The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-13
THE AWFUL CALAMITY
Just Being Realized by the Psople-ThO
Work OF Cleaning Up,


Jonnstown and the surrounding towns
are now under military rule, At Z
o'clock this morning General Hastings
took charge, and soldiers were placed on
guard duty at all the commissary stations
and morgues. A slight rain has been
falling ali morning and the city presents
a most dismal appearance. Everything
is In turmoil and confusion, and little or
no work Is being done. For the first
time since the work commenced the
men seemed tagged out and are not in q
hurry to get to work. However, all the
men at the morgues and the relief COM
mi.tees are still hard at work. The sui.
ferers were at the commissary stations as
early as usual this morning and stood
around In the rain for several hours be.
fore they were served, They have the
same distressed look as they have had
ever since the flood.
Residents arc just commencing to fully
realize the terrible ordeal they have gone
through. The excitement has kept them
up until now, but since tho excitement
has been dying out they are now con.
scious OF the situation, and II fanumber OF
suicides do notiollow 1t will be something
remarkable. For the first time since the
calamity the people are commencing to
talk OF their financial losses. and this
seems to worry them as much as any
thing else, and 10 say a vast number Of
the former merchants are disheartened
is but putting 1t mildly.
| nSa nlI nj fIoH NNtI an
chants exclalm, "It Is no use.n "We
will never recover from this. We have
lost everything" The Pittsburgh whole.
sale merchants who arc here are trying
to comfort them, and are offering all the
old merchants some very elegant induce.
ments to start up again, A circular has
been received by these men from several
Pittsburgh merchants offering them all
the credit they want.
All the laborers employed by Booth 4
Finn and all the volunteers and other
workmen were paid of at the club house
this morning by the Finance Committee.
Over 1900 men surrounded the place,
and 1t was with considerable difficulty
that they were paid. Anumber OF them
forgot their numbers and 1t caused no
end OF trouble. The payroll altogether
amounted TO about 100000.
WORK OF CLEARING UP.
General Hastings states that the work
Of clearing away the debris under the d.
rection OF the State will commence in
earnest tomorrow morning. James Nc.
knight, OF Pittsburgh, has been selected
as one OF the contractors, and he will
have 1000 men at work tomorrow morn.
ing. An Altoona contractor and two
other contractors from the eastern end
OF the State have also been selected 10 do
work for the State. The contractor sent
here from Maryland by Governor Beaver
has been left out in the cold. He was
to have three thousand men at work, but
when he came here he did not have a
hundred men, and wanted to go into
combination with James Mcknight, but
this the latter refused, and the Maryland
gentleman had to go home sadder but
probably wiser man.
General Hastings In an interview this
morning said: "Ihave now taken charge
OF this work and II will be work indeed
and not on paper. The time forred tape
foolishness Is past and intend To push
this work 10 a finish no matter who II
pleases or dlspleases. ] have been
placed In such a position that / can pro.
coed expeditiously and propose TO doit.
You can hear lots OF criticism, but we
will not listen to anything OF that kind.
am about tired Of all tomfoolery, and
what We want here Is business men TO
work on business principles. Ihave de.
tailed soldiers every place l possibly
could, and intend to get all the work
out OF them that is possible. The
State has to pay for the work and
liz IL iB in my power intend
TO see that 1t Is done as 1t should be.
To-day we will do little or nothing. This
is, OF course, on account OF the changing
OF the rule, and the wet weather. BY
tomorrow we will be at work in earn.
est, and at least 5000 men will be en-.
ployed. One thousand Workmen leave
New York this afternoon, and ut least
500 will be sent from Pittsburgh. have
given the employment Of these men into
the hands OF four contractors and will
hold them responsible. l have no idea
how long II will take 10 clean up the
place, but ! am afraid there will be very
little OF the Governors million after the
work Is done.p
uWill You clean out the cellars.o OF the
buildings7" was asked.
"Well, that Is a question l cannot IN,
swer Of present. II there is money
enough left we will, but we want 10 FIRST
, get the town cleared up"
PLtNS REFUSES TO DR FROZEN OUT.
; Hon. William Finn, Of Pittsburgh
arrived here last night Just lip time to
stop q scheme which was on foot ID
freeze out the Pennsylvania contractors
Governor Beaver wanted one man "a
take charge OF all the work and seat him
10 look into the matter. In the mean
time Mr.. Finn was In Pittsburgh ar.
ranging for about 1900 men, and had
them engaged when he received q tele.
gram from General Hastings telling him
not To hire any more men and 10 CONT
: 10 Johnstown Immediately. He accord
lnEly arrived late last night and had |
consultation with General Hastings. Thl
, General informed the FittshpTgh con
TRACTOR tnut dOVUfnOr DehVef uHu MAI
: 10 take charge Of tho work. Finn In
uulrod II the contractor had any met
. here with him and was informed that hi
= bad not.
TWeii,D said Finn, 'tlet him 70 Of
with bis yofk, I will have nothing !,
do with the matter, Thought | vRs Y
be consulted In this matter and have al
! ready hired 1900 men, but will CIV
1 them orders 10 remain where they ar
Z and lot this man 20 ahead. don't wan
!. any contract my1elt and only have an ir
/ tefest 90 far as ialt play % CONCERNED
. There arc four contractors here who vol
b unteered their services, and II ! hay
h any cay o. all l want them employed"
h Governor Beavers Han was called II
g and lie stated that II would be lmposs
|. BILE for him to got men unless no got "
:. mon tho other contractors had, put y
o would be willing 10 pay tho C9nlraotol
/. lof their tins. Thl5 filed both qeTeft
HaStingu and Ut, Finn, and Tue EeSp