The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-06-14
After the Flood.

After the Flood.
The work Of clearing away the debris at
Johnstown and burying the bodies Of the
drowned inhabitants is in steady progress 1t
is now believed that the loss of life has not
exceeded 5000, but of course this is merely
an estimate with very little basis to rest on.
It was feared for awhile that dreadful pes
thence would break out among the unhappy
survivors but a more hopeful view is now
taken.
The people are in sad plight and every.
thing wocld be in state of chaos but for
the fact that Adjutant General Hastings, Of
Pennsylvania, has been directing affairs, hav.
ing several regiments of soldiers at his com.
mand. Gov. Beaver himself has been on the
spot. The treasury of Pennsylvania will
lend million of dollars on the bond OF Phil
adelphia and New York capitalists, 10 be
used In measures for the preservation of tn,
public health and other purposes.
The most serious problem which confrontt
the authorities is the vast mass of wreckage
twenty acres in extent, obstructing Cone
maugh river. The work of removing it is be
Ing prosecuted day and night.
Sunday was a sad day in Johnstown AT
fecting services were held in the open air by
remnants of congregations the pastors O.
which survived.
The Cambria Iron Company will be ready
To resume operations in about two weeks
which will be boon to many.
The responsibility for the disaster appears
to be fixed upon the Fishing Club to which
the dam belonged. 1t is said, on apparently
good authority, that the club was VARIED
years ago that their dam was dangerous
When the dam was new the State authorities
never allowed over fifty feet Of water in it,
but the club had it 30 fixed that they could
never have less than slxty-fve or seventy
feet The dam contained five pipes, each as
large as a hogshead, constructed 80 as to run
OIL all surplus water These were cut off in
some way, and the water rising above the
top of the dam quickly washed away the
earth, the dam melting away more and more
rapidly every moment until it was entirely
swept away.
1t is estimated that the dam, which was
three mikes long, contained sixty millions OF
tons of water, all of which was emptled out
into the valley below in forty.five minutes
Suits will probably be instituted against the
owners Of the dam, but No amount Of dam
ages which may be awarded Gun cal! back to
life those who went down in the Hood or re
store their desClatcd homes.
Contributions arc still pouring in 10 relieve
the temporary wants Of those who are LEFT,
but in a few weeks The recollection of the
horror will fade and much individual suffer.
ing will doubtless be felt
The report of the railroad officials
says that nineteen lives were lost on the
submerged trains Two cars, passenger
coach aud baggage car, were washed
away. The baggage car has been found
The missing coach is believed to have been
carried down 10 the debris al the Johnstown
bridge
The loss in our own State hes been very
great. President Cambria, of the Chesa.
peake and Ohio Canal, estimates that it will
cost $500, 600 to restore the canal to the CON
dition it was in before the 3lst of May The
damage TO the canal has seriously affected
Georgetown, by depriving number Of mills
OF their water power. The owners of these
mills propose to raise $50, 1000 to put that por
tion of the canal in order, and get credit on
their wafer power rental. Doubtless all ef-
fort will be made to secure more money from
the State to repair the work, but rs il has
been such All improbable and unfortunate
concern the sooner the State parts with her
interest in it the better, 1t should have been
closed out years ago.
The Tidewater Canal, in which our State
also has large interest, will probably be re-
paired at once and ready fer boating by the
LIST of August.
The losses in Western Maryland were very
severe, many persons being washed out of
their homes. Happily there was not much
loss of life