Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-11-26
IoAAsInAA TODAY

from $1,000 % 1900 prosperous people
including the suburbs, I. now q conglou-
crate mass ~ vacant house lots, each
with q walled-ln hole, the cellar ~ some
ones once comfortable home "a collec-
tlon ~ hastily erected apologies for
houses few patched up buililngs that
were partially destroyed by the Hood,
some buildings that are apparently un-
injured, among which are churches. some
~ the school houses aud a few business
hlocks-ani masses aud piles 81 debris
that seven months ~ hard work has not
been long enough Ia remove.
The town l. beautiful for situation, at
the Junction ~ the Conemaugh river
and stony crcek. and l. nestled In q mall
valley surrounded by high hills, which
form a picturesque background In what
ever direction you may look.
There i not the ycstlge of living tree
In what wcr. once beautifully shaded
streets, and those that arc left arc dead
reminders II their former beauty, aud
all bear Ia their branches the fruit ~ the
desolatlng Hood, In the form ~ Haunting
rag., which were once parts ~ some
ladies wearing apparel or some article
~ household u.c.
Wander where We will. We can not
escap. the sad reminder IL the Hood.
n We turn toward that fatal stone
bridge, which still stands and carries
the trains II the rcnnsyl,ania railroad
safely over ~, waters ~ the Conemaugh,
It, huge skrs-hack arrhes uniisiurbc,i
except by the cficct ~ the heat from the
burning house. which lodged against u
as they floatrl on the bosom ~ the iiood
we shall still flnd evidence ~ the di.-
astcr herr l. The sleeve ~ What vas
once a iady'- black silk lrcs.. and here
u remnant ~ the waist 70 th" same
drrss, With IT, uiilcs and trimmings
faded aud soile,i, hat showing evidence
~ the dainty work wrought hy female
hands. Herr I. the framework ~ a
lounge. the spring. and sirings ~ q
piano. the shafts aud Wheels II q line
| carriage. the remnants ~ cooking stove,
upon which the last meal ~ family
was cOokci-ths shrc,is ~ once hand
.one shawl. the broken fragments ~ q
china plate. the strong beams aud r0is
~ the sturdy bridge that sp1nnc'i the
stream. the telegraph Wirr. which hung
over the street. the plr,es ~ the sewing
machine which had ssNcd IT, Last stitch
all huddled In cunfusc,i mas, aud
living beneath u All arr undoubtedly the
rvmalns ~ many, many men, women aud
children. Who p-r.he,i a this terrible
spot. This bridge resisted the current,
turned hack the waters, and formed a
iam wh-rv hor.ss. cattle, human being,
TIRE. and obl~,t. lnnumerahle, werr
STAYED IN their course and we're partially
dcstroyc'l during the food hy hrr.
Prom = careful Inquiry AZ a. the origin
~ the firr, think the most plausible
explanation 4. that the grvat pressure
upon the natunl "a. frum th" sfrvt ~
the food caused the frs In the house, to
leap frum their proper conhnrs and set
hrr Co them before they were swept
away. Ous gentleman told me that that
sas the case Ia his avn house. ani beforv
b. could rush from the drsi o. the .ccoud
story. a. the waters rapidly fuss, b.
found the sccond story was Ia hsmcs.
do not propose 90 rvtell the familiar
story ~ the d0e,i. bat one upon the sI'ot
i. able e. rtalifr the horrors - the dav,
v hen b. L. shawn houses thrrc sturir.
high. aud l. told that the neat hOusr,
Ike the one lrft standing. Was crushed
In hy noatlng ears and engines. borne
down upon the fscv ~ the iooi Ike q
gr',t vail. and that bat few Inches
"a. left ahnNe the Water under The ruui
hoanis. aud that hy standing on table.
aud window sills IN the attic they kept
tlelr head. out ~ water until thry could
D. pulled through the ot~n scuitle a.
find th,msclyr. upon rouf which fioai"l
on to carry The occupants % destruction
or o. safety.
~ one walk. the streets TO-DAY d" 4.
mi.l~i a. a. tho height a. which th'
waters ro.e hy .ceing lin" about on the
lc,sl ~ the .rcond story Windows ~ ths
house. len standing. which separate. The
clean brick walls aho,c from the mud
covered walls below. but thl. !. explained
hy those Who srrv herr hy the fact that
the waters ru.s ftr stuyr thu. height and
suddenly retired to the mud-mtfksd level.
and then rem dnr.i 40 that level loug
time. slowly rvtrvatlng. ietNing thes'
traCrs bshind. ~ Or a. I cau l.au, the
grvat iemtnd fuf lalor in thr Iron mills
sui in rebuilding The town give. employ.
mvni o. 40 Who can work. aud there d.
not likely o. D. suffering thls cuming
a Inter for want ~ fooi aud clothing
Tho shelter u slight Ia many cises, and
la eNtrvm~ cold weather 10 mast D. scSefg
for the weak anil feeble. the agei AMI
very yuung. bat fortunately thi. Will nol
H. more than that 20 many In The towns
and Villages Va the mining dislrlCt. 81
thi. state every winter.
. uloss Who will D. the greatest suffer
crs will D. those Who had comfortable
yc.. morr than OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, an
~ hosr fiu..idrs we're ch..r-,i hy q living
family group. ani Who nov can gather
bat a rrmuaut ~ their number aTuunI
The table ~ single rp0m. which hts ~
serve Tor bath h',lrrom sui sitiingroom,
and Who arr forrcl to 90 ip restaurant
or an lmpfoNisc,i hotel for their meals IA
40 weather aud conditions. They nr'
the Iseuple to whom the s3.iSnUn con
tdhute,i have hruught little ur no relief
firy arr the people who.e live. haV'
h-rn made I'D, and Who silently teal
thrir lo..c. aud their grief.
notwithstanding the evidences 81 th'
havoc ~ the Hood. | ilnd that tn
people are cheerful and fall ~ hops. nnf
with ih- great natural advantage. oi tn
situation IL the town ani the value ~ w.
industrie. there \. no doubt that in tn
near future therr will b. prosperity, th'
lot home. will b. rebuilt. the street,
will h. restored to their Nontri beauty
the park will again b. q thing II beauty
fnr NJ. Temporary house. auh place. al
business Will b. removed. and II will h
|. again planted with green grtss and grace
ful tree. i sffer la IfuNil journal