The New York herald., 1879-03-13


one. If this one bursts" said the despatch,
''7O, 900 people will be rendered homeless"
despatch from Pcsth, dated the 10th, said
The safety of the town depends ON the en-
banlSmcnt of the Alfold Railway, to strengthen
which all efforts are concentrated. As, how
ever in tho upper course Of the river the water
has begun to fall rapidly, if the elnbmlkiSent'
holds day or two longer the danger may
pass" A despatch to the Duly Ne,as, dated
Szegedn, eight o'clock Monday night describes
the superhuman efforts which were then being
made to avert the catastrophe. Eighty thousand
people are here, including refugees from the coun-
try A state Of siege las been declared. Every,
body who is summoned is Obliged tO work ON
pain OF death. The wind is rising. The water
is rushing under the embankincnt and wants
but few inches to master us. We await the
worst" From Monday until yesterday tWedncs-
day. morning thousands of people worked un-
efforts were in vain. A despatch to the Daily
Ne.cs from Szegcdil, dated yesterday (Ncdnes-
dny) morning ut eight o'clock, says:
"After fearful night of anxiety all efforts are
useless. The water broke through with immense
force ut three o'clock, carrying away part of
the railway station, embankment, and rolling
stock Within three hours the town was many
feet deep in water. Terrible suffering is com
mencing. Shricks and cries from thousands arc
in many cases carrying their inmates with them.
God knows what we shall do tonight. There is
no gas, the works being fifteen feet in the water.
fear we shall run short of food. One boat was
just going to save large houscful Of people
when fearful crash carried with it the whole
living freight. The scene is simply heartrend-
ing. Over eighty thousand people are out of
house and home Hundreds arc drowning, and
the water is still rising rapidly"
kilograms from other sources do not give any
details Of the thrilling horrors of the scene. One
despatch states that gale Of wind pressing OH
the broad surface Of tho water caused it to
overcome all obstacles and rush in broad resist
less streams toward the town. The inhabitants
fed. Another dcspatch from Pesth, after
mentioning the excitement that prevails there,
says that "All preparations were made before
hand, and it is hoped that serious loss Of life
has occurred" But these hopes are crushed by
later dispatches. One dated Szcgcdin yester-
day says, that the Synagogue fell in, burying
numbers of people who had sought refuge in it,
hint Of the horrors of which we have yet to learn
the full particulars.
The Standards despatch from Pesth says 100
square miles in the neighborhood Of Szegedin
apo flooded. The crops in this district arc
lost The government has sent 10000 forina
for the relief OF the inhabitants Tho radicals
in the Diet to-day violently attacked the gov
ernment for ncglecting to take precautions TO
prevent the calamity 49,. ,.
The Daily Ners has the following despatch
from its special correspondent
'SzEaEpIN, Wednesday, p. M.
'Since my last telegram the water has risen
in the town fve feet Our situation Is becom-
ing worse and worsc. Sixty thousand per-
sons are ut present without roof to cover
them 1t is feared the loss Of life has been very
great, and that it will increase during this ter
rible night" The foregoing despatch, coming
directly from the spot, is probably more trust
worthy than the official account previously re-
ceived from Pesth. The violent attacks
in tho Hungarian Diet possibly cause
~
ter rs favorable M possible. Accounts Of the
disaster received from Vienna say tho upper
floors Of all high houses are crlmmcd with pco-
pie in momentary fear Of death. 1t is thought
some few houses which are built of stone may
stand
A despatch to the Times from Pesth states
that the latest report last evening from special
government commissioner at Sxcgcdin says be-
sides tho four corpses which have been brought
in thirty more are reported from other quarters.
Several fires have occurred, and there strong
suspicious Of incendiarism. The water is still
rising, but communication toward Tcmeswar is
still open. The irruptiOn Of the waters caIIh
ut last SO suddenly that the work
men barely had time to reach town. An
ample provision of boats had been made
throughout the town, but it is feared that snch
an inundation happening in the depth of night
cannot but have drowned many persons
relegraphic communication with Szegedin
seems to have been interrupted during q great
part Of Wednesday until evening. The CORE
spondent describing the calamity mt Ncgedin
says there was Mt first false alarm at nine
o'clock Oh Tuesday evening, raised by somc
workmcn on the cinbankment who wished to
desert. Toward midnight the workmcn, in
consequence of the increase Of the gallo, we're
continually overtslken by tho waves. They
were only kept to their posts by
Gordon of soldiers. Tho water repeatedly
pierced the embankment ut single points.
About halfpast one o'clock "Wednesday morn
ing the embankment was found to be yielding
ut several points simultaneously. Tho general
In command then ordered the abandonment of