The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-03-15
EUROPE.
The Inundation Of Szegedin.
Hundreds of Lives Lost.
Contributions for the Relief OF the
Sufferers.

LONDON, March IA special from Pesth says:
large portion of the suburbs Of Szegedin being be-
low the ordinary level of the River Theiss and the
water which rushed in from the high ground be-
hind the town being several feet above the present
level Of the river, bore down on its way the high
road entertainments, rushing in cascades into the
lower ground and innndating 1t with earlui rapid
ty Instead of five or six hours, which II was cal
culated the flood would take to sprea1 through the
town. scarcely au hour and halt had passed before
Szegedin lay submerged up 10 It's present level.
However some hope is entertained .that on account
OF the alarm which days before reused the popula-
ton to sense of danger nd gave them an oppo-
tunity TO fly for refuge that loss of life has not been
very great, but the victims must at any rate be
numbered by many hundreds, if not by thousands,
nor is the havoc yet complete. Besides those swept
away during that terrible night, all through Wednes-
day dull fatal sounds were heard in all directions,
indicating successive fall OF buildings.
A special to the Government Com missioner says
the poorer classes were extremely unwilling to
abandon their homes and in many cases force had
to be used to pluck the people from houses in a
DANCE Gus condition. All the communities in the
neighborhood vie with each other in relieving dis
tress sending provisions by land and water and OPEN
ing houses to refugees. Comparatively few avail
themselves of the latter offer. The working classes
especially prefer abiding by the nearest safe spot in
the town. close to it, and thus thousands en-
camped on the high embankment running along the
river which stands firm that the opening of this
| embankment to let the water from above and be-
hind the town run into the river in front could only
be mperfecty carried out.
Emperor Francis Joseph will forego bis visit to
Pesth to receive congratulations on his silver we'd
ding. He desires the money intended for festivities
to be distributed among the sufferers by the flood
The Emperor and Empress also give 10000 forms
from their private purse.
PEsTH March IA The Government Commissioner
at Szegedin reports that he was rowed through the
submerged streets and found three quarters of the
town in ruins He thinks that if the water remains
a few days longer scarcely 200 houses will be LEFT
standing. The burgomaster estimates that seyela
thousand persons were drowned. He attributes the
disaster to the Incidence of the Inhabitants and t.
the fact that the Government Commissioners con
centrated all their efforts on Strengthening lh'
dams aud did not prepare means of saTing life il
the event Of their breaking
lnsur. ction i'm Mace dOnia.
The Times Pesth correspondent says that accord
ing to accounts from Sofia preparations for anothe
instruction in Macedonia are in active progress. Th
principal leaders are the Bishops Cf Sofia anC
Ochrida and the Russian chief of police.
1tiss5t@3x Cyprus Excited.
Much excitement prevails at Limasol in the islam
OF Cyprus. All shops are closed and traffic suspend
ed in consequence of Sir Camel Wolsley's monetar
regulations The inhabitants have telegIaphed III
queen appealing against Wolsley's decree.