The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-08-05
The Dreadful Storm in Hungary.
The following is an extract from a pri-
'ate letter dated Buda- Pes,h June %:

The following is an extract from pri-
vate letter dated Buda- Pesth, June %:
We have had one of the most dreadful
storms that has happened here in the men,
DRY of man. must tell you that on Satur-
day evening l was taking my coffee and
cigar in the beautiful gardens of the Isle
st. Marguerite, opposite Buda Pesth, when
little after six O'Clock q fearful hurricane
arose very suddenly, sweeping over US with
terrific force. Branches Of trees we're car
ried along like feathers. After this came
dreadful thunderstorm, accompanied by
rain and hail-the hail breaking windows
right and left, even those that were made
of plate glass. The hailstoncs were on an
average the size of walnuts, and some very
much larger. Two trees were struck by
lightning within thirty yards of me. 1
had narrow escape, for these large trees
were shattered and the fragments dispersed
by the hurricane. 1t was an awful mo-
ment and shall never forget it as long as
I live. l went over yesterday to the
side, where twenty houses had been
entirely washed away. Nearly the
street was converted into river five orsix
feet in depth. 1t is estimated that more
than 200 people have been drowned. The
drains have all burst and the condition of
affairs, from sanitary point of view,
causes anxiety. On Sunday morning
saw the Danube bearing swiftly away the
terrible wreckage of the storm; there
were large articles IF furniture, the bodies
Of men, w:men and children, together
with horses and COWS, all floating on the
whirling waters. In fact, it is impossible
to describe the scene Of desolation both on
land and water, especially on the Buda
side. Most o. the poor People who have
escaped with their lives have lost all they
possessed. 1t rained waterspout for
nearly five hours, and in consequence the
Small valleys lcauing down from the
mountains we've in some places thirty feet
deep IN rushing water. Huge trees and
even rocks, y eighing 1T least h lit a ton,
were carried by scores over the roads,
completely blocking them up. The tram
ways in some places are. destroyed. The
mountain railway and the station, engine
house, engines and carriages are COM
pletely wrecked. The VINEYARDS are
simply ruined, and you may imagine the
fearful distress which that fact alone en-
tails upon this wine growing country. You
will scarcely credit me when l tell YOU
that house situated at the bottom of the
valley, and near the railway station, was
literally! battered in by drift of hail.
stones, The doors and windows were
burst in before the inmates could escape,
and they were. actually buried alive in ice.
When saw the house twenty-five hours
afterward it was still about four feet deep
in hailstones, though they had been clear
ing them away with spades. Just as got
there they recovered the body of poor
woman who had persisted. From this
spot and for about mile up the valley no
less than fifty -seven bodies were found.
One sad incident among many others was
the finding the body Of lady who had
been recently married. She was discov-
cred on the road opposite the railway sta
ton She was known to have left Buda
insher carriage andypair, but no remains
were to be seen Of either horses or equi
page. They were all probably swept away
into the Danube! There are many people
still missing, and the recovered dead I
| fear do not represent the number of those
who have persisted in this dreadful calam-
itY. No pen can describe the sad things /
have witnessed. It would appear as if the
elements had united together to destroy
these townss sImay give you some idea
Of the force of the hail when l say that in
some cases horses were actually killed by
the hailstones. I have not yet learned the
area of the storm, but imagine it has
been very extensive.
3 Et4f. ~