New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-03
PATCHING ROADS AND WIRES.
EFFORTS TO RE-ESTABLISH CoMNTUSICA
TON.
CARPENTERS AND MATERIAL SENT OUT TO
BUILD TRESTLEs OVER THE "wAsH.oUTs"
DELAYED PASSENGERS ARRIVING
BY ROUNDABOUT ROUTES.


n the lbbies Of the hotels, at clubs and railway
stations and. In fact, wherever people together
I'm this city yesterday. the catastrophe at JohnstOwn
was the subject Of discussion A great many people
endeavored to obtain transportation from this city
to Of tho food but the Pennsyv Railroad
Compsny's officials informed all applicants for tickets
that no trains being to points west Of Har-
risburg. Among those who desired u go 30 Johns.
town many morbidly curious people but those
who had friends there and at other flooded points Of
whose fate they wished personally 10 assure themselves
In q large majority. Many turned away weep
ing, when Informed that there way IN which
they could be transported 10 the death stricken valley
There mono OF the ordinary scenes Of quiet
routine Incidental 70 sunday Observable about the
Pennsylvsnia depot In Jersey City yesterday On the
contrary, all was hustle and tivity, but there
no excitement or confusion Fewer trains than
usual we're sent out, OF course, but everybody was
busy with relief measures. Superintendent Crawford
at the depot ell day directing affairs On satur-
day, sent out in search Of competent bridge
carpenters. One hundred and fifty OF these skilled
mechanics organized into gangs with regular
foremen, aud sent on q special train TO the scene
Of tho food early yesterday. The train was 20 pick
up other workmen ct various points on tho way.
Later in the day additional force OF 200 carpenters
was dispatched another special train. At mo
same time orders were gi!en 90 move immense
quantities OF lumber toward the flooded valley.
These measures taken with the idea Of putting
q great army of men at work building II temporary
rosd-bcd trestles over the waShed-out sections
of tho line. Mr.. Crawford said that With enough
men and nsterial the breaches in the road could be
spsnned with temporary structures within three days
Nearly all Of the passengers who left this city for
the West on Thursday and Friday and were able
to go no further than Harrisburg have been brought
back to the city, and have proceeded to their destna
tons by the New-York Central and Erie roads. None
OF the west bound traIps arc bound up by the food
as all were able TO get back 70 Harrisburg when
the track ahead carried away.
Mr.. Crawford said yesterday that the reports
reaching him from the oompsny's agents indicated
that there was no truth IN the story Of entire
train load OF passengers being carried away. Word
had been received that half a dozen terrorstrlckon
passengers had leaped into the flood from one Of
the sections OF train No and were drowned, but
the train Itself and the other passengers reported
safe The Atlantic express which left Chicago
Thursday afternoon, he said, reached LILY station,
eleven miles west OF Altoona, on Friday night and
stopped there by the water over the track. The
passengers. however, had been taken on and con-
veyed to Cresson Springs, where there IS large
hotel.
Train No. 2, the Chicago limited express which
left Chicsgo on Thursday night. Dir. Crawford said.
side tracked at wimoe, aud all Of the passengers
were safe. Sections and 2 Of train No. 3, with
others from points further West at Conemaugh
yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Crawford did not know
from which Of these sections the passengers
bad been lost. All Of the passengers on tho two
sections taken of yesterday, and every kind OF
vehicle obfaInablc for miles around was pressed into
service 10 convey them over the mountain roads 10
Ebcnsburg where there was branch road connecting
with the main line, near Ciesson, by which It wSs
Intended to send them east by train This method OF
transportation must needs be slow and uncomfortable
as the roads badly washed out and almost I'M |
psssabe, yet this was the quickest and in fact tho
only way In which relief could be afforded.
EYE.wITNEssEs EXPECTED TODAY
Mr. Crawford wss confident that these delayed pas |
sensefs, who must have been eye witnesses OF many
oil the horrors OF tho disaster would be brought 10
the city some limo to-day. They would all reach |
Ebonsbfy before night, and they would BIO transported
at once 10 the east. No communication had boon |
had with Ebensburg by wire, but tho branch line
was In running order Cor trains
The baltimore and Ohio rood was selling no tickets |
70 points beyond Baltimore and washin gton yesier- |
day. The passengers by this line OH trains leaving
Chicago Thursday night, destined for Washington |
and Baltimore were stopped at PIttsburg and East
BY the Sew-YTh Central and ERIC roads. Two hun. |
1red OF hetn arrived In this city the Erie yosior
day morning Ind as many mora came by the Central.
They were all sent on 10 Washington and Baltimore
eyer the New>IeTsey Central and batlmops and Ohio |
roads 81 100 n. The officials Of the Erie and New