Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-06-05
THE sMoULDERINs FLAMES.
The Great Funeral Pyre Still Burning
Futile Efforts TO Extineulsh It.

The Great Funeral Pyre stnl Burning
Futile Efforts 10 Extineulsh 1t.
JoHNsTowE, June 4.-The scenes at the
extempOrized mOrgue are beyond powers
of description IN their ghastliness, while
the mOsns and grOans of the suffering sur
vivors, tossing in agony, with bruised and
mangled bodies, OF screaming in a delirium
of fever, as they Issue from the numerous
temporary hospitals, make even the stout
est hearted quail.
Nearly 1000 bodies have already been
recovered, and ss the work of examining
the wreckage progresses, the conviction
grows that the magnitude of the calamity
has not yet been spproximated. COnserv-
alive estimates this morning put the num-
Der of lost at 1000, ana many men of
calm judgment, and who are not wont to
exaggerate, who have been upon the
ground from the outset, place the number
at 10000.
The debris wedged against the big Penn
sylvania railroad stone bridge is still burn
ing and the efforts Of the fremen to quench
OF stay the progress of the flames are futile.
The mass, which unquestionably forms q
funeral pYre for thousands Of victims who
lie buried beneath it, is burning and is
like TO burn for weeks TO come. The
flames are not active but shoulder away in
a sullen, determined fashion, and perhaps
after all the hand of Providence is in it
for the suggestion made by the physicians
Yesterday that the bodies there buried be
allowed to be cremated, in the interest OF
public health aud which aroused such a
storm OF Indignation among the surviving
populace, il viewed with more calmness
to-day and there is a growing sentiment
that it is after all the best solution of the
problem.
Weeks, months will be required to re-
move the stupendous mass by artificial
means, and meantime the putrefying re-
mains of poor humanity buried therein
would he dealing pollution and death to
all the surrounding country.
The swful desolation of the scene has
been described often enough already to
render a repetition OF the attempt here
unnecessary. These descriptions have been
a. truthful and graphic as it is possible
for man to make them. but none have been
adequate None would be. Where once
stood solid, unbroken business blocks for
square after square, with easements and
sub-cellaIs, there is now level plain, as
one free from obstruction
The major and prettier portion Of the
beautiful city has been literally blotted
from the face of the earth. Crowds OF
strangers anxiously watch the wreck this
morning from the railroad bridge and ss
far up the river on both sides as the eye
can reach.
At JOhnstown proper, the rescuers con-
tinue to bring in bodies by the hundred,
and his..morniDg the following additional
dead have been identified: Mrs. Harry
K. Smith, wife of the cashier of the
Johnstown company, and an infant;
Adolph Nathan, poprietOr JOhnstown
/ Company store; Oliver Ackers, Harry P.
| Gather, clerk, Adams Express Co John
S Burchard, DR.. W. G. Bearn and wife,
| L. L. Smith, Mrs. Thomas Williams, w.
Z Hoops. secretary Johnstown Company /;
Charles Marshall, Squire Fisher and
family.
Thomas Williams, who lost his wife and
family, recovered his wiie's remains, and
took them up the mountain where he
buried them himself He said: This is
the most terrible thing l have ever done.
But when l buried them; all has been
done -