The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-05-15
Szegedin.

Quite apart from the late melancholy
catastrophe, Szegedin has had an event
full history, although, unfortunately, its
chief features are connected with not the
brightest phases in the fortunes of Hun
gary. Although the present fortress
dates only since the Turkish occupation
of tine town in the sixteenth century, it
was already flourishing mart and one
of the strongest places of Hungary so far
back as King Matthias Corvinus, at the
end of the fourteenth century. 1t was
here, IN 1870 that the Hungarian Prince
S.aboya, encamped a. the head OF 49,
COO men, sealed the fate of Hungary,
Frustrated By the overthrow OF Mohacs,
and submitted himself as vassal to Soly
man the Magnificent. The Sultan burnt
down the greater portion of Szegedin,
and on the ruins erected fortress, which
became one OF the bulwarks of the Otto
man power in those regions for over a
century and half. 1t was the chief
town of one Of the fourteen sandjaks in
to which the conquered portion of Hun
gary was divided, all subject to the Pasha
who resided at Buda. with the authority
Of Beglerbeg. But when, in 1886, Duke
Charles of Lorraine recaptured Buda, the
hour of deliverance had arrived for Szeg-
edin. Again, in IS49 the town was
faed for a few brief weeks to play
prominent part in the terrible drama Of
the time. In July, Kossuth and the
Provisional Government had to quit
Pesth, retiring before the advancing
Austrian forces The seat Of authority
was transferred to Szegedin, the citizens
received Kossuth with enthusiasm, and
he assured them that freedom would
start from Szegedin and conquer Europe"
The deputies and magnates. assembled,
buildings were set apart for admin
i,trative Offices, and large amount of
paper money was issued. kossuth pro-
posed TO set up an army corps Of 10000
men, but he had neither time nor men
to carry out his design. The Austrians
gave him no rest. At the END of July,
the Dictator had 10 quit his temporary
resting place. On August sd, Marshal
Hayman entered the town, and at once
opened fire on the Hungarian army,
posted on the other side of the river,
behind the suburb of New Szegedin.
This suburb was burned to the ground
and great powder magazine blew up
causing great havoc. Hayman was able
to cross the river, and the defeat and
flight Of the Hungarians completed the
downfall Of the revolution. A few days
later the capitulation of Villages put an
end to all legitimate resistance. 1t may
be observed that the railway bridge over
the Thesis Szegedin, built in 1850, was
considered at the time TO be the greatest
work of the kind in Europe. 1t is esti-
mated that the amount Of land under
water in the immediate neighborhood
OF the city is about 10000 Hungarian
acres, or nearly goo English square miles.
The chief proprietor is Prince Pallavicihi,
who owns about 100, 900 acres, of which
at least three-ifths are submerged. The
loss OF the crops within the inundated
district is set down at 100000 ol
florns (fI. 200, ooo), and of taxes in
connection with the same at 1000. ooc
of forms (fI ,ooo, ooo). The lowest es.
Innate of the mischief done to the towr
itself sets it down at 5000, 900 forms, Of
f5oo.ooo.-London Times.