The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from the episcopal city of Vaitzen, in Hungary, Feb. 28.

The mildness of the weather since the 29th having melted the snow on the mountains, the waters from thence ran like so many rivers into the Danube, then covered with ice, which did not break till seven o'clock on the morning of the 15th; after which the water rose so as to be perceived every minute, and very soon overflowed the roads, carrying away (besides large quantities of ice) trees, wood, mills, &c. The islands above this place stopped the ice, which accumulating, formed mountains, and impeded the progress of the water: which nevertheless rose slowly, and only inundated some low houses, whose inhabitants had quitted them. On the 16th the ice began to fall, and the rising of the waters was so rapid as scarce to be perceived before most of the lower town was laid under water: the inhabitants had just time to save themselves and children, the water having risen even or nine feet in half an hour. By the help of 18 boats, which were brought in carts, the people were taken out of their attic stories, and some from trees where they had gone for refuge. The waters continued to rise more and more, and swept away all the houses to the barracks, and the great stone bridge without the town was under water: the road on the side of the Danube, and all the houses, were five feet under water. The danger was then universal, and the alarm general, when happily, about noon, the water began to fall, as fast as it had risen.