New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-04
TEE VALLEY or DEATH.

TIE VALLE1 OF DIhI"'
D;ract though inadequate communication
with Johnstown has been established at last,
and our readers are enabled to gain from the
DISPATCHES printed this morning narrowing
though still imperfect conception OF the blight
which has fallen on the COnemaugh Valley
Those upon the spot must realize that the whole
story never can be told. The multiplicity Of
horrors before his eyes will partially defeat the
purpose of the most competent observer who
seeks to record them, and only little by little
can the full measure Of the calamity be even
family indicated. The death-roll is still al
most as far from completion as it was forty
eight hours ago. and the mournful conVlchon
is strengthened that the bodies OF hundreds
who persisted will remain forever unidentified
If not undiscovered. The only cheering in
tellipence that comes from the scene OF deSoia-
ton is that the work Of burial, protection and
relief is in firm hands, that the great Voiume
of assistance which has already begun to now
thither will be directed into the proper chan
nels, and that swift punishment will be lnnlcted
upon the wretches who attempt to mutlste and
pillage the dead.
In happy contrast with the unspeakable and
almost unthinkable conduct Of a few depraved
marauders shines the eager response Of tho
whole country, of rich and poor alike, to the
pressing demand for succor. Subscriptions
have been opened in a thousand towns and
cities, official encouragement is everywhere
stimulating private sympathy, the National
Government is pledged TO do what 1t lawfully
can, the tireeSS workers Of the Red Cross So
ciety are on their way TO the stricken valley,
and from one end of the continent to the other
a universal impulse is finding expression In acts
Of mercy We have no doubt that as soon as
the means of collecting and distributing the
materials Of relief has been systemtized a
steady stream Of supplies will be poured into
the Conemaugh Valley, and that 1t will con-
tinue as long as it may be needed. Little can
be done at present TO cfIace the work OF de-
struction and to restore prosperity throughout
that desolate region. Nature will gradually
repair her own ravages, and industry will re-
conquer the wilderness step by step, but many
wears must pass before the awful consequences
Of human folly and credulity which will never
be forgotten, can possibly be hidden out Oh
sight.
II is officially admitted that the South Fork
dam was the direct cause Of the catastrophe,
and those whose indifference or tementy hung
death and destruction above the heads OF fifty
thousand people must bear the chief share OF
the dreadful burden OF responsibility. We may
at least be permitted to hope that the lesson
which many sharp warnings and not few
terrible experiences ought to have taught long
ago has been learned at last, and that in this
form, if in no other, the operation OF the bench
cent law Of compensations may be witnessed
hereafter II anywhere else in the land an
artificial lake is awaiting its chance to become
a death dealing torrent it is allowable TO wish,
though perhaps foolish TO expect, that public
sentiment may bring its owners TO their senses.
As the days pass and the proportions OF the
Conemaugh disaster begin TO be revealed, the
danger of a resulting pestilence is recognized
The mind shrinkS from considering what must
be the present condition Of the water supply
upon which multitude of persons is pendent,
and every hour makes it worse. Not tenth
mart of the human bodies which the Hood en-
welcomed have been recovered and thousands OF
animals must have been engulied. Moreover,
the accumuations Of countless vaults and other
depositories of infectious refuse must have been
SWEPT into the streams which supply great
population from Johnstown 10 Pittsburg. There
Is grave reason 10 fear that unless sanitary pre-
cautions of the most stringent nature are i'm
mediately adopted q second desOlation may fol
low the first. There is no doubt that when the
first requirements of food and clothing have
been supplied, no other work will remain 50
pressing as that OF aversing this danger. Fort
unately, the humane work Of recovering and
committing to the earth the bodies OF the lost
with all possible haste is primary requisite OF
safety.