Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-04-25
The Szegedin Disaster.

! OFFICIAL PARTICULARS OF THE FLOOD IN HUN
| GARY-NEARLY FIFTY THOUSAND ACsEs OF
LAND INUSDATKD-TuE TERRIBLE STORM
WHICH CONTINUED FOUR DAYS AND
NIGHTS.
| The following official particulars Ut the
! disastrous floods in Hungary were furnish
ed by the Austro-lIungsrian Amba .Iador
| in London
"The copious rains and the large q iantl
| ty of snow which constantly covered the
soil since the month of October, con 5ined
with the mild weather of February, which
suddenly melted the snow of the moun:sins,
caused such tremendous rise OF the Tleiss
River that as carly as the end OF February
the two communities of Algyo and Tape,
situated in the vicinity of Sszegedin, " ere.
with their whole territory, overrun b! the
rapid waters, and almost entirely destT, yed.
Thus, in the community of Tape AT h lses
fell to ruins. and S.Oli acres of land ssre
set under water in Algyo. i25 houses "ent
down. and 3 243 acres were inundatsd
in both communities 5.5S6 Inhabitants
lost their houses and all their pro-
perty. The preventive measure staken
against the catastrophe had the fect
that no loss of human life was to be lam MT
cd. As for victuals and shelter for the
rescued population, 1t must be provldeI Tor
till the inhabitants OF these communities
will be able to resume their working at the
beginning of the Spring time. and even till
they can rebuild their houses.
Almost st the same time happened the
inurdation of the community OF DoroZsma.
ln this community there were SEQ houses.
with 1858 inhabitants and b, 359 acres of
land. Only 300 houses remained standing,
the rest, with all provisions and stores and
ba nf ha tnrfupa af ho
habitanis, was destroyed and buried under
water The dam of the Austrian State
Railway Company was broken through,
and the intercourse between Saegedin,
Temesysr and Orsoya intercepted. This
great calamity was soon followed by still
more dreadful one-the sudden inuhdation
OF the city of Szegedin. This city is pro-
tectei by two dikes and the dam of the Al
fold Flume Railway line. Notwithstanding
the dikes and dam being secured by the ut
most exertion of strength, and in spite
of everything that was done within the
limits of possibility, the destructive food
increased, and. iafurlated py storm last
ing four days and nights, broke through
the dikes and the dam, which formed the
closest rampant of the ciey Of Szegedin. and
inundated the whole precincts of the city at
midnight Of the 18th ult, SO that the floods
reached a height of from g feet to IL feet in
the lower regions, and feet in the higher
situated places. Out of the number OF
6 500 houses existing before the catastrophe
33l are still standing, though their mainte-
nance is uncertain. Even OF these only 262
are habitab!e According TO tie official re-
ports forty enc lives were lost during the
danger, a. the catastrophe occurred at
mig ht-tiEe. and the dow mali IT the houses
was very sudden.
The number ct deaths will only be known
after the ruins OF The holses have been
searched. As many persons had escaped
few days before, and Others were rescued
when the false alarm was given befOIe the
catastrophe took place. and as the ways to
be taken for safety, as well as the emergen-
cy OF disaster, had been timely published,
and means Of safety were duly provided for,
it may be hoped that tho casualties will
prove to he far below the .pHrted number ;
but they may amount to several hundreds.
The wretched citizens of Szegedin have lost.
with the destruction of their houses. also a
great part of their property 20, 10 IN
habitants have utfered immense dam
age, having been fOrcibly obliged TO
cave behind. IN order to save their
lives. the most part OF their moyeables.
From the first moments OF the deplorable
catastrophe the saving of life began, great
number OF the inhabitants seeking and find
ing refuge on the ruins of the destroyed
dwellings, in the more strongly built and
higher situated houses, and even on the
branches and tops of trees. They were all
conveyed in boats 10 New Szege1in com
munity situated on the lett bank OF the
river, and the Inner a. well as the latter.
saved by mesns Of boats, were instantly
provided with victu4ls. Next there were
conveyed into Torortal %. l6I persons;
Psncsoya. Is: Lagos, 10; Great Varadin.
Al: Buda- Pesth, 630; Usansd. 5,7lI; |
Temes, 1896; 0songrad. 6,3O; Arad.
| 30; and BAGS. 2.6l5 in wagons,
steamers, and carts previously or
dered to Szegedin, and victuals, shell |
ter and garments were provided for |
from the first through the disposal of the
government, and by the exemplary charac- |
ter and sympathy from the authorities. cor
porations, and the people at large. Every
one emulated during the first moments OF
the disaster to testify the utmost readiness
to assist the rescued people Gifts OF
vIetuel=. garments and money flowed IN
from all sides. continuous conveyance OF
the saved was provided. and for the sick a
barrsek intirmsry was at once erected. Dis
cases, as yet, have not made their appear
ance, and only SIX children have fallen v!c-
tins to diphtheris.