Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-04

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THE LATE FLooDs IN SWITZERLAND. We
have received from Mr. John Hitz, political
agent and Cousul General of Switzerland at
washington, a circular describing toe recent
unnaralIeled calamity which has befallen Il
Iarse norton OF Switzerland, and invoking the
aid of the press in behalf Of measures for the
relief of the surviving victims ot the disaster.
The eautons OF Tessin, ValoiS, GrisOus, st.
Gall aud UEi have been devastated ''On the
9th of September rain commenced TO tall IN
torrents along the northern and southern slopes
Of the Alps, aud continued to descend, with
hut little intermiSsion for eight days. During
All this time powerful south wind ragged fnrl
ousy amid the masses of snow and ice which
had lan undisturbsd for centuries ia their in-
accessible Alpine strongho.dS. Every noun
tain rivulet swelled into rushing stream, every
stream into torrent, carrying appalling des-
traction in It's course. The rivers OF TesSiD,
the Rhone, the Reuss, the Rhine and the Ian
in their relentless power obliterated many of
the choicest beauties OF nature, impoverished
thousands of families, and hurried hundreds to
watery grave.
whole forests, vineyards and meadows
stacked with grain, have disappeared, and in
many places not a veStlge OF roads, bridges and
fences is left; houses, mills and factories are
torn from their foundations and even cemete-
ries and charnel houses have been invaded, and
thousands of our fellow beings are reduced to
abject poverty. Along the Rhine village upon
village lies half buried in mud and debris, and
every article of bedding and wearing apparel
has either been swept away or rendered useless
10 houses where comfort and even ple6ty reign
ed, while their verdant meadows, productive
orchards and beautiful gardens are one mass ct
grayish mud. Sixty millions OF francs will fall
far short of the loss sustained.
After this vivid description of disaster which
must be clasSed with the tornadoes, the evolcanic
eruptions, the earthquakes and other terrible
conyusions of nature which have but lately
spread CONSERVATION, misery and death among
the inhabitants OF both hemisphereS, Mr. Hltz
details the generous and speedy measures of
relet adopted by the federal government and
the different cantons Of Switzerland, as well as
by the rulers and the people OF adjacent coun-
tries, and earnestly appeals to the numerous
Swiss emigrantS who have settled In the UNI
ted States, and to Americans who are friends
Of Switzerland, to aid In relieving the sufferers.
THE SGASrEsE Twins. .-RALEIGH,N n. G. Oct.
80 1868. " esterday your correspondent had
the pleasure of meeting on the cars the cele-
brnted Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker
eSQs. 1t was generally supposed they were alb
sent In Europe, where they were TO have gone
to have the hgature that has bound them to-
gelher since birth severed by surgical opera
R,1k uIcI vpac
time the coming mouth, when the twins will
embark for Paris, in the hope that surgical
science will be able to achieve their earthly sep
aratOp, ere the death of one makes it ineum-
bent to try the terrible experiment. They were
quite communicative, speaking freely on all
subjects, even their mysterious connection,
which they regard as dispensation OF Provl-
dence. Chang is somewhat heavier and taller
than Eng. Both are about four feet six inches
n height, fifty years Of age, hair gray, skin
wrinkled, shriVelled and yellow, and when
walking they press closely together at the
shoulders, their bodies inchniug at an angle
from this point to the ground. Eng usually
keeps his right arm around the neck and rest
ing on the shoulder OF Chang Accompanying
them was a son cf Eng S and daughter or
Chang's, the latter named Victoria, bloom
Ing girl of sixteen, of ordinary medium height,
excellent development, and remarkably hand
some though bearing a strict family likeness to
the twins.
Chang is blessed with seven other daughters
and three sons. EGGS son is very Intelligent
boy of about fourteen, named William. He
resembles his father very much, and smiles
when he tells you he has five brothers and
three sisters besides eleven cousins.
The families reside In Surry county, in this
State, where they live on handsome farm
their own properly. Two of the children al
ways accompany the twins on their trips this
Indulgence being conferred by turns for merit
at schoOl,-Rich. Wing.
HE ALBENIARLE HUNTING PARTY returned
90 Saturday from their annual fall hunt over
t0elT hunting grounds In Augusta county,
AnoVn as Camp Armstead, where they have
owned body OF land tor ten years or more.
Neachlng "the camp" on Saturday last they
commenced the hunt Monday morning and
SIOSed 1t Friday evening. During these five
uays they killed thirty one deer, twenty three
winch they hung up in camp. The remain
lug eight were caught and consumed by the
TTogS The most successful hunt was that OF
tuesday,, when eight deer were killed. Win