Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-03
C0LUMBIA'S CALAMITY.
LATEST HEARTRENDING DETAILS
FROM THE FLOODS.
Appalling Loss of Life-GhouIs De-
spelling the Dead-Pitiful In
cidents Portrayed.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES To THE RroonD-uaIos. !

JoHNsTowN Pa, June 2d.-The situation here
has not changed, and yesterdays estimates OF
the loss of life do not seem to he exaggerated.
Six hundred bodies are now lying in Johns
town. and large number have already been
buried. Four immense relief trains arrived
last night, and the survivors are being well
cared for. portion of the police fort of Pitts
burg and Allegheny are on duty, and better
order is maintained than prevailed yesterday.
Communication has been restored between
Cambria and Johnstown by foot-bridge The
work of repairing the tracks between
SANG HOLLOW AND JoHNsTowN
Is going on rapidly, and trains viii probably be
running by tomorrow morning. Not less than
300 strangers are here. The handsome brick
high school building is damaged to such an ex-
tent that it will have to be rebuilt The waters
attained hight of The window-sills Of the see
ond story. Its upper stories formed a refuge for
many persons. All Saturday afternoon
TWO LITTLE GIRLS COULD BE SEEN
At the windows frantically calling for aid
They had spent all the night and the day in a
building cut off from all aid, without food or
drinking water; Their condition was lament
able. Late in the evening the children were
removed TO higher ground and properly cared
Tor. number of persons had been taken from
TINS building earlier in the day but in the eX-
that the waters have receded there is great
DANGER FROM THE FALLING WALLS.
All day long the crushing of walls could be
heard across the river. Before daybreak this
morning the sounds could not but make one
shudder at the thought of the probable deaths
vastating floods.
Library Hail was another one of the fine
buildings of the many in the city that is de-
ktroyed. OF the Episcopal Church not a yestiCe
remains. The parsonage was swept away and
the rector of the church, Rev. MIR. Dillon, was
drowned.
James n. Walters, au attorney spent night
in Alma Hall and relates a thrilling story One
of the most curious occurrences of the whole
disaster was how Walters got to the hall He
had his Office on the second floor. His home
was at l35 Walnut street. He says he was in
the house with his family when the waters
struck it. All was carried away. Walters fam
lily drifIed on the roof. He passed down several
streets and alleys until he came to the hall.
HIS dwelling struck that edifiCe and he was
THROWN INTO HIS OWN OFFICE.
About 200 persons had taken refuge in the hall
and were on the second, third and fourth
stories.
The men held meeting and drew up some
rules which all were bound to respect Walters
was chosen President. Rev. Beaie was put in
charge OF the first floor. \. NJ. Hart OF the sec
ond moor, and DR.. Matthews of the fourth floor
NO LIGHTS WERE ALLOWED
Ana the whole night was spent in darkness.
The scenes were most agoIiZing. Heartrender-
ing shriekS, sobs and means pierced the gloomy
darkness. The crying of children mingled
with the suppressed sobS of women No one
slept during all the long, dark night. MANY
knelt Tor hours in prayer, their supplicatious
mingliDg with the roar of the waters and the
shrieks OF the dying in the surrounding houses.
In all this misery two women gave premature
births.
DIR. MATTHEWS PROVED 4 HERO.
Several of his ribs were crushed by the falling
timber and his pains were most severe. vel
through all he attended the sick When two
women IN the house across the street shouted for
heIp, he; with two other brave men, climbed
across the drift and miniStered to their wants
No one died during the night but women and
children surrendered their lives on the succeed
ing day as the result OF terror and fatigue.
MISS Rosie Young one of the young ladies in
the hall. was frightfully cut and bruised, and
Mrs. Young had her leg broken
A tour of the west bank of the river for a dis
tance OF two miles leaves the mind confused
There are not over 200 bodies TO be seen but
while the mass Of the people walked back and
torth they were strangers. Not one person in
ten that one met was resident OF this vicinity
1t leads to the belief that hundreds. or. perbars
thousand are still
BURIED IN THE MUD OR DEBRIS,
And burned in the awful furnace at Stone
Bridge or LOGGED further down than searchers
have yet gone.
That many are buried yet is also indicated nv
fresh flnds every few hours. and the unmistak-
able odorthat arises from the acres of fire on the
river bank.
As the roads to the lands round about are
opened tales almost indeScubable come TO light,
and deeds of the vi,est nature perpetrated in
the darkness of the night are brought to light,
HUMAN HYENAs
Just as the shadows began to fall on the earth
last evening party of thirteen Hungarians
were noticed stealthily picking their way along
the banks of the COnemaugh toward Sang
Hollow. A suspicion of their purpose caused
several farmers to arm themselves and start in
pursuit Soon their most horrible fears were
realized. The Hungarians were out for plunder
Lying upon the shore they found the dead aud
mangled body OF woman. Upon her person
were number of trinkets and jewelry, and two
diamond rings. In their eagernesS to secure
the p!uuder the Hungarians got into n squabble
during which one of their number
SEVERED THE FINGER
Upon which were the rings and started to run
with his fearful prize.
The revolving nature of the crime so wrought
upon the pursuing farmers who by this time
were close at hand, that they gave immediate
chase. Some of the Hungarians showed fight
but, being outnlmbered, were compelled to flee
for their lives. Nine ofthe brUtes escaped, but
f-ur OF them were literally driven into the
surging river and to their death.