The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-06-26
SWEPT BY FLAMES.
Johnstown Visited by a Great
Confagration
Which Nearly Completed the Ruin
Wrought by the Flood.


the People and Scene of the widest
Confusion Ensued-Incidents OF the Day.
JoHNsTowN, June 25.--It was only due to
the direction Of the wind that the remains
Of Johnstown were not entirely wiped out
by fire Monday afternoon. The blaze began
ct one o'clock with the First ward school
house, which stood on the bank Of Stony
creek. That building stood on the upper
side Of the dismal waste which the torrent
OF water swept clear across the town. Close
by the school building jumbled together
were about thirty buildings, some of them
in good state OF preservation and inhab-
tied. Next to these houses was street, the
only one not yet cleared of debris, and on
the opposite side was wide stretch Of
ground tightly packed with frame buildings
in all manner Of decrcpit attitudes. Still
further above were some Of the best pre-
served buildings in the city.
Had the wind carried the flames in the
opposite direction fire would have destroyed
what the food had left. As it was, the fire
caused a veritable panic in the immediate
neighborhood, as it enveloped one house
after another in rapid succession. One Of
the abandoned houses had been hardware
store, and the explosion Of keg Of powder
In 1t sent the burning roof flying in frag-
ments, thus increasing the danger. Men
were put to work smothoring the bonflrcs
that stretched across the open space, with
earth, and in this manner cut off the fires
line Of communication TO the threatened
buildings, whose occupants were already
moving the remnants of their furniture.
This banking Of the bonfres with earth and
the veering of the wind 50 that the burning
embers were carried into Stony creek ended
the danger in this direction.
On the other side the fire met with no op-
position until II reached the ruined street
The militia and gang Of laborers worked
hard at clearing the street and then tore
down number Of houses on the opposite
side. By this time the streams Of water
from the fire engines had their effect and
the fire was under control after burning for
two hours, and twenty five or thirty houses
were In ashes. The whole population Of the
valley turned out TO watch the conhagra-
tion, and so general became the belief that
everything remaining would go up in smoke
that in all directions people were loading
their effects on wagons preparatory TO fee
| ing to the hills. The money loss will be
about $4,000. The fire was caused by three
small boys setting fire to pile Of rubbish
The discharge Of the worllmen last eve
ming was consequent upon an order issued
last week by Colonel Douglass, the chief en-
| gineer, and has been productive Of the wild
est discomfort among the contractors Ovei
500 names were stricken from contractor
Ifat Of
discharged from, the gangs working fol
other contractors. Mcknight Immediately
left for Pittsburgh and brought out tbs
money TO pay of his men. All Of the dis
charged men will leave to-day. II is under
stood that the reduction OF the force is mad,
TO get rid Of the mischief makers among the
men and that the force will be gradually
increased until the contractors have all tn,
help required.
A. ]. Moxham, general manager Of th,
Johnstown Rail Company, gave notice Mon
day that after next Saturday the people IL
his employ will not be on the relief lists
This was paralleled by notification from
the East Conemaugh authorities that theii
people were in no further need of relief.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company Il
building boom below the city TO catch tn,
bodies floating away from the stone brid ge
This wreckage will be hauled out and burned
TO prevent Its floating and lodging agains
bridges farther down the river.
An italian was arrested In the laborers
camp last evening with large valise II
which was concealed seven one pound stick
Of dynamite stolen from Arthur Kirk, Tn,
dynamiter. Loose In the valise with the ex
a