proprietors, who were trying to save their goods, were surprised by the water and had to take refuge in the trees.  They were rescued by having ropes thrown to them, and during this work a catastrophe occurred which was a great misfortune to all classes of citizens.  The beloved burgermeister of Karlsbad, Dr. Rudolf Knoll, who had just recovered from a severe illness, was, with others, directing the work from the balcony of one of the houses, when a rope by which a man was being drawn through the water broke, and the man was carried off by the waves.  The fright and excitement of the scene gave the burgermeister a shock which caused his instant death, but the man who was in danger was brought safely out of the water.

The water was 9 ft. in Marienbaderstrasse, the Marktplatz, Muhlbadgasse, the Sprudelgasse, Kreuzgasse, Kaiserstrasse, and Egerstrasse, and flooded the quay, causing great destruction.  All places of business were flooded, the doors and iron shutters were pushed in by the force of the water and the goods were carried away or ruined.

The house called “Zum Kaffeebaum” was undermined and part of it fell to the ground; the same fate was feared for other buildings.  The Sophien and Curhaus bridges were carried away.  Other bridges were greatly damaged, and the masonry along the banks of the river was partially destroyed.  The Sprudelgasse was completely washed out, and the condition of the Muhlbadgasse was almost as bad.  The fire department with its apparatus had great difficulty in saving the inhabitants and guests, as there were very few boats or pontoons at their command, and the soldiers (Pionniere) from Prague and the firemen from the neighboring towns did not arrive until evening.  Fortunately the water began to fall in the night, and the next day it had gone down so that it left its terrible work visible.  The Sprudel and the mineral springs were not injured, but, on the other hand, the water pipes of the bathing establishments and the gas pipes were completely destroyed.—­Illustrirte Zeitung.

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THEATRICAL WATER PLAYS.

In one of the plays at Hengler’s Circus in London a water scene is introduced, for which purpose the main ring is flooded with water in a manner which is both striking and interesting.

[Illustration:  FLOODING A CIRCUS RING.]

The ring is entirely lined with stout macintosh sheeting, and into this, from two large conduits. 23,000 gallons of water are poured, the tank being filled to a depth of some 2 ft. in the remarkably short time of 35 seconds.  A steamboat and other small craft are then launched and the adventures of the heroine then proceed.  She falls overboard, we believe, but is saved after desperate and amusing struggles.  Our engravings, which are from the Graphic, illustrate the mode of filling the ring with water, and the steamboat launch.