Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-06-02
THE DELUGE.
A Clean Sweep Made by the
Torrents Course.
TOWNS AND CONTENTS.
Stray Specimens of Human
ity on the Stream.
WAITS OF THE DROWNED ONES
Sunk on the Temporary Rats il
Trying to Save Themselves
from Death.
TOWNS AND CONTENTS.
WAITS OF THE DROWNED ONES
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.


hundred bodies had been recovered at 8
O'Clock this morning. Seventy persons
are reported burned to death in the fire
at YOUNGSTOWN Bridge.
W. N. Hays, just arrived from Johns
town, says the town is annihilated. Con-
emaugh is wrecked, and Cambria City
swept away. Fully ], 200 lives are lost.
HIGHER ESTIMATE MADE.
P1rTsBURG, Pa, June Persons re-
turning from the scene of the disaster
say at least 5000 people lost their lives.
It is stated at the office OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad early this morning
that the deaths would run up into the
thousands. A stream OF human beings
was swept before the angry floods, and
was something most pitiful to behold.
Men, women and children were carried
along, frantically shrieking for help, but
rescue was impossible. Husbands were
swept past their wives. Children were
borne along at terrible speed to certain
death before the eyes their frantic pa
rents. 1t is said at the depot that it is
impossible to estimate the number of
lives lost. 1t will simply be matter of
conjecture for several days as to who
was lost or who escaped.
Sang Hollow is the nearest point to
Johnstown that can be reached this
morning. 1t is impossible to secure
definite information, but there seems to
be no doubt that Johnstown is mum
- f,,n, 1,x,ae II.
THE CARGO OF THE FLOOD.
PHILADELPHIA, June AT l 80 this
morning says two-story houses, barns,
stables, whole forests of trees, outhouses,
smokehouses, railroad bridges, county
bridges, RATS, inverted skiffs and drift
wood by the acre are floating by, from
all of which imploring hands are
stretched out to those on the banks, who
are willing, but impotent to help.
At Lockport, two miles east, twenty
persons have been taken from the flood.
WHAT THE SUNRISE SAW.
The grey morning light does not seem
to show either hope or mitigation of the
awful fears Of the night. The Associated
Press correspondents drove across the
mountains to New Florence. fourteen
miles from the scene of devastation at
YOUNGSTOWN. The weary, overworked
newspaper men, who have been without
rest and food since yesterday afternoon,
and the telegraphers who handled
messages, are still preparing for the work
of to-day.
EVIDENCES OF THE DISASTER.
Even here, so far from the washed-out
towns, horror is in our midst. Seven
bodies have been found on the shore
near this town. A man and woman are
in tree, where the tide carried them.
Country people are coming in in large
numbers, telling stories of disaster
along the river banks in sequestered
places.
WARNING UNHEEDED.
John Mccartney, who lives in Johns
town, reached here at 4 O'Clock. He left
Johnstown at half-past yesterday, and
says that the scene was indescribable.
The people had been warned early in
the morning to move to the high lands,
but did not heed the warning, although
repeated a number OF times up to /
O'Clock, when the water poured into Gin
der street several feet deep. The houses
began rocking to and fro, and finally the
force OF the current carried the buildings
across the streets into vacant lots, and
dashed them against each other, break
ing them into fragments. These build
ings were freighted with poor wretches,
who, SO shortly before, laughed at the
cry of danger. Mccartney says that, in
some cases, he found fifteen persons
clinging to buildings. 1t is impossible to
get to YOUNGSTOWN proper today in any
manner except by rowboat. The only
hope is to get within about three miles
of YOUNGSTOWN by special train or by
hand.car. This will be done by an AS
ISOLATED Press agent within the next
hour.
GIVING UP ITS DEAD.
The waters are now receding here as
rapidly as they rose last night, and as
the banks are uncovered the dead are
showing up. Already nine bodies, five
of them women, have been picked up
within the limits of the borough since
daylight. None have yet been recog-
nized. One beautiful woman, 25 years
old, had clasped in her arms babe six
months old. The dead body of young
man was discovered in the branches of
huge tree which had been carried down
the stream. All the orchards, crops and
shrubbery along the banks of the river
are destroyed.
The body Of another woman has lust
been discovered in the river here. Her
foot was discovered above the surface of
the water. A rope was fastened about it
and is now tied to tree waiting assist
ance to land it.
SOME oE THE RARE RESCUED.
Johh L. Weber and wife, an old couple,
Mike Metzgar and John Forney were
rescued near here this morning. Thew
had been carried from home in Cambria
City on the roof of house. Seven others
were on the roof of the house when thew
we're carried off. All were drowned. |
They are unknown to Webber, thew
having dIifted on to the roof from floating
debris. Weber and wife were thoroughly
drenched, and almost helpless from
exposure. They were unable to walk
when taken from the roof.
HUNTING FOR THE DEAD. |
The banks on both sides of the river
are crowded with anxious watchers. and |
with horrifying frequency their vigils are |
rewarded by the discovery of a dead
body. Within the last half hour three |
floating bodies have been recovered at |
this point. Hundreds of people from
YOUNGSTOWN and up-river towns are hurry
ing here in search of friends and reia.
lives swept away in last nights flood. |
The most intense excitement prevails. |
Street corners are crowded with pale,
anxious people, WHIP tell of the awful