The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-05
Their Impressions Of the Desc
Iatlou in Jamestown,
IA VIVID RECITAL OF SCENES
The Like of Which Was Never Wit
messed in this Countrywide Conn
mIttee, to Meet To-day ana
Mako outa Responsiveness.

fNFN'ANN ~ N'SN AfsF s''be"s ~ NNNN NN-
Handle.
1t was expected that the body OF
Frank Wheat, one Of the drowned, who
formerly lived here, would be brought
back by the committee, but when the
gentlemen reached Johpstown, they
found that the body had been taken
away from the morgue, by his father, it
was understood, and removed to New
Holland, Pan for burial, The telegram
from friends here to ], 9, Wheat as to
the disposal Of the body was delivered to
Mr.. Belleyille, Mr., Wheat not being ac'
cessible,
When the committee landed from the
train an INTRLLIaENcER reporter met the
members, except Messrs, Wilson and
Sweeney, who got off in North Wheel.
ing. In answer to n query, GLOW did
you find things" Mr.. Belleylle said;
"The half has not been told. II was
the general expression OF our committee
that language cannot depict the real
horror OF the affair or the desolation OF
the scene. The immense power OF the
water impressed US at q glance. In the
wreCkage jamned up against the rail-
road viaduCt, which covers certainly not
less than twenty acres, there seemed TO
be fragments OF about 1900 houses.
Bones-handS, arms, the back Of head
stick out Of the debris, In the metal
yard OF the Cambria works mud and
stones are piled fifteen to twenty feet
deep over the piles Of pig iron,
"What time did you reach Johns
town2p
1--WE went over into Johnstown prop
or at 8 o'clock this morning. We met
ex.state Senator John p, Jones, OF Ter
ra Alta, in Pittsburgh, and took him
along rs q member Of our committee.
He found US q house TO stop In, and we
slept on the parlor floor. This was In
MillvaIe, You understand, OF course,
hthat all OF those boroughs and towns
that are mentioned In the dispatches are
practically one. We had no covers, and
got cold in the night, and our sleep was
much broken. So wo got up early and
went 10 Johnstown. !,
"Senator Jones, by the way, has two
brothers living there. One Of them we
met Just as we got into Millvale, He
and Ills family lloated about on their
housetop all night, but were saved, as
was also the other brother. Both lose
everything. DR.. Hattie Jones was there
on a visit. She Is doing q good work
with her hospital
HHow about the loss Of lifeP"
"The conservative, low estimate Is
10000 lives lost. Thoughtful, cool
headed men who knew nearly all the
people there personally, place the loss OF
life at from 1900 to 1902
"What about the labels found oil the
bodies 10 the Herlbut hotelT'
"In Johnstown We found that was
true as To many OF the bodies, but not
all, as had been stated on good au'
thority."
Mr.. Belleyille's description Of the
complete ruin in Johnstown was most
vivid, Tho current OF the river was
changed. What was Washington street
now looks like tile bed Of a river. 1t is
impossible to conceive that foundations
or houses ever stood there, From the
Gautier steel works heavy machinery
and ingots OF steel were washed from so
wards 10 half a mile. A heavy battery
Of ateel boilers were washed thousand
Yards Ont Of o community Of certainly
not less than 10000 people, houses are
left for not over 5000.
dThe great trouble" said Mr.. Belle.
vile, Seemed TO our party 70 be the
lack Of one head for the work. Good
work is being done, but there is trace
OF friction owing to the lack Of one cen.
trail authority with absolute power.
Gen. Hastings would rightly be the
man,
WWhat about the stories Of shooting
and lynching"
Three men were thrown into the river
Yesterday, and 1t Is said one Of them
drowned. Little fuss was made about 1t,
The general opinion seemed to be that
they deserved 1t. Ex.Burgess Dick did
shoot one tramp whom he caught cut.
ting the ear of d woman 10 get the ear.
ring. The exaggerated stories were
probably started to awe thieves and
us Il proposed after clearing up to
assist these people to rebuild2"
4Roally they have not come to that,
They arc now systematizing things, and
propose to go over the city In detail.
Men will DO paid llberally for this work,
and then charged small sum for the
provisions at the relief stores, the money
received In this way being again paid
out at once for labor. III necessary
first to clean up the debris, burning
what cannot be used. Alter this the
river bank will again DO built up, and
the river channel dredged out to It's
original Depth"
IiNow, as to the idea Of your commit.
tee as 70 the disposition pl tho money re.
celyed here"
make tIp report to be presented to the
main committee. What Is needed Is
money. and we will recommend that the
chairman Of the relief committee be
notified that so much money Is in the
bank hoTe, aud directed TO draw upon II
from time To timo."
Speaking Of the scenes Ia The tnorgues,
Mr.. Belloville said after the committee
got Into the school house morgue they
would have been glad 10 come right out
the same door, but they were Obliged to
pass through and come out the other
end, Tie sight Of Child's corpse
brought In while they were there
brought tears 10 the eyes Of all. Ono
beautiful young woman, a yisi tor In
JohnbLOYn, was seen. Her body was
very slightly dlsggpred. She was TO
have been married Id q week.
ut lust impressed Us this way,U said
Mr.. Bellpylllel I'VE talked Of telegraph;
inc the committee lorO that We would
double our subscriptions, so greatly did
tho need Of funds there impress u.s."
Dr.. 7, Q. Edwards was asked % TO tho
report that Mrs, j. Il. Fry, vile OF tho
iate Superintendent Of tho Wheeling
steel plant, was among those who lost
thoirliyes, HO said several people who
knew her when she lived In YOUNGSTOWN,
Iald Sho yas drowned, but Q friend told
Dr. Edwards tint MFp. Fry had left
JohnStown before the Hood TOT the paet,
She was to Join her husband at Phlla'