V
r
i. 7
"i
sa
j A-
WJEED OUT BY WATER
that this is the death-knell of the place.
The Cambria Iron Conipanv people are such
heavy losers that they may remove their
immense plant to a better location. If the
company should do this, it would seal the
fot. nrh- uji :.. Thp Cambria Iron
Company has always been the mainstay of
tne piace. ...
Tom Henderson, a railroad brakeman, is
missing, and it is feared he will be num
bered among the dead.
Gns McHugh and four children were
drowned. Mrs. McHugh happened to be
visiting'Bt the time and escaped.
The people are starving. Every tram go
ing out is loaded down with provisions.
, Israel.
FOUB THOUSAND LOST.
That Is the Esilmuto Blade by Parties nt
Ifcw FlorrnceSomo ot the Dead
Identifled--tnrtHns; Deeds
of Ilei-oism.
SrECIAL TELEGRAM TO TOT SISFJLTCH.1
New Fiokekce, June 1. The estimate
of the disaster from the latest advices re
ceived here is that 4,000 lives have been lost
and $11,000,000 worth of property destroyed.
Among.the identified dead are: James Mc
Millan, Spenntendent Cambria Iron Company's
store, wife, tour children and daughter-in-law;
John P. Linton, leading lawyer, wife and five
children; Mrs. Thomas Kirlersnd two children;
Nolan and seven of family; Mrs. WisS'
inccr, Mrs. Sarah Palmer, Dr. George Wacner,
wife and tliree children; Frank P. Bowman,
wife and two children; Mrs. Richard worth
Inrton and seven children; Wm. Howclls. Mrs.
Ann Howells. Mrs. John Reese, Cora, Lizzie
and Alva Reese. Rachel Reese, mother of John
Reese; Pearson Fisher, wife and six children:
Mrs. Eckstein.
The First Passenger Trnin.
Oh, the horror and infinite pity of it alL
"What a journey has been that of the last
half hour. Swollen corpses lay here ana
there on piles of crossties or on the river
. bank among the tangled shrubbery. It was
cbout 9 o'clock when the first passenger
train since Friday came to the New Flor
ence depot with its load of eager passen
gers. They were no idle travelers, bat each
had a mission.
Here and there men were staring out the
windows with red eyes, and among them
were Hungarians and Italians, who had
lost friends near Nineveh, while women
were weeping on all sides.
f Just before reaching Sang Hollow, the
end of the main line of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, is a signal tower, and the men in
it told stories of what they saw. Here, are
bUlUC UUUfi SU1VL CUU9 Ul AinjJjJCUlllB IUCJ IU1U
'me of:
A. beautiful girl came down on the roof of
a building, which was swung in near the
tower. She screamed to the operators to
save her, and one big, brawny brave fellow
walked as far into the river as he could, and
shouted to her to try to guide herself into
shore with a bit of plank. She was
A Plncky Girl,
full of nerve and energy, and stood upon
her frail support in evident obedience to
the command of the operator. She made
two or three bold strokes and actually
stopped the course of the raft for an instant.
Then it swerved and went out from under
her. She tried to swim ashore, but in a few
seconds she was lost in the sn irling water.
Something hit her, for she lay quietly on
her back, with face- pallid and expression
less. Hen and women in dozens, in pairs
and singly, children, boys, big and little,
wee babies were there, in among the awfni
confusion of water, drowning, gasping,
struggling and fighting desperately for life.
Two men on a tiny raft shot into the swift
est part of the current,
They crouched, stolidly looking at the
shores, while between theni dressed in
white, and kneeling with her face turned
heavenward, was a girl 6 or 7 years old. She
Jed stricken with paralysis nntil she
: opposite the tower and then she turned
ace to-the operators. -She was so close
could see big tears on her .cheeks and
hertoallor was as death.
The Helpless Men on Shore
shouted to her to keep up her courage,
and she resumed her devout attitude and
disappeared under the trees of a projecting
point a short distance below.
"We could not see her come out again,"
said the operator, and that was all of it.
"Do you see that fringe of trees?" said the
operator, pointing to the place where the
little girl had gone out of sight; "well, we
saw scores of children swept in there. I be
lieve that when the time comes they will
find almost a hundred bodies ol children in
there among those bushe."
Just above New Florence is the little
town of Nineveh. It was here that I fonnd
the first charnel house. One hundred and
nine dead were here, the larger porportion
of whom were women. Here it was that the
awful work of the freshet could be realized.
What have been fertile farms look like
worn out brick yards. Great trees have
been twisted and torn like weeds, and the
broken household goods of hundreds of
houses line the shores for miles.
Thieves of the Vilest Port,
those who steal from the dead and. the un.
fortunate, have been busily at work robbing
the trunks, boxes, articles of furniture, and
there is nothing worth taking left except
lumber. Every now and then ghastly out
lines could be seen in the water being swept
down stream.
Two miles from the town is the "SX"
tower of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, and here it is that the greatest rail
road in the world ends suddenly in the river.
For more than a thousand feet the entire
track is wiped out, rails, ties and even
ballast. The north track is entirely washed
away.
This is the nearest telegraphic point to
Johnstown on this side, and the delay in
getting off news dispatches has been fairly
maddening.
EECOYERING THE BODIES.
Sights Which While Saddenlnc Finally
Led to Apathy A Ghostly Row
nt Xloeveh.
IFBOK A STAFF COEKESP0SBEST.3
Nineveh, June 3. Midnight The re
covery of the bodies of the victims of the
flood was commenced even before the water
began to recede, but it was prosecuted with
"NJreater vigor yesterday. How many per
sons were lost can never be known, but it is
known that over 400 bodies were recovered
yesterd.y.
At Nineveh, ahout 14 miles below Johns
town, the greatest number was found. By
5 o'clock last evening 84 bodies, chiefly
those of women and children, had been
placed in the Nino eh planing mill, which
had been turned into a temporary morgue.
Of these J. H. Moorhead, with a wagon
pulled by four horses, had recovered 53.
Across the river lrom Nineveh 75 more
bodies were taken out. At New Florence
30 were recovered. At Morrellville, just
below Cambria City, 41 dead bodies were
placed side by side as they were recovered
front ths sand.
Jnyioc Oat the Dend.
