Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-01

after the fire burned itself out others were
thrown against the mass There were some
f;ty people in sight when the ruins suddenly
parted. broke up. ana were swept under the
bridge into pstchy darkness The LATEST news
from JoLnstown 10 that but two houses could
be seen in the town. Il is also said tina, only
three houses remain in Cambria City. The
hrst authentic news from W y. HAYS. Of
the pennsylvania railroad company. who
reached New Florence at O'Clock. lie says
the valley towns are annihllatcd
REFrGEEs STORY
John Mccarthy. a carpenter. who lives in
Johnstown reached here about O'Clock. He
left Johnstown at half-past 4 yesterday, and
saws the scene wnen he left was understandable.
The people had been warned early in the
morning 10 move 10 the highlands. but they Gid
not heed the warning up 10 ] O'Clock. when the
water poured into Cinder street several feet
deep.
Then the houses began rocking TO and FRO,
and finally the force OF the current carried
buildings across streets and vacant lots aud
dashed them against each other. breaking
them mo fragments. These buildings were
frelghted with the poor wretches who 80
shortly before had laug he'd at the cry Of danger.
Mccarthy says IN some cases he counted as
many as fifteen persons clInging 60 buildings
Mccarthy wife was with hlm. She had three
sisters who lived near ner. They saw the
house IN which these girls lived carried away
and then they could stand II no longer. 30 thew
hurried away. The husband feared bi. wife
would go crazy before he could awav and they
left the flooded district and went inland along
the country roads, until they reached here. Ii
Is said TO be next 10 impossible 20 get to Johns
town proper to-day IA any manner except by
row-boat. The roads are cut up 50 that even
the cOuutrymon refuse 10 travel over them in
their roughest vehicles. The only hope a. 20
get within about ; miles of JOhnstOwn by
special tran or by baud-CsT. This will he done
10y the Associated Press agent within the next
| hour.
THE WATERS RECEDINa.
The waters are now receding here as rapidly
as they rose last night, and as the banks un-
cover the dead are showing up. Already nine
dead bodies have been picked up within the
limits OF tins borough since dan light None Of
them have Yet been recognized. Five
OF those found are women-ope lady,
probably twenty-five years old aud
rather handsome, had clasped IN her
arms a babe about SIX months old. The dead
body OF a young man was discovered IN the
branches OF huge tree which had been car
rled down the stream. All the orchard crops
and shrubbery along the banks of the river
have been destroyed The BODY Of another
woman has just been discovered IN the river
here. Her foot discovered above the sur
face of the water. rope MAS fastened about
II. and 1t Is now tied TO tree awaiting assist
ance 10 land II.
John l. Weber and his wife. an old couple,
-llhe MtEStr ana fOrncN were Rescued here
early tins morning. They had been carried
( from their home NJ Cambria City ON the roof
OF nhe hOusc. There were seven others on
the roof OF the house when II was carried Of
10y the angry waters. They were all drowned
They are unknown TO Weber they having
driited 10 the roof from floating debris. Weber
and wife were thoroughly drcnched aud were
almost helpless from exposure. They we're un-
able to walk when taken Oh the roof at this
place. They are now at the hotel here.
ASNIoUs WATCHERS ON THE BANKS.
The bank on both sides of the river at this
place are crowded with anxious watchers and
with horrifying frequency their yigils are re-
warded by the discovery OF a dead body.
Within the last half hour three floating bodies
have been recovered at tins point. aud hun
dreds OF people from Johnstown and up-riyer
towns are hurryIng here in search OF
their friends and relatives who are
4 swept away IN last nights flood The most in
tense excitement prevails here. The street cor
ners are crowded with pale and anxious people
who tell of the awful calamity with still breath.
Squire Bennett has charge OF the dead bodies,
and he Is having them properly cared for. They
are being prepared for burial, but will be held
here TOR identification.
-Four boys have just come from the river
bank above here. They SAY that ON the oppo-
/ site side a number of bodies can be seen lying
/ IN the mud They found the body OF = woman
/ ON this side. She was covered with debris, but
I they pulled her out. She had only a few tat
tiers of clothes on her, and the body was badly
! bruised Nonews can be received from Johns
town, and 1t may be many hours before we can
get any. x. Il. Rogers, justice of the peace az
Nlneveh. has wired the coroner at Greensburg
that 100 dead bodies have been found az that
/ place, and he asks what TO do with them.
From tLls one can estimate that
TIE LOSS OF LIFE VIAL REACH MORE THAN ONE
| THOUSAND.
No Ole knows. No one can guess the sicken-
ing sight that is expected to be met by the cor
respondents when they arrive at the scene
| above. A report has just been received that
twenty persons are on an island near Nineveh
and that man and woman are ON a partly sub
merged tree. report has just reached here
that at least one hundred people were con-
sumed in the flames at Johustown last night.
1t Is said TO have been an awful horror, but in
formation cannot be obtained here. The air is
hlled with thrilling and incredible stories. but
none of them have yet been confirmed. It
Is certain, however, that even the worst cannot
be imagined.
Another Account.
NEW FLORENCE, Pa, June THE United
Press correspondent arrived at this place late
last night. The details of the awful calausty
are limited. Every one seems 10 be dazed. the
disaster seeming to overwhelm the natives.
Between this place and Bolivar the track is
washed out IN many places, and wrecking crews
are busy at work repairing the most dangerous
portions.
At this point reports substantiate the widest
rumOrs that have gone ont. The last man from
JohnstoWn brings the Information that scarcely
a house Remains ia the city. Ihe upper portion
above the railroad bridge has been ompletely
submerged. The water is damned up against
the vIaduct. the wreckags and debris finishing
the work that the torrent had failed TO accom-
plish. The bridge at Johnstown, which is a
heavy piece OF masonry, proved too staunch
for the fury OF the torrent Some Of the top
stones were displaced
A FAMILY WASHED AWAY.
story reaches here that family consisting
OF father, mother and nine children were
washed away ia q creek at Lockport. The
mother managed to reach the shore. but the
husband and children were carried out into
the river TO drown. The woman is crazed over
the terrible event. After night settled down
the horror OF the scenes was enhanced. Above
the roar of the water could be heard the pite-
Gus appeals from the unfortunate as they were
carried by. To add to the appalling scene Q
brilliant illumination lit up the SKY. A message
arrived late last night from Sang Hollow stating
that this light came from hundred burning
wrecks OF houses that are piled up on the Johns
town bridge.
MORE THAN THOUSAND LIVES LOST.