The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-06-05
DEATH AND ruin
Reign Supreme in the
Conemaugh Valley.
Believed that 10000 Perished
by Fire and Flood.
Great Danger Of Pestilenoe Fol-
lowing the Late Disaster.
Johnstown Filled with Thieves and
Ghouls in Human Form.
Aid for the Sufferers Pouring in from
all Sides. and More is
Needed.
Over Two Hundred Dead Bodies Re
covered at Nineveh.
Awful Scenes OF Misery and Suf.
feripg,
Miraculous Escapes from Death Re
corded.
Johnstown Filled with Thieves and
GhOuls in Human Form.
Aid for the Sufferers Pouring in from
all Sides. and More is
Needed.
Over Two Hundred Dead Bodies Re
covered at Nineveh.
Awful Scenes OF Misery and Suf-
feripg, r
Miraculous Escapes from Death Re-
corded.

JoHNsrowN, Pa, June 4-Death, ruin and
desolation are but meagre words as applied
10 Johnstown proper Weeping men, women
and children are at all places looking for
their dead FROM Kerinsville TO New Flor
ence, bodies are being picked out every few
minutes. The first tour that has been made
through the southeast end OF the town was
made Monday morning. The school house
in the southest part Of the town is now
m ssgue and in it are notless than 80 bodies,
most OF whom are unidentified. The street at
the foot Of the hill Is patrolled by citizens
with1oa muskets. Without pass from
General Hastings IL is impossible toget TO
the morguc. About 800 men are working
here, clearing away the debris in order 70
make a wagon road for the bodies to be
hauled away from the morgue. In front Of
the school house is posted list Of the dead
In this part OF the town Is located the
Irish Catholic church and convent. A re-
markRbie story is told about these sisters
Tho mother OF the convent saw the wave
coming, which she says was mountain high
She at once called all the sisters into the
chapel. Here the dozen nuns began 10 pray
as they possibly never prayed before for
protection from tho water. When the water
struck the building IL shattered the entire
structure and every room except the one
where the sisters lmelt in prayer. The room
Is still standing but IL Is liable To fall any
moment.
st. Johns Catholic Church was not
damaged so much by water as by fire. IL 70
unknown how the hre broke out. Living
near the church was Mrs. McNally, who,
when she saw the water coming made
rush for the church, thinking she would be
safe there as II was an immense structure,
and her home was q small building. Tho
crash Of waters soon broke the windows
and drowned the lady. By the water she
was crushed In one Of the windows, where
her body was found Monday morning,
burned almost beyond recognition. John
McNally, her son. stayed in the house and
was drowned there. His body was placed
beside the charred remains OF his mother
and both were taken In charge by one Of
the underta1ers.
Near the church also were found the
bodies Of Squire Brady, his wife and six
children. They were caught by the water
before they had time 10 take 10 the hills.
Henry Roberts, who lives in this part OF the
town, lost one child, two months old. He
had In HIS house Newfoundland dog which
was near the child when the fatal food
struck the house. The dog seemingly real
ized the situation and caught the child and
started 10 swim to land. The force Of No
waters washed the dog aud child against
the school house, where they were lid
until the water began TO abate, and 20 soon
as the animal could he swan 70 the hillside
with the babe in his mouth, and delivered
the dead infant TO some people who were
there.
The horrors of this part OF the town are
beyond pen picture or ordescription. What Is
Just now going on can be best felt when Il
is told that a string Of men two miles long
are carrying cofins 10 the school house,
where the hundreds OF dead are lying. One
after another thedead bodies are identified,
and moment after moment dead men,
women and children are being taken into
the temporary morgue. Three sisters who
were saved from the food yesterday morn
recognized the dead body Of their mother.
As II struck by an electric shock the three
Ten 10 the ground when they saw her re-
mains Before their names could be
learned they were carried away 10 house
and q physician summoned.
Around this part Of tho city the food ap-
pears 10 have been the worst Trees fully
five feet NJ the butt were uprooted and are
lying In the places where the streets at one
time were. Here more bodies are being
found than at any place else so far, but II Is
thought the loss Of life in the burning debris
Oust be terrible At the upper end Of the
Am near the school house, q man and
three children were taken out, but were
burned beyond recognition. The four
bodies were placed In one coffin and
taken 10 the school house. Ten more bodies
were then brought In. but no one appeared
10 know them. At ten o'clock preacho<
addressed thecrow In front Of the school
house: "Gentlemen,n said he, "how many
u you will volunteer 10 go 10 Prospect
cemetery and dig gravesl" Ahundred said
AZ" and out the road they started TO make
places In the earth 10 hold some OF the bodies
Il Is reported that the Sportman's As
sociation, which owned the South Fork
dam, was compelled 10 file an indemnity
bond Of q, 900, 900 before the charter was is
sued. When the bill granting them thest
privileges was before the Legislature Tho
representatives from Cambria and Blair
counties vigorously opposed Its pas
sage and only gave way, IL Is said
upon condition that such an indem
nifying bond was filed. This bond wa,
70 be filed with the prothonotary Of Cambria
County. Father Boyle, Of Ebensburg, said
the records at the county seat had no trao,
Of such bond. he found the record Of the
charter, but nothing about the bond
Tony Keating and other members Of the as
sociation won't 10 Ebensburg Sunday 10 ex
amino their records. As the association 4
Known 10 be composed ofvery wealthy poo
pie there IL much talk Of their being com
pelled 10 pay at least q part Of the damages
One would not suppose that two days AMI
three nights after the occurrence Of 90 dir
. disaster people would be taken from th'
ruins alive, yet two persons zero rescued
enc last night and one Monday morning
Poth are stiIl living, but one win probabl,
die. A woman was rescued Sunday nigh
In the vast pile OF debris above the bridge
buried under the wreck Of her house. Sh'
Was lying on her side, and was almost dess