In St. John's Church, in Lower Cambria,
30 bodies were lyUg at 3 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, and t John Cuthbcrt's, higher
up. 22 awaite i identification.
Other bodies were recovered at Bolivar, at
Cambria City and at intermediate points,
making the total number recovered up to
5 o'clock in the evening 408.
The rapidly receding waters gave up
chastly secrets. Alter the recovery of the
first bodies, most of which were washed
ashore, there were few found lying entirely
exposed. As a rule their presence was in
dicated by a hand or foot sticking np
through the wet sand.
So rapid was the work at Nineveh daring
the afternoon that the driver of the four
horse waenn Knmptimps fonrot how manv he
, bad in a load. At one time he drove up I
with 11 bodies and thought lie had counted
12 as they were loaded in.
Very Unrd to Recognize.
The identification of the bodies was very
slow. Ninety out of every 100 ot the corpses
were badly bruised about the head and face,
evidently "from contact with the enormous
masses of debris in the river. At Nineveh
only 7 out of the 84 bodies bad been identi
fied last evening, and of the 7 only 3 bore
the necessary cards of identification. These
were JosepbJacksou, a repairman on the
Pennsylvania Railroad, Mrs. McNarry. of
Johnstown, and Hulbert Bryan, of Johns
town, a boy about 10 years old.
It was not at all remarkable that apathy
took the place of grief on the part of many
relatives, as well as the onlookers. The
sight of so many dead bodies had a benumb
ing eflect and caused many bereaved per
sons to treat their loss lightly. One man,
who had lost his wife and three children,
talked as cheerfully as a person who had
lost no one, and a man who had only lost
his mother spoke about it in a smiling man
ner. FOKCE OF A TITAN.
Steel Rails Bent or Broken Like Straws
Massive Balldlncs Rendered Mere
Rains Pitiful Mementoes.
I FROM A STAFF COBBESrOXDXNT.l
New Florence, June 18 p. M.
The tremendous force exerted by the
flood can onlv be appreciated by those who
have seen its effects. A mere description
conveys but a sight idea. At Sang Hol
lov, four and a half miles below Cam
bria City, is the eastern limit of the Penn
sylvania Railroad now.
When the first train eastward bound left
the Union station yesterday morning the
conductor had instructions to go as far ashe
could. At the ticket office purchasers were
notified that they could pay their fare only
to Bolivar, and it went on until the tower
station one mile below Nineveh was
reached, There it waited for orders, which
came in the shape of instructions to the
conductor and engineer to use
Their Own Judgment.
They used it, and on the train went to
Sang Hollow It m:ght have gone a couple
of hundred feet furth r, but no more.
The passengers walked. First there
came great piles of lumber, left on the
tracks by the receding, flood. Then came
not even a vestige of a track. For a long
stretch there was only a portion of the or
iginal embankment, and such portions of
ballast as the waters kindly left There
were double tracks piled upon top of each
other, broken every once in a while by the
steel rails bent around .so as to almost make
the ends meet, or broken short off where
flexibility had not been a component part
ot the metal.
In other places whole sections of track
had been twisted and left in a vertical posi
tion, the upright cross-ties resembling a
fence.
The PItlfal Evidences.
And all along the track and the embank
ments to the river's edge there were pitiful
evidences of the ravages of the destroying
element' The willows bore strange flowers
of garments and bedding and other evi
dences of household life. Silk handker
chiefs and towels hung side by side, while
at the base of the cluster lay pillows and
mattresses.
Astonishing masses of debris lined the
shores,in which could be discovered wrecked
pianos, cradles, children's chairs and other
like material.
Frame houses, singularly saved from de
struction, yet as singularly placed on new
foundations, were not infrequent One two
story structure was placed fairly and
squarelv across the railroad track on the
West'ide. ,
Dead horses and mules, but no human
bodies, conld be seen among the debris,
which often was of vast extent
Dawson.
THE DEADAT NINEVEH.
The Town Transformed Into a Moreno Sod
Scenes Everywhere 150 Bodies i
Fonnd Another Story of
the Conflagration.
IFBOM X STAFF COnilESPONDBKT.
New Florence, June L Up to the
present 150 bodies have been found at
Nineveh. The work train is outinow col
lecting the bodies. Two were picked np at
Coketon within the past few hours; one at
Bolivar; two at Lockport; a woman and a
baby at Blairsville Intersection and two
more" at Lacolle. One boy was taken out
alive at Cokeport A large woman, sup
posed to be Mrs. John Alexander, was
found at Bolivar. She had an ugly gash in
her forehead and her face and body were"
horribly bloated. This is generally true of
most ot the bodies. -Decomposition has com
menced already.
Every hour bodies are being found.
Many of them, it is believed, will never be
found. The chances are tha t some of the
bodies have been carried to the Ohio.
Many of the bodies taken out at .Nineveh
were handsomely dressed. Their shoes were
fine and what shreds of garments hung
about their persons were of the best and
finest quality. The poor women suffered
most from the effects of the flood. The inci
dents connected with gathering the bodies
are truly pathetic The men use long
stretchers and. stow the bodies away
in the cars. Little children lie side
by side with grown persons on temporary
shelves. They have practically transferred
Nineveh into a morgue.
Another eyewitness of the burning at
Johnstown states there must have been 1,000
people in the houses. Many of them were
burned up alive held by the timbers. Re
liable persons estimate the loss from 5,000
to 6,000 people. The bodies are nearly all
bloated and some of them cannot be recog
nized. ISBAEL.
TWO EYE-WITNESSES.
They Saw the Water Rash Down the Hill
Tbe First Men .Who Speak From
Experience Their Stories Told.
Messrs. Harry and Joe Laufler, two well
known Pitlsburgers, are the first men who
being present at the time the awful dis
aster that came over Johnstown, have
safely returned from the place of death and
devastation. They both came into this of
fice last night and told the following story
about their experiences:
"We went to Johnstown on Thursday to
attend the wedding of Mr. Josef Horner's
daughter. The wedding took place on
Thursday night, and the festivities lasted
more or less until next morning. Then we
made up our minds to return to Pittsburg.
It had been raining all night and the rivers
had risen and were still rising enormously.
The Country Was Flooded.
"From Johnstown we found that we had to
go to Cambria to get a train for the West
But even then we failed to reach the depot
and we went on to Woodville. Here we
were picked up by a special train which
was on its way to Johnstown en route for
the West. We both boarded the train and
started off. There were a of number pas
sengers on board.
