The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-06-06

itself empties into Conemaugh river. The
town contained about 1000 inhabitants.
IL has not been heard from, but IL Is said
that four ffths or 1t has been swept
away. Four milos further down,
on Conemaugh river, which runs
parallel with the main. line Of the
Pennsylyania railroad, was the town Of
Mineral Point II had 800 inhabitants, %
per cent. Of the houses being on fat close
10 the river. II seems impossible at this
time to hope that any Of them have es-
capped A distance Of six miles further
down was the town of Conemaugh, and
hore alone was there q typographical pos
the breaking Of Its force. IL con-
tanned about 1850 inhabitants AMI
must be almost wholly devastated
Woodvale. with 1000 people, lay a mile
below Conemaugh In the fiat, and one mile
further down whore Johnstown and its
cluster OF sister towns. Cambria City and
Conemaugh borough, with total popula-
tion OF 5000. On made ground and
stretched along right at the river verge
were tho immense iron works Of the Cam
bria Iron and Steel Company, which has
81, 900, 900 invested In their plant Besides
this there are many other large industrial
establishments on the bank OF the river,
how badly damaged can not be estimated
The banks Of the Conemaugh river are
overfiowed for miles, and tho whole coun-
try Is deluged with water The Pennsyl-
vania railroad, all along the river from
Johnstown to New Florence, Is washed
away, and travel Is entirely sus-
pended. At Sang Hollow The opera
tor In one OF the railroad tow
ers counted eighty -seven dead bodies
floating down the river on the driftwood.
The river rose so rapidly that all the ope-
rators In tho towers between Sang Hol-
low and New Florence had to fee for their
lives. The bridges at New Florence on
the Pennsylvania railroad, and Coketown,
on the West Pennsylvania, were carried
away. Houses, furniture, etc, are being
carried down tho river.
PITTsBURoB, June 1.-Reports from
along the Kiskim instas river, into which
the Conemaugh empties, are most distress
ing. The river nea Salisbury Is filed
with wreckage, and a number Of persons
were noticed clinging to such timbers as
would bear their weight At Blairsville
men arc stationed on the bridges and
banks In the hope Of rescuing some
OF those who were being carried down
tho stream. The volume OF water Is un-
precedonted. The iron bridge connecting
Blairsyille with the Blairsville intersec-
tlon has been carried away, and with It a
train OF heavily loaded cars standing upon
the bridge to hold IL In place This was
tho largest and strongest bridge on the
West Pennsylvania railway. 1t Is thought
A. ~ Al u Il .afI
bridges viii share similar fate.
All Of tho towns in the Kiskiminetas
Valley are expected to be submerged
Among them are Livermorc, Salisbury,
Apollo. Leechburg aud Avenmore, having
a population Of from 5000 to 10000 each.
The inhabitants along the river have been
warned, but are almost panic stricken at
the idea Of their great loss Of property
which is inevitable.
Later reports from Cokstown is TO the
effect that the entire town is submerged,
and a number of lives have been lost at
that place.
BOLIVAR, PA, June Ia man rescued
in tho river here. who was swept away
from John stown. says positively that not
less than fifteen thousand lives are prob
ably lost In the valley of the Conemaugh
This point is twenty miles below Johns
town, and the work OF rescuing men, wo-
mon and children sweeping down the
river has been going steadily forward all
night.
BLAIRsvILLE INTERSECTION, Pa, June L
AT Lockport about eighteen miles from
Johnstown, the scene Of the disaster, Eliel
Benson, an old man, Mrs Boyle Paddy
Madden and two HungariaEs were res
cued. Mr.. Benson said: 81 live in Cam
bria City. think that not less than $4,000
people were lost In the house with me
on Chestnut street were ten persons be-
side myself, and feel sure they were all
lost. Up to 4 o'clock in the afternoon tho
water, which was seven feet deep in the
streets, remained stationary. About 4
In the afternoon the great rush came
In fifteen IN inutes the water rose fully ten
feet Houses came floating down the
streets. There were people in every one
of them, and God only knows how many
were lost As they were carried of the
houses were jammed together and against
the houses still standing, and in very
few minutes they were all battered to
pieces before they were carried very far.
The house / was in was soon smashed to
lar door. In q few seconds was
rushed into the flood, and when
l looked back where Cambria City
stood there was nothing but n great lake
OF water. 1t looks to me as II every house
had been razed or covered over. The vast
sheet OF water was full Of floating timbers,
roofs OF houses, RATS, boards and other
articles. The scene was indescribable.
The cries of the men, women and children
were frightfuL passed Paddy Madden's
wife, my sons wife and n man clinging
to the roof OF house l called to them
and bade them goodbye In a short
time l was caught by the water and
turned under. Every once in while got
into a whirlpool, aud more than once al
most lost my grip on the cellar-door.
saw people in the water ahead OF me and
all around me. Many OF them were struck
by the crashing timbers and killed out
right; others were so badly hurt that they
fell into the water and were drowned al
once
BOLIVAR, PA, June lat Lockport six
ty-five families are homeless, having lost
every thing but their lives. Edward Deck,
a young railroader, rescued an old gen.
tleman, lady named Adams, of Cambria,
and her two children by swimming out to
the house in which they were imprisoned.
Cutting hole in the roof and putting them
through, he then swan ashore with them.
one at a time until all were saved. Deck
then fell exhausted.
Patrick Madden was nearly dead when
pulled from the river. He was in the
house of Edward Garvey. All were
caught Ten minutes later the house was
wrecked. Garvey and his brother-in- Law
were both drowned, and Madden was
thrown into the flood. when l rose tC
the surface saw my wife hanging to q
piece OF scantlin ing. She let 1t &c
and was drowned, almost within
reach OF my arm. and could not hclT
or save her, l caught log aud
fioated with II for FIVE or six miles, but Il
was knocked from under me when wen
over the dam. | then caught bale OF hay
and was taken out by Mr.. Marenrow. Ny
wife Is certainly drowned aud six children
.....t.~ -..I raar all ara brNsvf