Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-16
Tho Calamity in switrerland.


A calamity has befallen the cantons OF
Lessin. valais, Grisons, St. Gall and
Uri, which, in its immensely, stands un-
eoualed in the annals Of Switzerland.
On the 2Sth Of September rain COM
menced TO fall In torrents along the
northern and southern slopes Of the Alps,
and continued TO descend, with but little
intermission, for eight days. During all
this time a powerful south wind ragged
furiously amidst the masses Of snow and
ice which had lain for centuries in their
inaccessible Alpine strongholds Every
mountain rivulet swelled into q rushing
stream, every stream into torrent, car
rying appalling destruction in its course.
The rivers of Tessin, the Rhone, the
Reuss, the Rhine and the Inn, in their
relentless power, obliterated many OF the
choicest beauties of nature, impover-
ished thousands of families and hurried
hundreds to watery grave. Heartrend-
ing and vain was the struggle OF human
hands against the overpowering force OF
the watery element On it came, in the
dead of night, terrible in its might,
scattering destruction far and wide,
and piling up in the meadows the
mountain debris Of ages. Rocks
weighing hundreds of tons were torn
from their resting places, and in their
course Joined the revelry of destruction.
Whole forests, vineyards and meadows
stacked with grain, have disappeared,
and in many places not vestige of
roads, bridges and fences are left houses,
mills and factories are torn from their
foundations, and even cemeteries and
charnel-houses have been invaded and
their contents scattered along the course
of the devastation. Thousands of cities
lie choked in mud, and thousands Of our
fellow beings are reduced to abject pow
erty. Along the Rhine village upon vii
lage lies half buried in mud and debris,
and every article of bedding and wearing
apparel has either been swept away or
rendered useless in houses where COM
fort, and even plenty, reigned while
their verdant meadows, productive orch
ards and beautiful gardens are one mass
of grayish mud Sixty millions of francs
will fall far short of the loss sustained
On such extraordinary occasions it is
meet that unusual measures be adopted
to alleviate, at least in part, the suffer
ings of our brethren. The federal gov
eminent OF Switzerland, prompted by
q feeling which it knew would meet
with hearty response from its people,
at once dispatched its president to the
suffering localities, and ordered to the |
scene of devastation the various corps
of 'sappers and miners to render all pos
sible assistance. Ere this, one million
of francs will have been appropriated by
the Federal Government, and like sum
will, no doubt, have been contributed by |
the several cantons. Already conven-
ton of delegates from all cantons have |
in Berne, and relief associa-
tons have sprung up in every section of
the land, whose offerings will be dis |
tributed by the Central Relief Associa-
ton, organized under the auspices of the
Federal Government. Many individuals
have given most literally, and the peo-
pie of adjacent countries are also busy,
heart and hand, in the noble work of re-
lieving want. Among others, the King
and Queen of Wurtemberg made at once
q remittance, and organized relief So
ciety, over which they will preside. And
we, ellow-couutrymen and brethren,
shall we stand aloof? Shall we leave
unheeded the cry of distress, the plead
ing eve cast over from beloved Switzer-
land ? No, no, must be the ready re-
Spouse of every heart. The pain
full tidings from our sorely visited
brethren will find an echo here
in beautifully blessed America. A
mite from every feeling heart,
, gift from every generous hand, and
his visitation of Almighty God will afford
another proof of the truthfulness Of our
motto, Zone for all and all for
,ne." The unusual exigencies of this
national calamity make an appeal to the
of his countrymen and his
friends, on the part of the un-
lersigned, virtually obligatory. Fellow
in the United States, up,
then, and be doing in the noble work of
relieving our suffering brethren Organ
ze, and let us labor promptly, unitedly
and earnestly. Donations can be sent,
oy mail or express, to the undersigned,
Dr. intrusted to the Swiss consulate at
New York, Philadelphia, Charleston,
New Orleans, Galveston, Cincinnati,
Chicago, St. Louis or San Francisco, by
whom they will be transmitted to the
Undersigned, for remittance to the Cen
tral Relief Association in Switzerland.
God bless the giver
JOHN HITz,