"Just before we reached Johnstown, how
ever, the train stopped. Then the whistle
blew and we all began to look at each other,
because we did not know what was the mat
ter. Before anyone had recovered from the
fright which the whistling bad given us, a
conductor came in and shouted: 'For God's
sake, people,
FIT for Yonr Lives.
he reservoir bat burst and the water is
rushing down the bill!' I tell you, it did
not take us long to get out. There on the
hill we saw the water rush down like a big
bowlder. We all escaped to the hill, but
before we left we saw the waterdescend on
Johnstown. The most of us escaped to
Ebensburg, from whence we got over the
mountains to Blairsville and over the West
Penn Railroad home.
"I have read the uapers to-day, but I can
assure they have not given half the facts.
From tbe suddenness with which the water
rushed down the hill, I am sure that the
Jieople were taken by surprise and that at
east 8,000 were drowned. All the smaller
towns around Johnstown are swept away.
Never in my life have I experienced any
thing like it and I hope I never will
again."
EECEDING AT FREEPOET.
The Waters are Going;, But tbe Debris Still
Comes.
.srr.CTAt. TXLXOBAU TO TUB DISPATCH.1.
FREEroRT, June L The water is reced
ing here now, having reached 21 feet in the
channel, but is running full of logs of all
dimensions from the Clarion river. Half a
million have passed hare to-day, and a gen
tleman just arrived from Bed Bank says
a million will pass here to-night That
stream is swept clear of logs, all sawed lum
ber and their saw mills. This morning the
river was full of everything from Johns
town and vicinity. S. J. Eckman got a bar
rel of whisky, household furniture of all
kinds and a bureau out at Bagdad. In the
drawer was a gold watch and chain. En
graved on the watch is, ''George C. Schoff,
from his parents, on his 21st birthday,
189." In the drawer with the watch was a
deed for several thousand dollas of property
and notes for a large amount of money.
Pianos, organs, trunks, chests, bedding,
beer, lard, oil and ale barrels, soda foun
tains, etc, came down.
A CAB TORN LOOSE
And SO or 60 Passengers Go Down to a
Watery Grave.
.SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.!
. Greensbttro, Jane 1. The first section
of the day express, which passed here at 9
o'clock, was lying between Sang Hollow
and Johnstown, yesterday afternoon, when
the waters came down. The flood cut one of
the cars, containing about 50 or 60 passen
gers, loose and it was carried away, and it is
supposed the passengers have perished.
A few of the occupants, it is thought, es
caped, but it is doubtful. S. M. Bell, of
Xatrobe, was the conductor and escaped by
assistance rendered him.
BEATER FALLS THERE.
A Comfortable Som Raised far tbe Benefit
of the Homeless.
ISPECIAI. TXIXOBAU TO THE DISPATCH.!
Beaver Falls, June 1. At a large and
sympathetic meeting held in the Opera
House to-night, with H. W. Hartman as
President, $1,070 were subscribed in a few
CARPENTER SHOP AT NrNEVEH USED
minutes for the relief of the Johnstown
suflerers. Different relief committees were
appointed and collections will be taken up
in all the churches to-morrow. The citi
zens of this place have relatives who are
victims in the stricken district Many are
leaving for the scene.
APPEAL TO KNIGHTS OP PITHIAS.
The Grand Chancellor Asks the Order to
Aid tbe Ssffcrers.
The following strong appeal for aid to the
sufferers was issued last night:
OPTfinE OP THE
- i
1. 1889. )
nniKn Chancellor. K. of P.
Wheatland, June 1.
To the Members of the Order, Greeting;
Brethren Tbe dire calamity which has be
fallen the city of Johnstown, in our State, has
appalled tbe entire country by its fearful loss
of life. The suffering which it will entail npon
the people of that stricken city calls
forth our most earnest and .heartfelt sytn-
athy. The members of our order in that city,
ave suffered, and in many cases have lost
their all. They need relief, and at once.
Therefore, as Grand Chancellor, I call upon
the brotherhood throughout the State to act
promptly. Let your contributions be liberal,
and the responses show that we have not for
gotten the teachings enjoined upon us by our
Let'all contributions be forwarded to Broth
er George Hawkes, G. K. of BVS., who will
acknowledge tbe receipt of the same. I leave
for the scene of the calamity to-night to ascer
tain what will be' necessary for our future
action. At present our brethren and their
families need our help, and let us extend It.
Geoboe Hawkis, Thomas peeky.
G. K. of R. S. Grand Chancellor.
THE RAGING SDSQUEHANNA.
York County Is Devastated With Dninnse
to Ufa and Property.
Xork, Pa., June 1. The flood in the
Susquehanna river here reached its greatest
height about 6 o'clock this morning, when
all bridges save one were under water.
Business places and residences were flooded.
Tbe damage in this city alone will amount
to $250,000.
A number of bridges in the county have
been swept away, and the loss to the county,
exclusive of the city, js estimated at $100,
000. James Mcllvain was drowned this
morning.
FROM STEBBENTILLE.
Aid is Bclnc Rapidly Gathered For the
btarrlDs: and Homeless.
isrxciAi. tzlioiiam: to tux disfatch.1
Steubenvtile, O., June 1 A prelimi
nary meeting was held in the Mayor's office
this afternoon, and a public one will take
place to-night, for raising funds and sup
plies in aid of the Johnstown sufferers. It
is proposed to canvass the town thoroughly
Sunday, in addition to what can be done
to-day. Railroad authorities will transport
everything free of charge and with the ut
most possible speed.
HIGHEST FOR 24 IEARS.
The Sosqaebanna Klver Aboro the High
Water Blark of 1803.
;SrECIAL TXLBGKAK TO TBI DIKPATCn.
Harbisbubg, June 1. The railroad
tracks on the Harrisburg side of the Cum
berland Valley Railroad bridge were cut at
midnight to prevent them from being
carried with the first span of the bridge
in case the latter was dislodged. The logs
are beating against the bridge with terrific
force, the noise being beard a mile away.
At midnight the water was over a foot
above the high water mark of 1865, and
stiU Jilting.
ALLEGHENY'S GEIEF. "
She Feels tbe Calamity aad Gives Belief
The West Penn Damntred to "
Extent of 8300,009 How
n Arakeman Died.
