Huntsville gazette., 1889-06-29
EXPERTS TESTIFY
In Regard to the Condition of
the South Fork Dam.
The Coroner Resumes His In
vestigation at Johnstown.
A Diversity Of Opinion In Reference to
the Dam-No More workmen Needed
The JohnstOwn Finance Committee Ad-


C..mmittees.
JoHNsTowN Pa. June 2S.-Coroner
Evans Tuesday evening resumed the in
quest on the body of Mrs. Ellen Hite, a
victim Of the flood. Expert witnesses
only were examined.
J. L. Coffin, of this place, mechani-
cal engineer, the first witness, said he
considered the South Fork dam unsafe,
as it leaked. There was, said he. no
means Of drawing off the water.
John Fulton. general manager of the
Cambria iron works, was the next wit
ness. He said that hay had been used
to stop mp leaks in the dam. and he be-
lieved that the repairs made after the
bursting of the dam in 1880 were not
perfect. He also mentioned that escape
pipes should have been used.
Col T. P. Roberts, civil engineer, Of
Pittsburg said discharge pipes would
not have been any benefit He consid-
cred the dam perfectly safe, and at
tributed its bursting to the extraordi-
nary rainfall on the morning of the IA
tai disaster He believed that the burst
ing of the dam contributed to the disas-
ter of the flood.
John G. Parks of Pittsburg, also an
engineer, said he was at South Fork
when the dam burst, and in detail he
told of the rapid rise of the water
When he arose on the fatal morning he
found the water surprisingly high, and
the lake was boiling and boisterous. He
told of how the water had extended
back into the woods, and said he had
rowed ip yawl over the adjoining
fences. The water rose from eight to
ten inches In an hour. He saw the lake
overflow, and he warned the people of
South Fork and Johnstown Of the APP
preaching disaster
The inquest adjourned until Monday
evening next when other engineers will
be examined.
Workmen Employed at Johnstown.
Gen Hastings issued the following
announcement Wednesday evening
Some employment agencies In New
York, Pittsburg and other cities are
sending Aborers to Johnstown. They
tell them they will be given transporta-
ton and 50 day wages. These prom
ises are practically false pretenses
There are more laborers in Johnstown
now than can be employed and the rate
of wages Is not as high as stated. No
workmen should come to Johnstown at
this time to seek work.
The force of men now employed IN
der contractors, In the flooded dis
tricts of the vicinity, numbers about
1900, having been reduced from about
1000 by the discharge of 500 of Nc
Knights men. mostly from New York,
Wednesday morning. In addition to
the I, 500 men under contractors there
are probably 500 others working on the
debris sinfvarious places about the city on
their own ACCOUNT The contractors now
In charge are four In number, and each
has force of about $50 men and 112
teams The reason given for the dis
charge Of the men Wednesday morning
Is that they were not needed. Now that
the streets are pretty we'll open, it is
claimed that smaller force can work
more effectively.
The feeling among the citizens gen
orally appears to- be that the work of
clearing up the wreck and removing the
debris and mud Is progressing satisfac-
torily. The principal Streets are pretty
we'll cleared. so that wagons can traverse
them In all directions.
Maj. Phillips concluded the work of
blasting Wednesday night, and 1t is ex-
pected that the river channel will be
speedily cleared Four bodies were re-
covered to-day; three Of these we're
children, and were not recognized