Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-07
A WALL ABOUT JOHNSTOWN,
Soldiers Guard the Entrances to the
Stricken City.
SiGHTSEERS NOT ALLOWED.
The Belief Growing That the Bodies
in the Debris Must be Cremated
"A National Relief Com
mittce Proposed.
Dismal Sights and Scenes.

view from the mountain side this morning
shows that the waters in the Conemaugh
valley have subsidized almost TO their usual
level With tho receding waters the scene
of desolation becomes hourly more wierd and
picturesque. Like a desert swept by some
fierce simeon, the valley level is an unbroken
plain for miles, only at last to find abrupt
termination in the mountain of debris that
found lodgment on some projecting rock.
The work of recovering the dead goes on
with undiminished vigor, and as the workmen
become
ACCUSTOMED TO THEIR CHASTITY FINDS,
and the horrors of the scene become COM
monplace, they apply themselves more dill
gently to their duty and labor with system
that produces rapid results.
The Altoona delegation has been one of the
busiest and most useful on the ground. They
took charge of the two leading hospitals and
ran them until this morning, when they were
relieved by the PHILADELPHIA branch of the
Red Cross society under Clara Barton. They
have also been in charge of the wreckage
above the bridge.
The party of sixty men from Altoona
have done so well that big blast of
TWENTY FIVE DYNAMITE CARTRIDGES
at 10 o'clock loosened up the debris and made
it possible to open the mouth of the old chan
mel. This gang of workmen has located the
day express which was swept away at Cone
maugh The ruins of the train lie about a
hundred feet from the fourth buttress from
the western end of the stone bridge. Parts
of parlor cars have to-day been found, as
well as traces of the passengers.
About O'Clock the baggage of Miss Annie
Chisholm, of Nashville, Tenn, was found. She
was missionary on her way to Brazil for the
foreign missionary society of the Methodist
church. Among her effects was bible, and
in 1t was message to be filed at Altoona
and addressed to the Methodist Book Con-
cern, New York, announcing she was on the
train. Her watch, some money and Greek
testament were also found. 1t is evident
many lives were lost on this train, more than
at first supposed The whole train affair is
STILL MYSTERY.
At least the passengers have not so far been
found and located.
There was Smal-sZed riot at labor
camp this morning on account of there not
being food or utensils 10 cook it with. Two
workmen complained because they did not
have soup and meat. This enraged Flynn,
who Is at the head Of the labor
bureau, and he ordered the guards to take
the men out of town and not allow them to
enter again. This seemed to have the de-
sired effect, and there was no more trouble.
This morning twenty time e-keepers arrived
from Pittsburg, and they are now hard at
work getting the names Of the men employed,
and it was stated that
FIVE THOUSAND MEN ARE AT WORK.
1t is expected that by tomorrow at least
10000 will be employed, but even this large
force will not be able to remove the debris in
less time than several weeks. Last night
about five hundred of the laborers had no
tents to sleep in, but word has been received
from Washington that tents are on the way,
and it is expected that they will arrive to-
night
Shortly after midnight riot was reported
at Cambria City and word was sent to Adju-
tant- General Hastings, requesting detach-
ment of soldiers. He Immediately ordered a
company OF the Fourteenth regiment to the
place, but when they arrived it was found
there was little or no necessity for their ser
vice. The general reports everything quiet
last night, and this morning states there Is
no truth in the report that he was going to
order out the Tenth regiment The soldiers
are getting down to work and guards are
posted at the stone bridge, and it is now i'm
possible to get into Johnstown without
pass.
MANY UNIDENTIFIED CoRPsEs.
There are at present thirty unidentified
bodies Mt the Fourth ward school house.
These bodies have been lying there for the
past three days, and in that time at least
forty thousand people have viewed them.
No one has identified them and there is moth
ing III their clothing to Indicate who they
are. During the past twenty-four hours
sixty bodies were embalmed and taken from
this place. This morning five bodies were
brought IN. Their names are Henry Ludwig,
Albert Very and Oscar Hennekamp, of
Johnstown, and Maggie Hillside, Moreland
county. Oscar Hennekamp was n we'll
known merchant of Johnstown, and his rela-
tivcs, who have been looking for him since
the Hood, had offered large reward for the
recovery of his body.
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED BoDIEs FOUND
Some doubts have been expressed as to the
estimates that $4,000 to $1,000 people have
been lost in this flooded district. OF course,
there Is mt present no way of deter
mining with any degree of exactness
how many are dead, but the guessing
is reasonable and conservative. and is based
on close figuring. At least =, 500 bodies have
been found. Two thousand at the lowest
calculation, are in the burned debris IN the
river; 5000 are IN the unsearched sand banks
around the Cambria works, down along the
river and in the lower part of Johnstown;
from ono to two thousand are scattered in the
valley from Woodville to the bridge, and
thousand or two below the bridge between
Johnstown and Bolivar. Hundreds were
carried down the broad river in the tre-
Elendous current and may never come into
the hGnGs of the living.
THE FEARFUL DEATH ROLL,
Said Adiutant- General Hastings this
morning: I'm my opinion the loss is greater
than we can show figures for" William
Jones, of l3raddock, thinks at least ten to
twelve thousand are lost. The statement
that 1900 persons had registered at the reg
istration bureaus yesterday was incorrect.
One of General Hastings aids said ut 10
O'Clock that so muny persons registered
twice OF more that the list had to be revised
and that the total was not more than $4,000.
This registration not only comprehends the
population OF Johnstown and adjoining towns,
which was about $4,000, but embraces
places further away in the flooded
region the total population OF which was at
least 45,O00. including villages, struggling
hamlets and farms. Chairman Hicks, of the
Altoona delegation, who has been all over
the district since Sunday morning, says the
loss is l2,0OO TO 1900, and he bases it on
talks With scores of people.
UNDER MARTIAL LAW.
AT noon TO-DAY the borough of Johnstown
ana adjoining bOroughs. or what is left of
them, practically passed under martial law.
EMDALMlNG THE BODIES.
Up 10 noon today 72S bodies have been
embalmod at ST. Columbus Catholic church,
Cambria City a number of bodies were
talsen from the debris Ut Kernvlle this
morning. They were identified as Mr. and
Mrs, Joseph, Nora Potter, Mrs. Larry Hiles,
Mrs. Reese, Frank Beaman, Lizzie Wagner
and Laura and Jessie Jones. A number of
people arrived from Pttsburg to-day, caus.