Although dependent, In a measure, upon
the sister city for bulletined news of the' dis
aster, Allegheny City exhibited, a keen inter
est in the great casualty of the Conemaugh.
Mayor Pearson was informed at an early
hour yesterday morning as to the extent of
the disaster and the imminent need for aid
from the citizens of Allegheny county, and
decided to direct the attention of Alleghen
ians to the Old City Hall mass meeting.
This was done by means of a number of
placards lettered by one of Boggs & Buhl's
attaches. These were hung at central parts
of the city and the attendance of numerous
citizens and 'their liberal donations attested
the popular interest
For the benefit of those who may desire
to make their contributions in Allegheny
Mayor Pearson requested tie First National
Bank, on Federal street, to- take charge of
any cash contributions on that side of tbe
river. At the hour the bank closed, how
ever, no money had been offered, but the
Cashier, Mr. Kramer, stated that any con
tributions made' on Monday or thereafter
would be cheerfully taken care of by the
banker.
How They Showed It.
One of tbe curious comcomitants of the
casuality became manifest at an early hour
in tbe tender solicitude exhibited in regard to
the wreckage by the denizens of lower Alle
gheny. A gang of men rescued a barrel of
"Golden Wedding" whisky from the river,
andwere just making preperations to place
themselves beyond the pale of prohibitory
laws when a policeman swooped down upon
them, and the barrel of liquor was carried
in triumph to the Mayor's office where it
awaits an owner. A telephone message was
sent to the Mayor's office, begging the police
to come to Lindsay's rolling mill, as a crowd
of men had found a barrel of whiskey and
were carrying it away by the bucket When
the officers arrived the barrel only remained
with a fragrant memory ot its contents.
Policeman Jolin Sillenberger found a huge
trunk with patent locks and clasps, floating
in the river, and towed it ashore. It is
heavy enough to be full of bullion and it
awaits an owner. Barrels of oil, beadsteads,
logs, lumber, furniture and other articles of
blotsam and jetsam were pulled ashore by
the members of the self-constituted salvage
corps. James McCIure was arrested at noon
for being drunk, and loudly protested that
a man had a right to get drunk on liquor
found floating in the river.
A Human Hand and Left.
William Tiniee, foreman of the lower
Alleeheny patrol wagon, saw a ghastly
I sight for a brief moment He was stand-
'
AS A MORGUE ABOUT 84 BODIES HEBE.
ing on the river bank at the lower
end of Beaver avenue just as a large
pileorrubbisb'floating rapidly by struck
an objection and careened ovtr, bringing
into view a human hand and leg extended
rigidly upward. The.swirling"flood bore
them under the surface again before a
chance of rescue was afforded.
Clerk Hunnershagen, of the Mayor's of
fice, was busy all morning mailing special
requests to all the Allegheny City minis
ters asking that special collections be taken
up in all the churches to-day for the benefit
of the sufferers. It is believed that the re
sponses will be hearty nnd productive of a
large sum. An immense business was done
at the toll-bridges, the whole available pop
ulation seeming bound for Pittsburg and
the freshest news of the disaster.
Bis; Losses on the West Penn.
Superintendent Kirtland started for
Blairsville on a train at 3:15 p. M. for the
purpose of directing the large force of men
concentrated at that end of the road. Be
fore he left he"' assured a Dispatch re
porter that the actual loss to the West Penn
Ilailroad would approximate $300,000, with
out taking into account the damage done to
a large extent of roadbed, at that time en
tirely submerged, or the losses resulting
from the stoppage of traffic. At that hour
trains were being run only as far as Tunnel
ton. The fullest information was given by
the official of the road in charge of Mr.
Kirtland's office. It seems that the double
bridge, having in its center a short tunnel,
has been swept away, thus preventing access
by rail or wire to Blairsville. Telegraphic
communication with the latter place was
secured by wire from Allegheny to Hill
Junction, thence relayed by an engine to
Anderson, and thence by wire to the
terminus.
Bnsed on West Penn Dispatches.
"Our idea of the flood," said'lhe official,
"is based on dispatches from oar operators
all along the line. The great flood ot
water followed the bed of the Conemaugh
river from the reservoir 2 miles above
South Fork to Johnstown. Just below
Johnstown a second flood simultaneously
came down Stony creek, caused by the
breaking of a boom. The irresistible body
of water swept along the Conemaugh river
till it reached Saltsbnrg, where the name
of the stream is changed to Kiskiminetas.
This river then flows to Alleeheny Junc
tion, on the West Penn road, where it
joins the Allegheny river. At Blairsville
ten cars of coal had been run out on tbe
bridge to steady it against the flood; bnt
the torrent swept the bridge away like a
feather."
1 How John Slitt Died.
"John Stitt, a "young brakeman of the
road, son of the oldest engineer on the line,
was on the bridge when it went down. Here
is a dispatch just received from the Blairs
ville operator, stating tnat Stitt was beard
calling for help by people at Livermore,
four miles below Blairsville. But it is
pretty certain that he became exhausted
and met bis death. We have telegraphed
all along the line, but have been unable to
hear of him. Stitt's sister started East on
the day express from Blairsville on Fri
daj, and is supposed to have bceu in Johns
town at the time of the disaster. Nothing
can be learned of her either."
Iiosses In Detail.
It is learned that the Blairsville bridge
was a Howe truss affair, 450 long, with 200
feet of trestle approaches. Not a vestige of
it remains and the loss is estimated at $35,
000. The Tunnelton bridge was 750 feet
long with a tunnel in the center. It ii also
a total loss and $50,000 is estimated as the
cost of rebuilding. The large bridge at
West Ieechburg was severely shaken by
the torrent of water, bat remains standing.
The track between BolivBrnnd Blairsville
Is entirely submerged and presumably
washed away.
Two dispatches of terrible significance
reached the West Penn office together at 5
P. M. One read: "Blairsville, Pa.: 100
bodies have been recovered from the river
at Coketown, opposite Blairsville, and
await identification."
The other was over a private wire via
Somerset, Pa., and came from a reliable
man in Johnstown. It was to tbe eflect that
the lowest intelligent estimate he was able
to make of the death loss at Johnstown was
at least 5,000 souls.
PJRE AND WATER.
