I'll let the New York Times correspondent continue his report, June 28, 1875:
"...the moment the disaster became irreparable the greatest courage and devotion were displayed...When the water reached the first story the work of saving life began; the solders of the garrison and the gendarmes making heroic efforts in this direction, and they were joined by the citizens of the other parts of the city. When trying to save a family crying for relief, the Marquis d'Hautpoul lost his life. He went out in a boat with a gendarme, but the force of the current whirled them against the buildings and boat was upset. The Marquis clung to the top of a lamp-post for a few moments, but this soon gave way, and he was drowned. The gendarme saved himself by clinging to a floating plank. Several soldiers were killed and wounded by the fall of buildings from which they were trying to get the inmates. Artillery wagons and caissons were taken from their wheels and used as boats...."
"At Toulouse the solders of the garrison are engaged in tearing down the buildings that have been undermined, but which remain standing, the operations being conducted with the greatest care to prevent accidents. At every instant the noise of falling buildings is heard, and from time to time the solders come out with a wagon load of newly-found bodies...."
"MacMahon on the Spot"
"According to the precedent established by Napoleon III, who was always one of the first to arrive at the scene of any great disaster, the Marshal President, accompanied by his staff and a number of officials, arrived at Toulouse at 2:30 on Saturday. He began at once distributing the 100,000 francs voted by the Chamber, but it did not go far. The Marshal gave this in anticipation of the vote, but stated that the Assembly would vote the sum that day, but that it was so manifestly insufficient that many appeals would have to be made to private generosity. He made a number of visits, and was everywhere received with great enthusiasm, but it was remarked that the cries were all Vive le Maréchal and Vive la République. It is singular to note that the official and semi-offcial organs of the Republic received this fact with many expressions of satisfaction."