The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-06-13

The Greatest Casually In Tie HiStsy Of Anr'
isa--!IhSnSaads d Lives Lest and Nh.
RsaS d Property Destroyed.

Inc most terrible calamity in the his
tory Of the country was visited upon the
people Of Johnstown, Penn, and othe,
smaller towns in that vicinity on Friday,
May 81. The town Of JohnstOwn IL al
the confluence Of the Conemaugh and
Stone rivers In the Allegheny mountains,
standing but a few feet above the level
Of the rivers and surrounded on all sides
by rugged and precipitoua country. About
seven miles above the town Of Johnstown,
on the Conemaugh river, is situated the
Lawrence reservoir, built to supply the
Pennsylvania railroad canal, hut since 1t
has not been used for that purpose, has
been looked upon as n summer resort.
The lake is three miles long by one mile
wide, and is $50 feet deep. The lower
end Of the lake was damned up by an
exceedingly massive stone wall over IN
feet In height, measuring 90 feet at the
base and % feet at the top. At times
when the waters have been unusually
high, there have been slight overAows
that caused the Conemaugh to flood the
low lying country, but not sufficiently
to cause much damage to property OF
endanger the Ewes of the inhabitants.
There are two other reservoirs below this
lake for the purpose Of supplying the city
Of Johnstown, and the towns Of Cone.
maugh, Southfolk and Woodsville, that
are situated on the banks Of tho river,
and are also stations along the Pennsyl-
vania railroad. At the confluence Oi
Stony creek with the Conemaugh river,
the combined waters take the name Of
the Kis Kiminites river, which flows into
the Allegheny river and eventually into
the Mississippi. A freshet in. the noun
tains broke the big dan, and the mighty,
surging wall Of water swept down the
valley, carrying death and destruction
before IL.
The population Of Johnstown and the
surrounding towns in that portion Of the
valley affected by the food was from
6O.OOo to $500, and when a rushing
torrent fifty feet deep swept down the
narrow valley, j carried cities and vii
lagos before II like shavings on a noun
tain stream. The two great forces of fire
and water, 80 often opposed, Joined To
make the succeeding nights ard days a
scene of indescribable horror and desc
lation.
The latest reports make the number Of
lives lost more than eight thousand, while
the loss Of property is estimated at t25,-
100000. To add to the sickenin9 hor-
rors Of the scene the robbery Of the dead
seems to have been only too common,
and quite number Of persons who were
engaged in that ghoulisK occupation were
summarily dealt with. But against the
dark background OF the awful calamity
many acts of heroism stand out in bright
relief. First among the heroes must be
placed the unknown man who rode on
horseback down the valley to warn peo-
pie to take to the hills, until he was
swept Of BY the food. Many other acts
were done that make us think better Of
the race.
At last reports the unidentified dead
number upwards Of $500. A thousand
men are clearing away the wreckage in
search Of the missing, but the hot sun
pouring down makes the stencil unbear.
able, and Pneumonia, diptheria and other
malignant diseases have made their ap-
pearance, adding to the horror Of the
situation. At this writing the cry is
growing to fire thewreckage; that the
cause Of the living Is greater than that
Of the dead, and in all probability before
the HERALD reaches its readers this
Wholesale incineration will have taken
place.