A Strange Panorama to be Seen at Cambria
City Yesterdays
rrnoii A STAIT COnBXSPOKDElrr.
Cambria City, June 1. A sight which
will not be witnessed again by any of those
who have seen it, and which no one wishes
tp see again, horrible yet grand, was that
which was presented at Cambria City to
day. The Conemaugh river had cut for
itself a new channel, and whirled and
foamed beyond the west pier of the railroad
bridge. Its tossing waves were almost as
vicious and as noisy as the whirlpool rapids
of the Niagara.
The sharp head of the old channel of the
river at the junction with Stony creek,
threw the debris brought down with the
mighty flood to the easl bank, and lodged it
against the piers of 'the railroad bridge.
As it accumulated the flow of water through
the stone viaducts was impeded, and the
west embankment was swept away by the
terrific current. The bridge remained in
tact, but it was uselessbecause it no longer
bridged the stream.
But it was in the great mass of debris
that Interest centered to-day. Stretching
up from the bridge piers almost to Stony
creek was a tangled mass of rafters, beams
and broken boaras, acres in extent In the
midst of this were many houses, apparently
intact
As the buildings were brought crashing
against the immovable bridge piers on Fn
'day night, an overturned stove, in all prob
ability, set firo to one ot them. That fire
continued and spread all nibt and to-day.
Slowly, yet surely, oue great element pitted
itself against another, and sought to render
complete the ruin and destruction.
A grander panorama could not be conceived.-
There was the roaring turbid tor
rent, the bright flames and glowing embers,
canopied by a cloud of smoke, and a great
lake of water surrounding houses which
looked strange in their isolation.
Over the yet unburned portions of the
wreckage could be seen men wandering
about, somp seeking plunder and others the
living or dead bodies of the inmates of the
flood-beaten houses.
Several dead bodies were rescued from
the flames, but no living mortals. And it
is certain that wreckers found much treas
ure which they appropriated to their own
uses. Dawson.
THE TELEGRAPH HEROINE DROWNED
AYonngstown Man Saw tho Brave Tady
Operator Swept Awny.
rsrKCIAI. TELEGRAM TO TnEDISrATCTt. j
Youngstowh, June 1. Henry li. Moyer,
traveling salesman for lams, Frank & Co ,
New York, was in the Johnstown disaster
and reached here to-night Moyer said: "I
was in the Hulbert Hotel, and the water
rose so rapidly that we had to climb
to the top story, where a boatman
took myself and two other guests
in a boat and rowed us to land. I walked
to Greensburg and there secured a train for
Youngstown. I saw the lady operator who
sent the last message oyer the wires swept
away in the flood and drowned. The scene
was terrible and I'll never forget last night
as long as I live."
A message to-night from Johnstown states
that Mrs. James Jenkins, of this city, who
went tbere.to attend her mother, had been
drowned. She leaves a husband and six
children here.
A.
SHARON'S SYMPATBY
Some
of
Her Citizens Are Missing-,
money Is Plenty.
bnt
ISPECIAI, TELEGRAM TO TITE DISPATCn.1
Sharon, June 1. A relief meeting,
called by 'Burgess Willis to raise money for
the Johnstown'sufferers, is now in progress
at the Sharon Rink and subscriptions in
large and small amounts are pouring in.
The total amount will aggregate, all told,
nearly $1,000. The Western Union Tele
graph office has been a center of interest all
davto many people who have friends in the
ill-fated city.
Several Sharon citizens, who had rela
tives and families in Johnstown", left to
night for Pittsburg in hope of getting
through to ascertain the fate of friends. B.
F. Wafkins, of tbe Sharon Steel Casting
Company, was in Johnstown with his fam
ily and iio word has been received from him.
From reports it is believed that a daughter
of Mrs. John Hilauds, "With her husband,
has been drowned.
PRESIDENTAL SYMPATHY.
Tbe Secretnry of Wnr Will Try to Afford
Means of Relief.
Washington, June 1. The President
has sent a telegram to the Mayor of Johns
town, expressing his sympathy for the peo
ple of that city in their recent calamity,
and saying that the Secretary of War is
considering means for their relief. He also
made a contribution to the relief fund.
Grcenshnre People Who Are Missing.
tSFECIAI. TELEGRAM TO TUB DISPATCB.l
Gbeensbubo, June 1. Alexander Kil
gore, formerly of this place, and who has a
great many relatives in this section, was
lost in the flood. "Rev. Wagner, wife and
three daughters, who were at Johnstown,
nerished, and a son and daughter of Jesse
Paden, of tbis place, were drowned. A. J.
Jackson, a Western Union lineman, sta
tioned at Derry, was found drowned this
evening.
The Flood at the National Capital.
Washington, June 1. The latest re
ports from Harper's Ferry says the Poto
mac and Shenandoah rivers are rising one
foot per hour, Canal boais and other drift
are running thick. The river is very high
here and is rising. The water has reached
the street and has put out the fire in the en
gine house at the Washington Monument
and stopped the elevator. Cellars on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue are
flooded.
Monrninc for Friends nt Scottdnlr.
Scottdale,' June 1. The excitement at
this place over the Johnstown- calamity is
intense, as many of our citizens have rela
tives at that place. Burgess Porter has
called a meeting for to-morrow afternoon,
and a committee is out gathering supplier
for the sufferers at Johnstown. Drs. Wcd
dell and Clifford were called to Johnstown
to assist in caring for the suffering.
Klttnnnlna- Will Contribute.
ISrECIAL TELEGRAM TO TUX DISPATCH.:
Kittanning, June 1. A meeting was
held at tho Reynold's House at 2 o'clock
this afternoon in response to a call signed
bylJurgess Marshall inbehalf of the Johns
wwn sufferers, af which over 200 was sub
scribed in a short time, and a committee ap
pointed to solicit subscriptions from the
citizens.
Bedford to tbo Rescue.
I SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISrATClM
Bedford, Jane 1. Subscriptions papers
are being circulated through the town for the
benefit of the Johnstown sufferers; , $200
have already been subscribed. Persons are
leaving here in all kinds of vehicles in
search of friends who are thought to be'
among the lost'
ELMIBA UNDER WATEB,
Half tbe Pretty City Suhmerged.-Grent
Damage to Property People Hun
gry nnd SafferingTho Worst
Flood for Many Years.
jgPECIAL TXLXOBAU TO TBX DISPATCH. 1
Elmira, N", Y,, June 1. Elmira is half
under water, having the greatest flood
known in its history. Tbe freshet com
menced at 7, A. M., and continued rising
until 8 in the evening, when it began to sub
side. The rain, which fell from Thursday
until this morning, filled to overflowing the
streams and tributaries of the Chemung,
flooding the whole valley. The larger part
of the Fifth ward and nearly all of tho
lower part of the city have been inundated
since 4 o'clock, the water being from 5 to 8
feet deep.
All the cellars in the business patt of the
city are full of water, to the great damage of
goods stored therein. The dyke protecting
Biverside Park, which is owned by Colonel
D. C. Bobinson, broke about 2 o'clock, en
tirely submerging that beautiful resort.
The flood swept on, entirely surrounding
the residence of ex-Governor Lucius Rob
inson and covering the Maple Avenue
Driving Park. Workmen, trying to reach
home after their day's labor, have found
themselves cut off from their families by the
vast flood. Some even had the hardihood
to wade up to their.armpits long distances
to reach their homes and carry provisions to
the suffering ones there.
Many families went without food this
evening and can find no relief. Boats have
been called into service and exorbitant
prices are being charged to ferry the people
through the streets. When the flood broke
into Water street and rose 20 inches higher
than the first floor of the Rathhun House,
Lawyer Jacob Scnwartz was it the clerk's
desK conversing with a guest He jumped
upon a chair and telephoned for a boat,
which was rowed into the hotel and took the
legal gentleman to his offigjS
This is one of many similar incidents. A
hasty estimate puts the entire damages to
houses, furniture, stores, merchandise,
streets and public nnd private grounds at
not less than $15,000. Immense damage
has also been done in Big Flats, Corning
nnd other places in the Chemung valley.
Houses and barns have been swept away by
the score, bridges demolished,.thonsands of
acres of grown crops annihilated, while
business has been suspended.
The only other flood that approaches this
in magnitude was that of March 17, 1865,
when ice gorges on the Chemung and New
town creek blocked the waters until dams
were carried away and a serious flood re
sulted. It Is Rising nt Wllkesbarre.
Wilksbaeke, June 1. The Susque
hanna river at this point began rising rap
idly at 3 o'clock this afternoon and con
tinues at the rate of a foot an honr. Re
ports are coming in this evening from the
DRrFT COVERING THE TEACK AT SHERIDAN STATION.
country districts to the effect that the crops
have been very much injured by the tre
mendous wind and heavy rain.
MARYLAND'S FLOOD.
Risen Rivers Are Creating Havoc In That
State As Yet Ko Iios's of Life Is
Reported The Suspension of
Travel Is Complete.
Baltimore, June 1. On the Baltimore
kand Ohio, at Gaithersbnrg. the water is said
to be 9 feet in depth. A message was re
ceived from the Pennsylvania Bailroad
Company requesting the Baltimore and Ohio
to allow it to bring the Pennsylvania trains
that are shut up"in Wheeling, W. Va., over
the Baltimore & Ohio's line. The Balti
more and Ohio would be glad to grant this
request, Btit the road is not able fo bring its
own trains'to Baltimore, owing to the dam
age on the road.
An Ellicott City special says: Hundreds
of people line the banks of the Patapsco to
day watching toe rushing flood, which has
receded but a few inches since last night
Nothing since thevflood of '68 equals this.
All communications further west by rail are
cut off. Half tbe bridges that spanned the
river at Gray's stationhave been carried
away. The contents of dwellings were re
moved. Several buildings have been swept
down the stream. The only death reported
is that of William HudsonV a flour packer
at Orange Grove, below IJchester. Last
night as he was returning across the suspen
sion bridge it was struck by a huge log and
broken. Both man and bridge were swept
away.
A special from Frederick says. The rain
has poured incessantly since Thursday
night The wheat -crop in this co-nnty has
been damaged to an extent that cannot now
bo estimated, and early fruit has been de
stroyed. The Potomac, at Point oft Bocks
and in Virginia, is rapidly overreaching its
banks and the damage there will be great
Advices from Westminster say surrounding
lands are inundated, and raany of tbe
workmen are unablo to get to their home'fl.
Between New Windsor and Linwood and
Western Maryland Bailroad is covered withi
water to the depth of one to three feet hy
'the waters of Little Pipe creeK and the
track is washed away for a considerable dis
tance. The extent of the damage cannot be
ascertained until the flood subsides.
EESOUED IN BOATS.
Harrisburg Also Was Treated to a Taste of
the Flood Eastern Journalists Who Aro
Sidetracked Somewhere Condition
of the Railroad Tracks.
Hareisbubg, June 1. The great rain
storm has entailed great loss h,ere. In the
east and south ends of the city, the water
rose above the banks of Paxton creek, swept
away bridges and reached the first stories of
houses. Last night hundreds of families
were in distress and feared to leave their
homes. Mayor Fritchy conducted the re
lief expedition, which utilized all the boats
to be had, and while the rain came down in
torrents he and his assistants did good work.
While thus engaged the Mayor and one
of his officers narrowly escaped drowning.
The Susquehanna river at this point is 18
feet above low water mark and rising every
hoar. Independence Island is completely
covered. The tracks of the Pennsylvania
Railroad south of here are covered by about
two feet of water. Trains from the East stop
here, and the probability is that it will be
several hours before traffic to the West will
be resumed. Advices just received from
pbints op,the river "say that the beautilul
fish houses of Harrisburgers, about ten
miles from here, were washed awiy, as were
sheds and outhouse of every kind.
Great embankments here caved in, cul
verts and sewers are demolished and great
trees laid prone. A -party of newspaper
men, representingNew York and Philadel
phia journals, fame here early this morning
with the expectation of reaching Johnstown.
Finding travel at a standstill from this
Jioint, some of them went down the Cumber
and valley with the intention of boarding
a Baltlnrore and Ohio' train and going to the
West by a circuitous route.
WILLIAMSPORT CDT 0PP.
No Communication to be Had, and tbe Town
Is In Danger.
Harrisburg, June 1. The wires to
Williamsport are still down. A dispatch
received from that city by way of East
Beading says the lumber boom bad broken
at 9 A. H., and tbe water was rushing
through the upper end of the town. About
2 o'clock this morning word was received at
Williamsport that the boom at Lock Haven
had broken and that the place was over
flowed.
