The Minneapolis Journal Minn. Nov. 23, 1901 Hungarian Patriots Now Living In Iowa Leaders Under The Great Kossuth Reach Hale Old Age As American Citizens Correspondence of The Journal Des Moines, Iowa Two men closely associated with Louis Kossuth in the famous Hungarian revolution of 1849, are living in Leon, Decautr County, Iowa, whither they fled to escape persecution when the fight went against their native country and Hungary was made a part of Austria. The are Francis VARGO, judge advocate general under Kossuth, who, in six months, condemned to death 260 soldiers and noblemen, and Ladislaus MADARASZ, who was secretary of state in Hungary for thirty years and who was one of the trinity at the head of the provisional government. They are now living on land which the government furnished them when they sought refuge in the United States. MADARASZ is 90 years of age, and VARGA only six years his junior. Both have taken an active interest in the affairs of the United States since their residence here and both have therefore served two countries, Hungary and the U.S. VARGA has attended every republican state convention in Iowa for the last half century. Both VARGA and MADARASZ are modest farmers, or were till age compelled their retirement. VARGA is quite feeble now and is confined to an invalid's chair during the greater part of each day. However, his mind is clear and his memory perfect and he is able to tell wonderful tales of the far off time when the fortunes of Hungary were at stake. In his story he speaks of the beginning of the revolution as follows: "My country demanded her rights, the emperor had promised them and we fought for them. We asked a responsible ministry, the abolition of the feudal system, equalization of taxes, extension of the franchise, freedom of the press, and complete religious toleration. These things we fought for. "Russian bayonets defeated us in the end. Terrible atrocities were committed. Children and old men were put to death and unborn babes were cut from the bodies of their mothers. Kossuth mader me his judge advocate general. Martial law had been pronounced and war was everywhere. The court was established for me. I was the judge and from my decree there was no appeal. Inside of six months I had 260 persons put to death for these atrocities. Within two hours after my decision had been announced the men were dead. "Hungary's general, General GORGEI, was a traitor. He laid down Hungarian arms to Russia because he was jealous of Kossuth. Kossuth fled, and all the rest of us followed his example. The Austrians began the search for the leaders of the Hungarian Army and we were safe nowhere. A price was on our heads. For eleven months I was in danger, while my country lay prostrate with defeat. At last I secured a passport from a lady, my cousin. Part was printed, the rest was her description filled in in writing. I learned from a doctor how to erase the ink with chemicals. I did so, filled it in for myself under the name of WAGGONER, and fled to Germany. "I went first to Austria because I had no place to go. Although my indentity was partially concealed, I was suspected as being a radical and was far from safe. At last I made my way to Hamburg, which was a free city, and I hoped to be safe. "There I was discovered. The police sent for me. They knew that I was a Hungarian. 'Austria and Russia will give us no peace if we shelter you. You must go.' I was given eight days in which to leave the city. "I traveled in Germany for six months staying a few days in a place; always afraid of being discovered and of being returned to Austria for trial. The Schleswig-Holstein war broke out and the Austrian soldiers came to Hamburg. I fled to London. Here I spent another six months and then came on to America." VARGA was one of the pioneers in the establishment of the New Buda Hungarian settlement in Iowa. Komorn, a fortress in Hungarian territory which had withstood a thousand assaults was at last surrendered by General KLAPKA of the Hungarian Army. The military governor was removed and in his stead a civil governor was appointed. The latter was L. UJHAZY, who was a patriot and rich, refused to serve longer as governor of Komorn. He demanded a passport from his country and it was granted. He started for America bringing forty Hungarians with him. He and his followers were the first Hungarians to arrive in the U.S. after the thrilling times of '49,. President FILLMORE received them kindly, and advised them to go west to Iowa. They traveled across the country from Burlington and picked Decatur county as their garden spot. VARGA resting in London after his long struggle in Germany to avoid Austrian sleuths heard of this paradise and hastened across the ocean. Thus was the New Buda settlement founded. Iowa was chosen as a suitable spot for location because of its mild climate and its anti-slavery attitude. The colony began farming, although all the members had been statesmen. Many of them failed, VARGA among the number. However, he stuck to it for thirteen years. Then the Civil War broke out and the band of patriots became as zealous for the new country they had chosen as for the beloved Hungary. Decatur county was the battlefield between free Iowa and slave Missouri, being a border county. A meeting was held in Leon in the early days to discuss the questions then in issue. "Slavery is sanctioned by the constitution," said Henry Clay Dean, a leader of the local democracy. "The constitution says we can have slavery." It was Francis VARGA who answered, "Let us have a new constitution then." For his services during the Civil War, VARGA was elected county clerk in 1864 and served four years; then he was made county treasurer and served six years; then eight years as a deputy. When he took the county treasurer's office his predecessor turned over the princely sum of $1.40. The rich paid no taxes and county warrants were worth fifty cents on the dollar. VARGA inaugurated reform and the county was paying dollar for dollar when he retired. He was admitted to the bar in Hungary in 1840. Leaving the treasurer's office he engaged in the abstract business at which he worked for fifteen years, turning the work over to his son as his health grew poorer. "I will die happy," he declared recently. "I cannot live much longer. I am a Hungarian, but I am an American also. I love this country. It is dear to me because we have gained here, in a measure, what we strived for and lost in Hungary. However, the revolution of '49 made 40,000,000 serfs free and abolished the feudal system. No one can better appreciated the freedom and the liberty of this country than I. I will die happy on the soil of New Hungary.