The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-12-11

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of Families
HOuselcsa.
wAsmyaroU, Nov. 10, 1853 The follow
ING official account Of the national calam-
ity IN Switzerland has just been received OF
the Department Of State
LOCATION OF TIE UgrrED SrArEs.
BrRNE. Oct 10, 1865.
Sn:-Sw.tzetland has recently been sub
iusted TO what may justly be termed II IA.
tional calamity. After an exceptionally
dry and agreeable season the country has
been visited by n heretofore unequalled rain
fall. aud much Of the cautous OF Gnsons
Tessin, aud Nalais, Glnris AID st Gall ana
Uni have, in consequence thereof, been lit
terally desolated by iuundatious. The
mountain riyulets aud cascades, suddenly
swelled into torrents; swept villages, lam
let's, cattle roads bridges, dykes, earth aud
stone as debris upon the fields below,
which are thus rendered forever hopeless
wastes.
The appeal Of the authorities OF the can
ton Of Tessin to'their more fortunate fellow
countrymen officially sets forth the effects
OF the storm; and this description may be
tlkon as applicable in IA greater or less ex-
tent T. the other cnntous named.
In the night of the 9th and 2sth of Sep
TENDER our canton was struck by a fright
IAl NulthAl0Dlts u NllAllE VI MANIA pic
c,pitated itself as "a deluge into the valleys
ofBledio, Of the L~evantine. and RIVIERA,
the Nernaso and the Maggia. This Bcourge
was accompanied by the destruction Of
buildings and by the fall Of trees, by earth
and rock slides in such a manner as If all
the elements had combined 10 rival each
other in the work Of devastation. All the
beautiful country that extends from Glor-
MES and Oivone to Biasca, unrecognisable
to-day, is nothing but a mass Of debris,
Roads, bridges, aud dikes are destroyed;
houses, mills and stables have been swept
away the rich forests, the tertile fields and
vineyards, but yesterday dourishirg; have
disappeared; cattle have persisted by thou
sands, and that which adds TO the conster-
nation il tho loss OF more than fifty per-
ns-so surprised in THEN sleep and
and others the victims Of their devotion
while attempting to rescue and usBist the
drowning, fathers and mothers Of families
have been crushed under the falling houses
aud their bodies swept OF by tho rushing
waters.
The disaster surposses all that magma
ton can picture. Thousands Of families
have been struck by the calamity, aud too
many of them have been reduced TO the last
extremity, without roof without clothes,
and several deprived other fathers. The
losses, WHICH lOE lne HOuleul Cannot DC
stated will rise to millions.
The authorities, the societies and tho
citizens Of this canton, reserved by heaven
for so cruel an experience, are occupying
themselves in providing for the immediate
wants Of the victims, but all our forces will
not provide for this immense burden. To
you we address the appeal, which IN this
supreme necessity, is an utteIance Of the
heart rather than the thoughts. We ask
of your brothers in confidence not to nhan-
don us TO these blows Of destiny, aud that
they share with Ms the cross OF adversely,
All species OF succors will be accepted by
us with thankful hearts, andthe canton au-
thorties will take care that the most suffer
ing shall be tho first 10 receive the benefits
OF your charities.
To the STiss people q 90 blessed
by God the deBolate Of the valley Of the
Tessin address their appeals aud their
prayers.
Subsequent information proves that this
sad picture is not overweight. The gov
ernments, both federal and local, az also
the people, are for promptly and generally
responding TO the appeals Of which this Is
but one. The President Of the confedem-
ton, ut the instance OF tho Federal Council
at once repaired TO the scene Of the disas.
ter. The military engineers were imme-
dlately despatched 70 supeflntend and d.
rect the Restoration aud rebuilding OF the
highways and bridges aud dikes, IN order
to restore communications, altogether aus-
pended, Citizen committees have been
organized in the remaining cautonH Tor the
purpose Of visiting each house iOr Assist
ance, and every possible means is put into
requisition 10 relieve tho sufferers and re-
pair the otherwise heavy public damages.
The disaster, however, has been 80 extend
ed, and the number Of people left Mt the
threshold Of winter, without shelter, clothes
and bread, has been too largo to be more
than scantily and partially repaired and re-
Eeved by the local contributions how
ever generous they may be.
] am not aware that appeals will be made
70 the Swiss or other residents sbIoad,
sLould such be addressed 10 the resident
Swiss Of the United States. l beg TO state
thus briefly but officially that no human
foresight could have eyaded this blow and
that the cry of distress appeals with equal
force TO the benevolent Of our countrymen
OF whatever origin of nationality they may
be
. With great respect, your obedient servant,
GEORGE HARBTSdTON,
Hon. WILLIAM II, SEWARD, Secretary OF
State, Washington d. c.