The needy are seen in the streets sawing the
wood of their bedsteads to cook with and to keep from freezing." On
the resumption of transportation by water amongst the cakes of ice
"rafts are sold as fast as the raftsmen can haul the wood out of the
water, the people being obliged to pass three nights at the landing to
get it, each in turn according to his number." "On Pluvi?se 3 at least
two thousand persons are at the Louviers landing," each with his card
allowing him four sticks at fifteen sous each. Naturally, there is
pulling, hauling, tumult and a rush; "the dealers take to flight for
fear, and the inspectors come near being murdered;" they get away
along with the police commissioner and "the public helps itself."
Likewise, the following day, there is "an abominable pillage;" the
gendarmes and soldiers placed there to maintain order, "make a rush
for the wood and carry it away together with the crowd." Bear in mind
that on this day the thermometer is sixteen degrees below zero, that
one hundred, two hundred other lines of people likewise stand waiting
at the doors of bakers and butchers, enduring the same cold, and that
they have already endured it and will yet endure it a month and more.
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