ARE FLOODED
THE SEWERS, GAS AND WATER MAINS ARE BROKEN AND
 ELECTRIC SYSTEM OUT.
At One Place Five Hundred Feet of
 Roadway Sunk, Carrying With it
 Number of Persons, Who Drowned.

Paris, June 15.-A thunderstorm of phenomenal violence tonight ragged over Paris for three hours. It caused loss of life and, enormous damage to property. The rain flooded the streets and caused the bursting of sewers. In the central fashionable quarter of the city a street cayed in, engulfing several pedestrians. The number of victims is not known owing to the danger of approaching the immense pits resulting from the collapse of sidewalks and roadways. The police estimate the victims at seven at least
 The most serious cavern occurred at the junction of the Rue La Beetle and the Fauburg Saint HIonore When the storm was at it's height 500 square feet of the roadway sank, car rying with 1t a number of persons who had taken shelter under the avn ing of a cafe. Water spurted from the broken mains and added to the torrents from the skies, converted the whole district into a veritable river. Gas mains, telephone wires and the electrical supply were broken off. The quarter was immediately isolated and large attachments of police were hastily summoned, but for long time nothing could be done owing to the darkness. President Poincare sent a member of his military house hold to the scene and troops were ordered to aid the police and firemeu in their efforts at rescue.
 About the same time a large sec ton of the roadway in the Place Saint Augustin suddenly collapsed A passing taxicab was engulfed. Eye witnesses saw a woman's hand way ing from the vehicle and the head of the chauffeur as the taxicab disap- peared. Almost immediately a great block of stone fell upon it. A large wagonette just missed the same fate.
 Almost at the beginning of the storm the roadway at the junction of the Rue Tronchet, the Rue Auber and the Boulevard Haussmann, one of the busiest sections of Paris, disappeared.
 Police kept the people from the roadway, which continued slowly to subside. Suddenly sheet of flame ,1,. ts far rife detonaton. Gas from broken pipe had caught fire and the crowd, seized with a mad terror sought safety in the surrounding houses.
 A sewer burst alongside the sub way in the Rue De Riyoli, putting 1t out of commission. Another burst in the Rue Boissy d Anglais, carrying away many feet of the pavement and flooding the new subway line under the Place de Laeoncorde.
 Bremen uncovered the taXicab and removed the bodies of the chauffeur and his passenger, Mme. Lavolti. At the Place Saint Philippe Du Roule no trace of bodies could be found. Engineers believe they may nave been carried away by the great rush of water which caused the disaster.
 A second section of the roadway at this point collapsed, leaving a hole 130 feet long. Several persons re- ported relatives missing.
 The Boulevard Ney was inundated to a depth of two feet and the inner belt of the railroad was flooded.
 At Choisy-Le Rni. SIX miles south of Paris, two persons were killed and eight serIousIy injured by light ming.
 At St. Dennis lightning struck and demolished a wall one hundred feet long. The body of woman was found in the wreekage and it is thought that there were other victims