Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1910 — SEINE RISING SEA FOR MANY MILES [ARTICLE]

SEINE RISING SEA FOR MANY MILES

Weather Colder; Mercury Drops Below Freezing Point AMERICAN EMBASSY SWAMPED Two Large Department Stores Closed ——All Mails Are Delayed—Streets Are Sinking— Hotels Crowded, to Overflowing. Paris, Jan. 28.-1:30 a m.—The flood is coming down from the upper reaches faster than it escapes below the city and consequently the rive¥ is still rising here. Water is pouring over the parapet on the Cours de La Relne on the south side of the Place de Le Concorde. Soldiers are rapidly building ramparts on the walls with bags of cement. If the parapet breaks the whole Champs Elysees will be swamped. A cordon of troops has been placed around the Place de La Concorde. Many of the streets are in total darkness, and are completely deserted. Part of the pavement on the Quai Des Grandes Auguestins caved in and fell on the Orleans railway. An official statement issued at midnight predicts that the Seine will reach its maximum flood between 3 and 6 o’clock this morning. Both the Marne and the upper Seine are subsiding. One fact supporting those who do not believe that the flood has not yet reached its greatet magltute is a change of the wind to the eastward, which may presage a thaw of the snow in the province. In this case the waters wHI undoubtedly rise higher. The cold has increased and the mercury dropped to below freezing. Even if the flood now recedes unchecked the worst is not over. Subsidence continue and are likely to Increase, endangering numbers of buildings, among which are some of historical importance. A conference of physicians and health officers has beefl arranged to devise regulations to prevent or combat typhoid fever and other possible epidemics. This danger seem to grow even more menacing now that attend tlon Is partially diverted from anxiety concerning the height of the river. A large part of Paris is now without a sewerage system. Many of the sewers have burst while others are choked with mud. Numbers of cellars contain, beneath the flood water,., deposits of indescribable filth. Some of the streets are strewn with loathsome refuse. Numerous residence in the wealthy quarters which hitherto had been free of water have had their cellars flooded. Their occupants promptly moved to hotels. Among these were Mr. Bacon, the American ambassador, the basement of the embassy being swamped. An incident which enor mousy impresed Parisians was the closing of the well known Printemps department stores. The building has two basement stories, and a wild scramble to save goods began when the water first entered. It was impossible to save all, and soon boxes of gloves, shirtwaists, lingerie and other stock were floating in the muddy water. The management later dismissed all the assistants, turned off the lights, and closed the building. The Academic Francaise has suspended its sittings. The committee rooms are now being used as bedrooms. The postofflce is thoroughly disorganized. All mails for the south and east are held up or are delayed for hours.