The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-06-08

pressure no longer, a courier rode
down the mountain side at break neck
speed All through the streets OF
JohnstownShe shouted, .Flee for your
livesl Flee tor your lives!' The peo
pie came out of their stores and res
licences and thought the rider an es-
capped lunatic, and no attention was
I aid to his cries. Ten minutes later
there were sounds as of explod-
ing cannon, and eye-witnesses saw
the great volume of water of Lake Con-
emaugh leap from the dam and start on
it's sweep of death and destruction.
On came the water, scarcely touching
the earth in its flight, presenting d
wall thirty feet high and miles In
width. There was no escape from it.
With the NOISE of a cyclone il struck
Johnstown squarely in the middle, and
literally swept it from the face of the
earth. The tremendous force OF the
water twisted into one dense mass,
acres in extent, thousands of buildings,
many bridges, whole passenger trains,
forest trees and crushed and bleeding
humanity.
The Genes which ensued, and
which are still ensuing, are reported
to be beyond description. The alters
covered the tallest residences and
swept onward with mighty strides, FL
ling the whole valley of the Conemaugh
with death and destruction. Within
twenty four hours one thousand hui
man bodies had been thrown up by
the receding tide. Hundreds OF tam-
lilies were as totally extinguisbed as
though they had never existed, and
during all this week instances were
numerous where fathers and husbands
acted as gravediggers for their own
wives and children.
Thousands of men, freDzied by grief
and despair, are still digging among
the ruins in search of all they held near
and dear on earth. The great Cam
bria Iron works and the Pennsylvania
Central bridge were precipitated upon
the mars OF ruins, and then the confa-
grafton began, adding TO the terrors
OF death by water the agonies of death
by fire. Acres of hame burst into life
in an instant, just as the waters had
lesped from the lake in the mountains,
aud thenceforth there was no e
Next day the looters went searching
Iinoug the dead for valuables. The
OF the earth, detestab1e wretches
WAC disgraced the name of man, went
from body to body, cutting off fingers
aud tearing out ears in their haste to
secure coveted treasure. But the COM
rnnnity reasserted itself. The robbers
we're shot down like dogs. as they de-
served to be, or lung to the trees, OF
into the angry waters. Tie
peace of death n more reigned in
tue valley OF the Conemaugh.
1t was twenty four hours before the |
outside world could learn what had
really happened. 1t was three DAYS
any appreciable understanding
could be had Of the mighty catastrophe.
Today it is reported that 1000 bodies
have thus far been recovered and
buried on the mountain sides.
The most conservative estimate of the
number of lives lost is 5000, in add.
lion 10 property valued at more than
$50, 600 200. Firemen from Pittsburg
are sill playing upon the ruins, and
Pittsburg police are patrolliag the val,
ley, while over all is rising the horrible
stencil of burning and putrefying hu-
nan flesh.
Was there ever such another catas-
One grief-crazed mother, of
Iohnstown, cries necessarily, "Where
vas God last night2" Truly He man.
tests Himself at times in wondrous
Ways. Terrible as it all is, He was
here.