The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-09
BLOWING UP THE WRECK.
The PeBtilonce That lie Feared--Nece .
sary Sanitary Regulations.


JoHSsrowS, Pa, June S-Afairs at
tho tremendous stone bridge wrcckagc
pile seemed to have resolved themselves
into a state Of almost hopelessness. II is
amazing the routine into which everything
has fallen in this particular place. Every
morning at Z o'clock score Of lilliputs
come mechanically from hus and tents,
or the bare hillsides and YEARLY and
weakly 60 10 work clearing away this
mass, and they now think II will actually
be months before the debris Is cleared
away and the last body found. Fortu.
natcly the wind is blowing away from US,
or wo would have oliactory evidence
that what Is not found Is far worse than
what has been exposed. Then II
may be good business and good
policy to have these few workers fool
around tie edge Of the wrcckago for five OF
ten minutes adjusting a dynamite blast,
then hastily scramble away and consume
as much more time before n tremendous
roar announces the ugly work Is done, but
the on.lookcri doubt IL. Sometimes when
an extra large shot is used the water, bits
Of wood and. iron and other shapes more
fcariuly suggestive fly directly upward In
a solid column at least 800 feet high. only
TO fall back again into almost the same
spot TO DO tuggcd and pulled At, or coaxed
10 float downs nm unwilling current that Is
falling 70 rapidly now that even this poor
mode OF cgrcss will soon be shtN entirely
of.
The fact Of the matter Is simply this
They arc not attempting TO save bodies at
the bridge, but NJ one blast tears yards OF
stud into flinders IL Is showed indiilorcnily
into tho water, be IL human or brute,
stone, wood or iron, 90 float down 10 Pitts
burg or 10 sink % the bottom, maybe n
few yards from where IL was pushed Oh
from the main pile. Up In tho center OF
the town debris Ia piled even higher than
at the stone bridge, but the work u going
ON fairly well. The men seem to be work.
ing morc together and enter into the spirit
OF the thing. Besides this, horses and
wagons can get Ut the wrecks, and Il really
looks M II tits part OF the ruins has been
exaggerated. aud some OF the iopmcn there
say that at the present rate OF work going
NhaNAkhNN WV NfNNH W. ANN NNNAtN AlNNA
ever will be covered will DO found with
In the ncXt Ten dayE.
As 10 the condition these bodies are In,
that has become almost a matter Of indif.
ference, except ~ TO the effect upon the
health Of the living. Facilities are 20 linn
tied that bu litt y sanitary precautions can
be taxi n, aud the doctors say pest OF
some Kind must result An alarming re-
port has just reached here that diphlheria
has broken out in a crowded camp In town,
and iacts ~ the case will be sent later, rs
everybody IL excited and frightened, aad
The doe ors iak9no pains to conceal tile
Tact that disease Il the only enemy now.
The wrcckagc can bo aud Is being rapidly
cleared away, and with the splendid dis
ciplinc, under irving circumstances, now
IN iorcc, the only thing that can stop Il IA a
postilcncc OF some sort. II Is said that
many cuses OF fever and diph.heria and
pneumonia are being concealed from the
people here for lear a panic may seizo the
workers aud II that should happen now
probably NO firm or people would attempt
70 attend 10 work here perhaps for mon tbs.
Disinicctanis Of all kinds are being freely
used by the carload, and In addition 10
this a score Of blazing piles In every dircc-
ton show that the purifying element Of
IRE h being used as rapidly a. possible for
the safety Of Tho people. Everything here