Since then no news has been received as
to the condition of affairs, as the wires be
tween Williamsport and Lock Haven went
down immediately after the sending of the
dispatch, and commnnication has not been
restored.
AN APPEAL P0R HELP.
Hooversvllle Must Have Atd or the Peoplo
Will Perish.
ISPECIAI. TZLUOBAM TO TBX DI1PATCII.1
Hooversville, Jmie L Please notify
the country that our bankers have been
appointed a committee to receive subscrip
tions. They should be sent to C. D. Lewis,
chairman. We sorely need food, clothing
and money. 'We are putting ourselves to
gether and will not ask for help too long,
but must have some now or many will
starve. Words cannot depict the truth of
the disaster.
A Snbicription Started at Troy.
tSPECIAL TELEORAM TO Till DISPATCH.! ,
Trot, N. Y., June-1. Great interest is
taken here in the Johnstown disaster, there
being so many Troy men there. A subscrip
tion list has been started here for the suffer
ers, and it is being rapidly filled.
Finding Bodies nt Apollo.
If FECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISrATCH.I
Apollo, June 1. Three bodies have
been found in the debris at Anderson Junc
tion, two women and one chiid. The Bur
gess has called a citizens' meeting to-night
to raise funds for the sufferers.
Seventeen Houses Gone at Mifflin.
(SPECIAL TELEORAM TO TBX DISPATCH. t
Harrisburg, June 1. Late information
from Mifflin says 18 houses were swept away.
CARNEGIE IN PARIS.
He Is Busy Looking Over the Sooth Ameri
can Exhibits.
1ST CABLE TO TUX DISFATCH.1
London, Junel. Copyright. Andrew
Carnegie is trotting about the Paris Exhibi
tion. I saw him there in the Argentine
Bepublic department with his wife and
boys two days ago. He is coming back
here on June 18, to give a dinner to Mr.
Gladstone. Mrs. McCIellan, widow of Gen
eral McClellan, and her daughter, are in
London for the season, and Mrs. General
Logan started from Paris this morning and
will arrive here to-night, bringing with her
Miss Florence Pullman, to spend the rest of
the season in London.
Mr. Michael P. Grace, whose eldest
daughter, Eliza, was presented to the Queen
on Wednesdav, is in London engaged in
dustriously in giving dinners to English
friends and organizing grand South Ameri
can financial schemes.
ACUN-NA-GAI1L DENIAL
One of the Officers Repndlates All Idea ot
the Order's Connection With tbo
Cronlu dlurder The Seal ofSc
creey Mny be RemoTed.
Chicago, June 1. Mr. J. F. Eeggs, a
young Dearborn street attorney, is the re
puted senior guardian of the "Columbian
Club," or Camp 96 of the Clan-na-Gael. It
was by this camp, as the story goes, that Br.
Cronin was tried for treason, in star chamber
proceedings, and sentenced to death. The
police have for some days had their eyes
ugon Mr. Beggs. and have been zealously
laboring to collect evidence enough to con
nect the vonntr Irish enthusiast, with his
f camp, with removal of Dr. Cronin. Mr.
Beggs was seen this afternoon and does not
look at all like a criminal or assassin. He
appears to be about 32 years old, has light
hair and mustache, blue eyes and a ruddy
open countenance.
"3Iy belief is," said Mr. Beggs, "that the
oatb of a Clan-na-Gael member forbids him
to disclose the name of the officers or mem
bers of the order or its objects or proceedings.
Therefore, I cannot answer your questions
as to who are members of the Colombia
Club, and whether I am the Senior Guard
ian. However, I will tell you frankly that
I hope the vow of secrecy may be suspended
until tbis thing is cleared np.
If the Clan-na-Gael does not acquit
itself of all connection with this
crime it will be totally wrecked, and the
Irish cause in America will perish with it.
Pennln will sav. 'We have contributed
about 13,000,000 to free Ireland and $82,000
0 it has been stolen and a horrid murder
committed to cover up the theft, and we will
notco!itribute another cent' But if the
oath f secrecy should be suspended by the
chief executive onicers oi tue oraer tneoraer
will be fastantly acquitted of complicity in
the crime.
"What aiakes you so sure about it?"
"Well, Ji kno w positively that if the books
of the orden should be laid open before the
grand jnry.Vnd all its members sabpeenaed
and examined as witnesses, it would be
madesoplai
that tbe Clan-na-Gael, as an
order, had
thing to do with the murder.
that snch a.
of aiain."
i-thl
g wouia never tie thought
"You must
mitthat several Ckn-na-
Gael men were
nnected with it."
"I don't thin
that is clear. Woodruffis
not a Clan-na-G:
have extricated i
McGeehan was said to
mselt from suspicion. The
evidence against
ougnun does not seem to
me to be very
stro
ig. if. u. Sullivan is in
a worse fix. But
, don t thine that enough
Clan-na-Gael men have been connected with
it. nor have they beu closely enoazh con
nected with it, t justify the belief that
Cronin was tried an Aesecnted by the order."
"What do yon thilk of the work ot the
police?" I
"It is all prosecuted on the theory of
club action and as log as they work on
that theory they will Kail. They will have
to look in some other direction for the
motive or thev will neter accomplish any.
thing. Therefore I ea:
tiestlv hope, and in
fact I may siy that 1 1
time the order will be
apect that in a short
iberated from its
ward be entirely
oath and will soon aft
and universally exone:
any connection with th
ited from having-
murder."
Latest Fresldental Appointees.
Washington, June JL The President
has made the following appointments:
George B. Fisher, of Delaware, to be fourth
auditor ot the Treasury; J.) N.Patterson, of
New Hampshire, to be seccSnd auditor of the
Treasury, '
,,"
WOESE AM) WORSE.'
Two Trains Wrecked While Standing
on the Tracks at Conemangh.
A KUMBEE OF LIVES I0ST.
Some Passengers Jump in tha Water aa4
Drown, While Others
ESCAPE BT FLEEING TO THE HILLS
It would seem as if the story of the horror
would never end. Besides thosa lost by
flood and fire an unknown number are re-
ported? fo have perished on the railroad.
Two trains are reported lost that were sup
posed to be safe.
