FRIGHTFUL CALAMITY IN HUNGARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 133, 12 April 1879, Page 2

FRIGHTFUL CALAMITY IN HUNGARY.

A CITY SUBMERGED.

DREADFUL LOSS OP LIFE.

EIGHTY THOUSAND PERSON!

HOMELESS.

(per fbess association.) London, 9th March. A great calamity has befallen Hungary. Owing to heavy rain and snow about the sources of the rivers Theias andNaroand along the course of these rivers, they overflowed, submerging the city Szegedin, built at their confluence, and many other populous towns and villages. The final caatstrophe was anticipated daily, but on the 10th became certain. The dam protecting Szegedin from the overflow of the the Theiss burst, and five thousand men worked at the remaining dyke to stop the inflow. Martial law was proclaimed, and every man summoned to the work on pain of death. As the night sot in atSzegedin, on the 10th March, it was very stormy, and the water forced its way under the embankment and wanted but a very few inches to break over, while refugees from the flooded country flocked into the town, increasing tlio horror of the situation. In the neighboring village of Dorozenia 400 houses were totally destroyed, the inhabitants taking refuge on a hill. After another fearful night the water broke through with immense force at 3, a.m. of the lltli,

carrying away part of the railway station embankment and rolling stock, and in three hours the town was many feet deep deep in water. Terrible suffering, commenced, shrieks and cries from thousands arose as the houses went crashing into the flood by scores, in many cases carrying the inhabitants into the water with them.

there was no gas, the works being 15 feet under water. A boat was going to save a large house full of people, when suddenly, with a'fearful crash, the house sank,- and carried with it the whole living'iricght. The scene was heart-rending, 80,000. people-out of house and home, was the state of affairs at early morning. On the. 12th the large dyke protecting theback of the town having given way, fo" a short time the embankment afforded by the railway checked the flood, but this at last succumbed, despite of every effort to strengthen it during the day, and the scene then defied description.' The flood, with a terrific roar, rushed from the two sides over Sezediii. The town i 3 in fact

destroyed, and all the inmates of the fall: ing houses were buried in the ruins. Two manufactories also took fire, ' The inhabitants who escaped the floods and ruins, flying to New Sezedin and more elevated parts of the town. Official telegrams confirm the report of the terrible aspect of the scene, and the destruction of hundreds of houses, but state that removal of tlio surviving inhabitants is being conducted without disorder, and that the dams being newly cut in several places allow the water to run off. Tlie municipality of Pesth is making every effort to send assistance to Szegedin. Accommodation for fugitives has been provided in the bar; racks and public buildings at Pesth. One hundred square miles around Szegedin has been flooded, and the Government sent 40,000 florins for the relief of the inliabitants-

The Daily News publishes the following account of the condition of the town on

tho evening of the 12th Since the last telegram the water lias risen in the town about five feet. The situation becoming worse and worse, CO,OOO persons without cover over them. It is feared the loss of

life lias been very great, and will increaso during this terrible night. The eruption of water at last was so sudden that the ■workmen had barely time to escape. Hungarian Government sent 200,000 florins for relief of sufferers on 13th. Relief parties actively working to succour the survivors."

The following bulletin from the doomed city on the evening of the 15th detailed the' situation—" Danger in Szegedin is increasing.' Rescuing boats continually strike ruins, so that in many cases rescue of sufferers impossible, One boat capsized, by which seven women were drowned. Violent storm raging. Water continually rising,, and now two feet above level of I the Thoiss. The unsubmerged area has been reduced to 600 square metres, which continually decreases. At first eruption 35 soldiers were drowned. The State railway carried gratuitously 10,000 fugitives yesterday. It is impossible to estimate loss of life, as the number buried under the ruins cannot be ascertained. The houses being built of sun-dried bricks collapsed soon after tho first inrush of flood. The work of feeding and removing suffersrs is proceeding with great ardour, Sensational stories of hundreds having been buried in the Synagogue and Military Hospital are without foundation. At noon Thursday there were still people on ihe roofs of the houses and in the trees. Some persons died from exposure. A numberof incondiarieshavebeenarrested." Vienna, Cth March. Thousands of persons are still surrounded by water at Szegedin. Six steamers and 20 large tugs have left Pesth for Szegedin, Pesth, 14th March.

The Emperor Francis Joseph will forego is visit to Pesth to receive congratulaions on the occasion of liis silver wed-

ding. He desires that the money intended for festivities shall be distributed among the sufferers by the flood. The Emperor and Empress also give 40,000 florins from their private purses. London, 15th March.

The Lord Mayor of London, at the request of the Austrian Ambassador, lias opened a subscription for the relief of the people of Szegedin. A correspondent at Szegedin telegraphed on Thursday Thousands of people starving ; correspondent passed, in one of the relief boats, 400 people who had taken refuge in a church. The boat was unablo to afford them any help. There were' hardly any serviceable boats available. In a sclioolhouse 1500 hundred people had taken refuge, and were without food. Large numbers of boats, which were proceeding to aid the submerged city, have been stopped by a storm, which had cut off communication by the river.

Vienna, 4th Marc!

A Szcgedin report says a fearful storm is still raging. The vast lake round the remains of the town is tossing like a sea. Inhabitants who have not yet been taken away aro crowded in the citadel, and in the upper storeys of the few houses still remainftig, and in railway wagons. These people are fairly provided with provisions, but thousands are encamped on the dykes, and with those it is impossible to communicate. Four hundred corpses were recovered in the village of Szeaged yesterI

Szegedin, 14th Marcl

ltiver Maros is rising rapidly, and threatens Szcgedin anew. Numerous pillages in the vicinity are crowded with refugees, and confusion reigns here and there in the surrounding country because of insufficient number of troops. Several incendiaries have been summarily dealt with.

Vienna, 14th Marcl

Authorities at Szentes, Vasarhly, and Czongrad, which towns contain an aggregate population of 80,000, have telegraphed to Pesth for aid. The dykes protecting them from water aro threatened. Sickness has broken out among the refugees camped on the dykes at Szegdin.

Pesth, I4th Marcl

A north-easterly stonn drove waves across the dykes protecting Czongrad, which contains 16,000 inhabitants, and the town is partially inundated. People are actively repairing damages, and may perhaps escape as the storm has ceased. Szentes, a town of 20,000 inhabitants, is engaged in a similar struggle with the waters, 10th March,

The whole country below Szegedin am Tamesvar is strewn witli caravans, Vill

ages and borouglis have hospitably opened houses and stores for the refugees. Railway trains yesterday took to Tamesvar 4,000 fugitives, while 500 people went by steamer to Szentes. Engineers aud soldiers are busy building pontoons and boats, there being still great need of them. Szentes is now the only place in danger, Tho Emperor went to Szegedin this evening. Official statements show that of 9,700 houses at Szegedin, all except '2B have been destroyed. Most of the buildings destroyed were the residences of the lower classes of population. A despatch •to Vienna says it is thought 0,000 persons were drowned. Szegbdlv, 16th March. The lowest estimate now current fixes the number of drowned at 2,000, but many persons believe 4,000 have perished, as the gale prevented the majority of the inhabitants from hearing the first alarm. Some of the largest houses fell on Saturday, and one is said to have overwhelmed 80 families-, and another GO persons. Tonight many people are still on the ruins. -Diptheria has broken out among the fugitives. 10,000 horses and cattle and 30,000 sheep were lost. The water falls very slowly, only receding three inches on: Saturday night. The frost is causing l great suffering. Fearful tales are told of individual distress. Women on board.the rescuing sseamors refuse to part with the corpses of their children, Accouchements occur in boats and on railway trains.