Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-02

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, June 1.-The indica-
tions point TO the present trouble being the
worst ever experienced by the Pennsylvania
railroad company. The present suspension
of traffic caused by the washing away of
bridges and viaducts, the heavy landslides,
the long and deep wash0uts and fall of
masses of rock from the mountain sides to
the track below between Altoona and Johns
town., a distance of forty miles, and
east of the former city is expected
to last as long as the snow blockade
of year ago AL the Office of the general
manager of that road it was stated. this
morning, that the new bridge across the
Conemaugh river at Johnstown, which was
reported to have been swept away by water
is still standing as firm as ever but the ap-
proach thereto for distance of 300 or 400
feet beyond the station and the bridge have
been washed away. The information re
ceIved from that point is very meagre. An
official of the road there telegraphs that 1t is
impossible to describe the calamity and des-
olatlon. No particulars were given beyond
this.
The wires to Williamsport are still down.
A dispatch received from that city by way
of Reading stated that the lumber boom had
broken this morning, and the wafer was
TuSuiuB thS chu VI buC toWu
About o'clock word was received that the
Williamsport boom at Lock Haven had
broken, and that the place was overfowed.
Since then no news has been received as to
the condition of affairs, as the wires between
Williamsport and Lock Haven have gone
down. dispatch received from Williams
port this afternoon states that the city is
flooded and the water is still rising. The
Philadelphia & Reading bridge over the
Susquehanna river at Manch was
swept away, and crashing against the
Philadelphia g. Erie bridge at Mont
gomery, seriously damaged the latter
structure. A despatch from Lancaster says
that sixty-five RATS broke loose this morning
from near Wright's mill and were carried
into the Susquehanna, involving loss of
over 10000. Dispatches received by the
railroad officials from PiItsburg confirm the
Associated Press reports of the awful calam-
ity at Johnstown and the resulting loss of life
in that vicinity. The railroad bridge at
Johnstown is constructed of stone and was
not swept away. The fire which ragged
among the debris was against II, and will IT
is stated, probably render the structure
worthless.
A dispatch received at p. m. from Pitts
burg states the Pennsylvania railroad people
succeeded in getting temporary wire
through from Sang Hollow TO the west end
of the railroad bridge, which is west Of
Johustown.
The debris lodged against the bridge and
piled up to distance Of forty feet, and 1t is
stated to be still burning. Until the flames
die out to admit OF passage across the bridge
nothing can be done towards repairing the
heavy washout between the bridge and
Johnstown. The dispatch also states that
the Cambria Iron company's plant on the
north side of the Conemaugh river az Johns.
town is a complete wreck. Until this dis
patch it was not thought here that this por-
tion of the plant had been seriously injured.
The plant Is said TO be valued at q. 100000.
At Williamsport the west braaeh OF the
Susquehanna is said to be thirty feet high.
There is eight inches Of water on The door OF