ISPZCIAI. TXLXGRXM TO THX DISrATCH.
Sang Hoixow, June L It ia now
known that two passenger trains, two sec
tions of theday expression thePennsylvanift
Bailroad, have been thrown into the mad
dened torrent and the passengers drowned.
These trains were held at Johnstown front
Friday at 11 a. m., and were laying on a
siding between the Johnstown and Cone-''
maugh stations.
Here is where the trains were standing
when the tide of water, like a catapult,
came down upon them with such resistless
force that the heavy trains, locomo
tives, Pullmans and all were overturned
and
Swept Down tho Torranr,
and were lodged against the great stone
viaduct, along with 41 locomotives from the
Johnstown roundhouse, the heavy ma
chinery and ponderous frame work of tbe
Gantier mill, the accumulated debris of
more than a thousand houses, furniture, '
bridges, drift and human beings.
Assistant Superintendent Trump tele
graphs from Blairsville Junction that the
day express east-bound from Chicago to
night, and the mail train from Pittsburg,
bound east, were put on the back track in
the yard at Conemaugh, when the flooded
condition of the main tracks made it ap
parently unsafe to proceed further.
When the continued rise of the. water
made their danger apparent the frightened
passengers fled from the two trains to tha
hills nearby. Manv of them in the excite
ment threw themselves into the raging cur-'
rent and were drowned. It is supposed that
about 15 persons lost their lives in this
way. When Superintendent Trump reached
Conemaugh he immediately gathered to
gether the remaining passengers of tbe two
trains and had them conveyed to Ebens
burg by wagon, a distance of ten miles.
These survivors are now at that place.
A Hasty Flight.
The conductors of the trains who took tha
passengers to Ebensburg and the Pullman,
conductor who is supposed to have a list of
those in his charge, is there also. It ,
was impossible to give the names
of any of those who lost their lives,
but it is known that Mr. F. McCullougb,
of the Westmoreland Coal Company, and
his whole family were saved. Mr. Trump
stated that if the passengers had only re-' '
mained where they were instead of jumping
into the water, the terrible loss of lite would,
have been avoided.'
When the people deserted the cars tha
two Pullman cars attached to the day ex
press were set on fire and entirely con
sumed. A car of lime was standing near,
the traib. When the water reached the
lime it set fire to the car, and
the flames reaching the sleepers'
they were entirely consumed. Superin
tendent Trump inlly confirms the reports
already sent out about the terrible disaster. ,
He says it will never be known exactly how
many lives were lost, but the number will
reach among the thousands.
Tramp's Tramp.
After providing for the passengers who
were sent to Ebensburg, 'Superfetendent
Trump made his way to Blairsville June- ft
tion, a distance of nearly 25 miles, waTE!g'
most of the way on the north bank of tbe
Conemaugh river. On reaching Blairsville
Junction he telegraphed the news of tbe
awful calamity to his superior officers.
He describes the devastation wrought by the
resistless flood at Johnstown as being some
thing awful to behold. The roundhouse at
Conemangh was completely destroyed and a
number of freight engines were washed down
to the stone bridge at Johnstown. '
All the works east ot Johnstown bridge
are completely washed away. West of
the bridge most of the works remain,
but they are badly damaged. Tbe
railroad track is entirely washed away
between Conemaugh and Bridge No. 6, a
distance of about two and a-balf miles.
Superintendent Trump states that there was
a train load of provisions and groceries in
the company's yard at Conemaugh, and the
cars were broken up by the citizens and as
a result they were well supplied against
possible want '
In concluding his statement he states that
he could send many more details of the
horrors that came under his observation,
but he thinks the ground has been pretty
well covered.
A DOZEN DESTROYED.
Twelve Flttsbara" Passengers on the Day
Express Missing-.
A report reached the city last night that
the second section of the day express ,
that left here at 8 o'clock on Fri
day morning had been destroyed, and all
the passengers killed. There was no direct
wire and no definite information was ob
tained nntil last evening, when Brakeman
Miller arrived in the city. He said:
"The train reached Conemaugh and was
side tracked at that place about 6 o'clock,
when the cars ahead of ns caught fire and
the passengers on the Pullman cars escaped
Three cars were burned and we believe that
12 persons lost their lives. The crew of
the train escaped. The cause of the fire
was not explained nntil some time after
the accident occurred. A lime car that
stood about a quarter of a mile away caught
fire and the flames spread very rapidly
Three cars were destroyed and it is be
lieved that 12 people were sleeping in them
at tbe time: We could not obtain the
names of the people who are missing.
THE AUTOMATIC CHAIE.
Drop a Penny Into the Slot nnd Get a Beat
A London Scheme.
Visitors to London commonly complain that
there is nowhere to sit down, says the London
Globe. Onr streets are absolutely seatless:
there are few benches in oar public buildings,
but they are bard and comfortless, and. hard
and comfortless as they are, are nearly always
occupied by tha professional loafer to tha
exclusion of anyone else. In the park, it is
irne, there are plenty of seats, but in the pub
lic ones the sitter is haunted by the fear that
previous occupants have not been all that
mijht be desired in tbe way of personal habits,
and in the private ones he for she) isperpetu
a'ly bothered by the collector coming round to
collect his does. .
There really may be a future, therefore, for
tbe automatic chair which has lately been
brought out The mechanism is simple. The
seat of the chair Is hinged at the back and in
its normal position is folded up against tho
back and cannot be pulled down. But by
dropping a penny into a lit in the usual maa
ner the seat is released and on be palled down
and sat npon. It is possible, however, in prac
tice that the behavior of the chair when the
sitter gets up may lead to difficulties. For, Ilka
the strapontins with which theaters are fro
qnently seated nowadays, the seat when re
leased from tbe sitter's weight at once resumes
its normal position and can only be sat upon
again on payment of another penny. So that
to an excitable gentleman, who frequently got
up to admire tbe view, the seat might prove an
expensive convenience. The Inventors state,
however, that this arrangement can bo altered,
by leaving a stick or an umbrella or even a
newspaper on the seat when one rises. But if
It be so the youthful pirates of the street wfll
not be slow to nnd it out, and by means ot a
stone or a stick will keep these seats down
forever or. at least, until the policeman corns
around. Still, tbe idea Is said to hava be
extensively adopted in Pans, to It my well M -tried
la London.