The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-09
A DREARY ROUTINE.
Little Headway Made in Removing the Pile
of Debris at the Bridge.

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of Debris at the Bridge.
JOHNsTowN, Pa, June S-Affairs at the
tremendous stone bridge wreckage pile
seem to have resolved themselves into a
state of almost hOpelessness. 1t is amazing
the routine into which every ything has fall
en- in this particular place. Every morn
ing at z o'clock score of liliputs come me-
chanically from huts and tents, or the bare
hillside, and wearily and weakly GO to
work clearing away the mass, and at the
rate they are now proceeding it will act
ually be months before the debris is
cleared away and the last body
found. Fortunately the wind is blowing
away from US, or we would have olfactory
evidence that what is not found is far
worse than what has been exposed. Then
it may be good business and good policy to
have these few workers fool around the
edge of the wreckage for five OF ten
minutes, adjusting dynamite blast, then
hastily scramble away and consume as
much more time before tremendous roar
announces the ugly work is done, but the
onlookers doubt it. Sometimes, when an
extra large shot is used, the water,
shapes more fcarfully suggestive, fly
directly upward in a solid column at
least three hundred feet high, only to fall
back again into the same spot, to be tugged
and pulled at, or cOaxed to float down an
unwilling current that is falling so rapidly
now that even this poor mode of egress will
soon be shut entirely off. The fact of the
matter is simply this: They are not at
tempting to recover bodies at the bridge,
but as one blast tears yards of stuff into
flinders, it is showed indifferently into the
water, be it human or brute. stone, wood or
iron, to float down Onward PiItsburg, or TO
sink to the bottom, may be few yards
from where it was pushed off from the main
pile.
Up in the center of the town debris is
piled even higher than at the stone bridge.
but the work is going on fairly well. The
men seem to be working more together,
and enter into the spirit of the thing. Be-
sides this, horses and wagons can get at
the wrecks, and it really looks as if this
part of the ruins has been exaggerated, and
some of the foremen there say that at the
present rate of work going on through the
town all the bodies that ever will be
recovered will be found within
the next ten days. AS to the
condition these bodies are in, that has be-
come almost a matter of indifference, ex-
cept as to the effect upon the health of the
living. Facilities are so limited that but
little sanitary precautions can be taken,
and the doctors say. pest of some kind
must result. The wreckage can be. and is
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splendid discipline, under trying circum-
stances, now in force, the only thing that
can stop 1T is a. pestilcnce of some
sort. 1t is said that many cases Of
being concealed from the people here for
fear panic may seize the workers, and If
that should happen now. probably no firm
or people would attempt to touch the work
here, perhaps for months Disinfectants of
all kinds are being freely used by the car
load. and in addition to this. score of
blazing piles in every direction shows that
the purifying element of fire is being ap-
piled as rapidly as possible for the safety
of the living.
Every thing here has now become a mere
matter of routine, and simply case of time.
Every thing is routine and everything comes
in its regular order. The getting mp in the
morning the going to work, the eating
when eatables can be purchased, begged or
stOlen) and last and greatest, even the find
ing of body, or parts thereof. hOrrid in
ali it's fearful details and incidents, even
this is now routine. and is only a cause of
comment among the newcomers, while to
those Injured to The sight 1t means another
burial; that is all.
A tour through this district after dark
is none of the pleasantest. Every
few feet stands guard, and with
fixed bay0nets allows no one to
pass without proper credentials.
The uneven surface of the ground renders
walking not only unpleasant, but actually
dangerous. The fumes arising from the
decomposing bodies are more noticeable at
night, and the air is foul with bad OdOrs.
The doctors urge all who have no night
work to perform to remain indoors. as 1T is
posed 70 the night air. The
scene at night, while full of
sadness, is also full of beauty.
The surrounding hills are dotted with a
thousand camp-fres, and thousands OF
white tents look like monuments to the
dead.