The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-08


the river between South Fork and
the Inflated city contained 1900
more. Not house is standing in
the little town. Hundreds of per-
sons are missing.
Subscriptions in this city still con-
tinue to come in and they Will I'M
doubtedIy reach 100000. Various
secret societies have called meetings
to take steps to aid the sufferers. The
physicians formed relief corps this
afternoon and the undertakes did
the same tonight. The meeting of
citizens at old city hall in the after
noon where $4,000 was subscribed.
started the boom. Several firms du-
plicated the contribution of 81 800
made by Carnegie, Phipps & Co. land
the H. G. Frick Coke Co. Donations
of clothing and provisions were made
at Oil City Hall. The first relief train
was sent out by newspapers at
o'clock, but it probably stalled at
Sang Hollow, Another relief train
went out in the evening. The exec
utiye committee having charge of
the work attempted to reach Johns
town with kilograms of coincidence
tonight, but the message could only
be sent as far as New Florence, IA
miles distant. John Murphy & Sons
undertaking establishment at Mayor
McCallin's order sent out car load
of collins this evening. This was in
response to telegram from the So
licit0r of Cambria borough, who said
that 200 all sizes were needed.
SANG HOLLOW, PA, June /, A.
M.-The first accounts sent out of the
Johnstown disaster are far below the
widest estimates, placed upon the
extent of the calamity, and instead
of 1000 or 5000. it is probable the
death list will reach 5000. and many
say 10000. 1t is now known that
two passenger trains, two sections of
the day express on the Pennsylvania
railroad have been thrown into the
maddened torrent. The passengers
were drowned. These trains were
held at Johnstown from Friday at
II A. NJ, and were lying on siding
between Johnstown and Conemaugh
stations. The awful torrent came
down the narrow defile between the
mountains, distance of 9 miles, and
with fall of 800 feet in that distance,
sweeping away the villages of South
Fork, Mineral Point, Woodvale and
Conemaugh. leaving but one build
ing, wooden mill, where, but an
hour before, had stood hundreds. and
dashing on with the roar of a cataract
and the speed of the wind. upon the
city at the foot Of the hill.
The plain in which but yesterday
sat JohnstoWn, sits in the mountains
like jewel in the Queens diadem.
Gauties Steel Works sat in this plain
and the city below it, the railroad
tracks bounding it at the base of the
mountain on the north. Here is
where the trains were standing when
the tide of water like catapuIt came
down upon them with such resistess
force that the heavy trains, locomo-
tiYes, Pullmans and all were over
turned and swept down with the
torrent and were lodged against the
great viaduct, along with forty.One
locomotives from the JohnstoWn
round house, the heavy machinery
and ponderous framework of the
Gauter mill, the accumulated debris
of more than thousand houses, fur
niture. bridges, lumber, drift and hu.
man beings.
The low arches of the stone viaduct
chOked up Immediately and the wa
ter backed up oyer the entire level of
the valley npon which the city stood
to the depth of what from the water
| MAJ no luulSQtO
feet. In the great sea thus formed
hundreds. perhaps thousands of PEG.
pie were struggling for life.
The scene to-day is one of the most
narrowing possible for the inagina-
ton of man to conceive. The accu-
mulated drift goged up all the via
duct to height of forty feet. and
then took fire from the upsetting of
stoves or lamps.
Then were strong men made sick
at the sight. AS the flames cracked
and roared among the dry timber of
the floating houses human bodies
were seen pinioned between the
house roofs. locomotives. iron beams.
freight. passenger, Pullman and bag
gage cars, heavy iron beams, the
greedy flames licking with haste
their diet of human flesh. The scene
was horrible beyond description.
From infancy few days old to the
wasted figures of age, were burned
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