The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-04-12 00:00:00

THE FLOODS IN HUNGARY.

The Lord Mayor of London has received from the Andra.
Hungarian Ambassador (Count Karolyi) the following official
particulars of the disastrous floods in Hungary:—

"The copious rains and the large quantity of snow
which constantly covered the soil since the month of
October, combined with the mild weather of February,
which suddenly melted the Mow of the mountains,
caused such a tremendous rise of the Theiss river
that as early as the end of February tbe two com-
munities of Algyo and Taps, situated in the vicinity
of Szegedin, were, with their whole territory, over-
run by the rapid waters and almost entirely destroyed.
Thus, in the community of Tap 4 477 houses fell to
ruins and 8,014 acres of land were set under water;
in Algyo, 425 went down, and 2,243 acres were inun-
dated; in both communities 5,586 inhabitants lost their
houses and all their property. The preventive
measures taken against the catastrophe had the effect
that no loss of human life was to be lamented. As for
victuals and shelter for the rescued population, it must
be provided for till the inhabitants of these communi-
ties will be able to resume their regular working at
the beginning of spring time, and even till they
can rebuild their houses. Almost at the same
time happened the inundation of the community
of Dorozsma. In this community there were
1,820 houses, with 9,688 inhabitants and 32,359 acres
of land. Only 300 houses remained standing, the rest,
with all provisions and stores and the largest part of the
fortune of the inhabitants, was destroyed and buried
under water. The dam of the Austrian State Rail-
way Company was broken through, and the inter-
course between Szegedin, Temesvar, and Orsova inter-
cepted. This great calamnity was soon followed by a
still more dreadful one—the sudden inundation of the
city of Szegedin. This city is protected by
two dikes and the dam of the Alfold.Fiume Railway
line. Notwithstanding the dikes and dam being
secured by the utmost exertion of strength, and in
spite of everything that was done within the limits of
possibility, the destructive flood increased, and,
infuriated by a storm lasting four days and nights,
broke through the dikes and the dam, which formed
the closest rampart of the city of Szegedin, and
inundated almost the whole precincts of the city at
midnight of the 12th ult., so that the floods reached
a height of from 6ft., to 12ft., in the lower
regions, and 21 t., in the higher situated places.
Out of the number of 6,566 houses existing
before the catastrophe, 331 are still standing, though
their maintenance is uncertain. Even of these only
262-are habitable. According to the official reports,
41 lives were lost during the danger, as the catastrophe
occurred at night-time, and the downfall of the houses
was very sudden. The number of deaths will only
be known after the ruins of the houses have been
searched. As many persons had escaped a few days
before and others were rescued, when the false alarm
was given, before the catastrophe took place, and
as the ways to be taken for safety as well as the
emergency of a disaster had been timely published,
and means of safety were duly provided for, it may
be hoped that the casualties will prove to be far
below the reported number; but they may amount to
several hundreds. The wretched citizens of Szegedin
have lost, with the destruction of their houses, also a
great part of their property; 70,170 inhabitants
hove suffered immense damage, having been forcibly
obliged to leave behind, in order to save their lives,
the most part of their movables, From the first
moments of the deplorable catastrophe the saving of
life began, a great number of the inhabitants seeking
and finding refuge on the ruins of the destroyed dwel-
lings, in the more strongly built and higher situated
houses, and even on the branches and tops of trees.
They were all conveyed in boats to New Szegedin, a
community situated on the left bank of the river, and
the former as well as the latter, saved by means of
boats, were instantly provided with victuals. Next
there were conveyed into Torontal 23,161 persons
Pancsova, 15 • Lagos, 110; Great Varadin, 44: Buda-
Pesth, 630; Cisanad, 5,714; Temes, 4,896; Oaongrad,
6,310; Arad, 1,310; and Bacs, 2,615 in waggons,
steamers, and carts, previously ordered to Szegedin
and victuals, shelter, and garments were provided
for from the first through the disposal of the
Government and by the exemplary character and
sympathy from the authorities, corporations, and
the people at large. Every one emulated during the
first moments of the disaster to testify the utmost
readiness to assist the rescued people. Gifts of victuals,
garments, and money flowed in from all sides, a con-
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only six children have fallen victims to diphtheria.
After life-saving, the saving of property out of the en-
tirely destroyed houses and of the remaining huiblings
was undertak.en, The highest acknowledgment is due
to the most meritorious conduct of the military forces

ordered to Szegedin and the saving volunteers from
Buda-Pesth for their unwearied exertions in life-saving.
Some noble-hearted members of the Hungarian Parlia-
ment went also instantly to Szegedin in order to be pre-
sent previous to and during the catastrophe, and to
assist the generously devoted representative of the Go-
vernment. Their noble example was followed by the
fire guard volunteers and the volunteers of the 33rd
Regiment of Baron Kussevich, every one of them an
academist. The ship volunteers of Comorn and
Presburg, too, who, on pontoons and boats at hand,
accompanied the military volunteers ordered thither,
and exerted themselves night and day with praise-
worthy emulation in saving life and property. Count
Julius Szapary, Minister of Finance, also appeared on
the spot on behalf of the Hungarian Government with
full power to distribute the supplies. Concerning the
future, everything will be done to secure Szegedin
against the invasion of the floods, to lead away
the waters from within the town, and exhaust
them by means of primpworks. Till then that part of
the citizens of Szegedin who are without shelter
and deprived of everything will have to look to the
charity and sympathy of their generous and kind-
hearted countrymen, headed by their Sovereign the
Emperor, as well as to the generons sympathy and
ready aid of the noble-minded citizens of foreign States.
The everlasting gratitude of Hungary is assured to all
those magnanimous hearts, among whom the generous
public of Great Britain occupy a most distinguished
place, for having shown, although distant from this
country by so many miles of land and sea, such a
lively sympathy towards a distressed population, and
manifested it by so very generous offerings. The dona-
tions which have come or may arrive will be em-
ployed under the disposal of Government in the fol-
lowing manner :—Food and clothes will be supplied for
the maintenance of the Szegedinians under the closest
control The money will be employed above all for pro-
curing the necessary alimentary stores and the erection
of barrack buildings, and he remaining sums will be
distributed at a later time, proportionally to the
damages incurred, under the influence and control of
Government at the time when it will be possible to
convey them back to Szegedin, and when these generous
gifts will prove the most available. Everything will be
done, with the assistance of the State, in order that
Szegedin, for many centuries a very flourishing city of
Hungary, shall, in the words of the Emperor, 'arise
again from its watery grave and be more flourishing
than before."

Upwards of ten thousand pounds have been sent to
the Mansion House, in aid of the fund for the relief of
the sufferers by the flock's.