Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-08
kilograms to The Star.
A DISMAL SCENE.
More Rain Descends Upon the
Conemaugh Valley.
P0NT0ON BRIDGES PUT UP.
Arrival of More Oisinfectant Gladly
Welcomed.
ANOTHER INDIAN POW-WOW.
Gen. Crook Tells the Red Men Some
Plain Truths.
PLACING THE BLAME.
Result of the Deliberations Of the
COroner's jury.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTH FORK
CRIMINAL NEGLIGENcE-THE SITUATION AT
JoHSsTowN To-DAY-THoUsANDs AT WORK.
JoHNsTowN, Pa, June SIT is the morning
Of the eighth day since the demon of destruc-
tion swept down the valley of the Conemaugh,
but the desolation that marks its angry flight
Is still visible in all its intensity and horror.
The days that have been spent by weary toilors
whose efforts were steeled by grief have done
but little to repair the devastation wrought in
one short hour by the potent fury of the ele-
ments.
To the watchers on the mountain side all
seems yet chaos and confusion The thousand
fires that spot the valley show that the torch is
being used to complete the work of annihila-
ton where repair is impossible, and as the smoke
curls upward it reminds one of the peace offer
Ings OF ancient Babylon. The corps of govern
ment engineers that arrived last night has al
ready demonstrated the valuable assistance
which it is capable of rendering in these times
of emergency with but few hours rest.
These men were up at sunrise this morning.
and by O'Clock pontoon had been stretched
across the river at Kernville. Acting in con-
junction with the Pennsylvania military au-
thorities they are pursuing their labors at
various other points, and by sundown
it is confidently expected that pom
toon bridges will be erected at all
places where the necessities of traffic
demand. 1t is fact probably not generally
known that the great government of the United
States owns only 500 feet of pontoon bridges.
and that these are the same that were used by
the federal forces in the civil war tive nty-five
years ago. The bridges that are to be used at
Johnstown were brought from West Point and
Willett Point, where they have been for years
used IN the ordinary course of instruction in
the military and engineer corps.
MORE RAIN AND A THUNDER STORM.
To-day at Johnstown opened with a heavy
rain and an early morning thunder storm. The
hillside streams were filed to the banks and
everything was dripping. The air was chilly
and damp and daylight was long in coming to
this valley OF desolation and death At an early
hour the valley where many have
gone to rest presented a most dismal scene
1t looked, indeed like the valley of the dead
Nothing was moving, and all remained within
the meager shelter offered them till the day
had fairly begun. As the DAY advanced the
tented hills began to show signs of life:
smoke arose from many campfire, and on
every surrounding in this valley of
desolation could be seen the guards
moving among the tented villages. At $50
I'm. the whistle from the Cambria iron works
sounded the signal for early preparation for
the serious work of the day, and SO the thou
sands OF workers in behalf Of the sufferere were
soon moving on the hill sides and in the valleys.
The weather was most unpleasant for any
one to be out doors, but it apparently had no
effect on the people here, for as soon as the
early breakfast was over the thousands of
workmen could be seen going to their work,
and soon the whole valley, that in the early
morning hours was asleep, was a teeming
throng of life and activity. While the rain is
far from pleasant to the workers and the many
helpers, it is certainly providential that the
cool weather is continuing in order 10 prevent
the much dreaded decomposition of
THE HUNDREDS OF HUMAN BODIES
yet uncovered and thousands of animals that
perished in the food. The air this morning.
while tainted to some extent with the fumes
arising from the decaying bodies, was not near
so much so if the morning had been hot
and sultry.
What is needed is a strong, cool breeze to
sweep down through this valley to purify the
air and carry away the poisonous gases BY
seven O'Clock the whole valley was full of peo-
pie and the scene was most animated one
The various sections of the flooded territory
were full of men busy in searching for the dead
removing and burning debris. At O'Clock
five bodies had been taken from the mass at
the stone bridge. A large force of men have
been working all day on this part of the wreck,
but so great is the quantity of wreckage to
be gone over and removed that, while much
work is done, very slow progress is being made.
The continued falling of the river renders the
removal Of the debris every day more srduous,
and where a few days ago the timbers when
loosened would float away, now have to be re-
moved by hand, thus making the work very
slow
MORE pIsINFEcTANT WELCOMED.
A most welcome arrival this morning was DIR.
II. Bullen, of disinfectant fame. He brought
with him fifty barrels more Of his disinfectant.
The doctor will take charge of the disinfecting
of the dangerous sections Of the flooded dis
trict and notably at the stone bridge.
DIR. Lee, Of the state board of health says
this disinfectant is the most effective of any
thing of the kind he ever saw, and it is also
recommended by all the undertakers and doc
tors here. Twenty-Five barrels have already
been used with most favorable results.
Its great virtue consists in the fact that it is
perfectly harmless. Mr.. Bulleu was q former
resident Of Johnstown and lost thirty relatives
in the food, among them three brothers-in-
law, three uncles and two aunts.
From Bolivar to Johnstown the side tracks Of
the Pennsylvania railroad are filed with cars
loaded with lumber, furniture, and goods and
wares Of all descriptions for the sufferers. The
Cambria iron companys works present busy
scene to-day. At least 800 men are at work
and most rapid progress is being made in clear
ing away the wreck.
It is said that the works will start up in
about three weeks. There il little change in
the situation. Every one is working with the
one end in view-to clear away the wreckage |
and give the people of Johnstown q chance
to rebuild. One thing ID noticeable, and
that 10, whils the men under Booth and '