Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-06-07
HORRORS!
Johnstown, Pa, Overwhelmed.
From 5000 to Is, 900 People
Drowned.
A BURSTING DAM
Causes the Greatest Disas,
ter of Modern fines.


emaugh Valley in Pennsylvania last
Friday. rumors of which were heard
here from time TO time, proves not 10
have been exaggerated. From 5000
to $4,000 persons lost their lives sud
denly and horribly, and Johnstown
has been almost entirely ob lterated.
Conemaugh lake and reservoir was
fourteen miles above Johnstown. IL
was the property OF a nuhoer Oh
wealthy gentlemen IN PlttsOutS, VINO
constituted u corporation called the
South Fork Fishing and Hunting
Climb. The sheet of water was sltua-
ted in the mountains from 200 10 3OO
feet above the level of Johnstown,
WAS three miles in length, from one 10
one and a-Quarter miles IN width ana
in some places said TO be 100 feet deep.
The original lake had been quadru-
pied in size by artificial means, and
was held in check by a dam from 200
TO /. 600 feet wide. The dam was 80
feet in thickness at the base, with a
height of 40 feet and breadth OF
over 20 feet at the top. The great
body of water i'm the lake had been
swollen by the continuous rains, and
finally swept away the immense dam
which had been built to restrain it
and rushed in a mighty and irresist1-
bic flood upon the country below 1t,
growing in volume and strength as 1t
Joined the Conemaugh creek and the
already swollen streams along which
il poured. The course of the flood led
il most of the way through a narrow
V-Shaped valley, all along which were
villages and towns of from one thou
sand to five thousand inhabitants.
The people, il is stated, were warned
of the break in time to have made
their escape. but the warming was not
generally regarded. The water be-
gan pouring into Johnstown about
o'clock Friday and the full volume
struck it little later, and not till then
was the extent of the danger appreci-
ated. Those who had time fled to the
high grounds, but hundreds of people
were caught in the flats and We're bur
led beneath falling walls or were
washed away in their frail frame
houses, which We're soon torn TO pieces
in the fierce tide or wrecked against
the railroad bridge, where much of
the debris lodged and piled up TO a
great height.
There were three stages or divisions
in the fateful course of the Disaster
the flood caused by heavy rains, the
breaking of a huge lumber boom on
Stony creek, and, most destructive of
all, the giving way of the Conemaugh
lake embankment. The flood due to
the storm appears to have been al
most at its height at about o'clock
on Friday afternoon. Then the lum-
Der boom on Stony creek was torn
away, and the enormous mass of logs
hurled down the stream and over the
submerged district of the doomed city,
tore away houses as though they had
been built of cards While this work
of destruction was still going on there
came down the valley of Conemaugh
creek, almost without warning, u tow
ering mass of rushing water from
the burst embankment at Conemaugh
lake, which swept with resistless force
over the remaining houses and buried
them under fathoms of water or car
ried them at once down the stream.
The most awful elimination of the
awful night was the roasting of a
hundred or more persons i'll midfloOd.
The ruins of houses, old buildings and
other structures which swept against
the railroad bridge caught fire. There
were crowds of men, women and chill
dren on the wreck, and their screams
were soon added to the awful chorus
of horror. They were literally roast
ed on the flood. Soon after the fire
burned itself out others were thrown
against the mass. There were some
fifty people in sight when the ruins
suddenly parted, broke up and swept
under the bridge into pitchy dark
ness.
ACCOUNTING SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
James M. Walters, an attorney,
spent the night in Alma Hall and re-
lates a thrilling story. One of the
most curious occurrences of the whole
disaster was how Mr. Walters got to
the hall. He had his Office on the
second floor. His home is at 135 Wal
nut street. He says he was in the
house with his family when the wa
tiers struck ii. All was carried away.
Mr.. Walters family drifted on a roof
in another direction. Hepassed down
several streets and alleys until he
came to the hall. His dwelling struck
that editice and he was thrown into
his own Office. About 200 persons had
taken refuge in the hall, and were in
the second, third and fourth stories.
The men had a meeting and drew up
some rules which all were bound to
respect.
No lights were allowed, and the
whole night was spent in darkness.
The sick were cared for. The weaker
women and children had the best ac-
commodations that could be had
while the others had to wait.
The scenes were agoniZing. Heart
rending shrieks, sobs and means
pierced the gloomy darkness The
crying of children mingled with the
suppressed sobs of women. Under
the guardianship of the men all took
more hope. No one slept during all
the long, dark night. Many knelt for
hours In prayer, their supplications
mingling with the roar of the waters
and the shrieks of the dying in the
surrounding houses. In all this mis-
cry two women gave premature birth
to children. Doctor Matthews is a
hero. Several of his ribs were crushed
by falling timber and his pains were
severe, yet through all he attended
the sick. When two women in a
house across the street shouted for
help he, with two other brave young
men, climbed across the drift and ad-
ministered to their wants No one
died during the night, but women
and children surrendered their lives
on the succeeding day as a result of
terror aud fatigue.
JoHNSTowN, JUNE 2.-When Super
intendent Pitcairn telegraphed to
Pittsburg on Friday night that Johns
town was annihilated he came very
close to the facts of the case, although
he had not seen the Inflated city. To
say that Johnstown is wreck is but
stating the facts of the case. Moth
ing like it was ever seen in this coun-
try. Where long rows of dwelling
houses and business blocks stood