Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-08
LIKE A BIRDSEYE VIEW.
Omens Augmented by Diphtheria-One
Place Who're Hundreds slumber-Hos-
pItaI Scenes-CalIoused Observers.
rFRoM A STAFF coRREsPoFDENT.1


rFRoM A STAFF, CORRESPONDENT
JoHNsTowN, June 7.-Diphtheria has ap
peared. This is the first sign of dangerou.
was reported yesterday, and the usual troubles
that grow out of exposure. The sun now shines
brightly, and though the wind is cold, the
brightness of the sky is ominous of June
weather. 0vercoats have been comfortable
through the day, and blankets are a necessity
ut night; but are Injuries because Of their scar.
city. This condition of things cannot last much
longer, and the worst may be yet to come.
The State of Pennsylvania must clear away
all the ruins here quickly or apply the torch,
in the interest Of the general health. There is
really the greatest danger that the devastated
region of the Conemaugh Valley may breed a
dreadful plague.
But in this Valley of the Shadow of Death
the fight of the living goes bravely on. Every
where are workmen and teams tearing away
the piles of timber and shoyeling mountains of
earth and stones into wagons. The work Is
slow, and it becomes apparent that the esti-
mate Of Mr.. Finn is at least not far outside
what will prove to be true. The thousands at
work in the town, and the thousand or more
cleaning out the lower Cambria works, have
only made start and tomorrow afternoon it
will be one week since the South Fork Lake
came down like moving ocean.
The dynamite at the stone bridge has made,
as yet, but little impression on the dam of
charred timbers and human remains. From
piles of sand and earth bodies are being recov-
cred. One was taken out but half an hour
ago, from depth OF two feet
below the level surface on the
banks of the Conemaugh. AS Gel
lars are dug out when the surface is cleaned off
and the work of building is begun, there will
be other revelations of this kind. AS to those
buried under the piles of stone and rock that
cover the machinery at the Cambria works
they are estimated at hundreds by some; but
the number may be less. 1t is probable that
the great number of bodies may have gone on
down with the lighter drift.
E.s
The hospital service has greatly improved.
The latest addition to it Is an annex near the
stone bridge, where many have been injured.
The saddest was the case of Will Dibert. who,
returning over it after placing his family on
the train for Pittsburg, fell and received in
juries that caused hisdeath. Each hospital is
now fairly well supplied with drugs and band
ages and the other things necessary; but their
difficulty of access makes it no easy matter to
keep up the stores.
At general headquarters the system has
greatly improved, and the town is better
guarded than it has been. Spectators cCme
and go in crowds, and they all say: "You have
not told us half" No one who has not seen
the miles and miles of waste, where big busi-
ness blocks, manufactures and fine residences
stood only a week ago, can have any concep-
tion of the destruction and the misery.
Criminals and culPrits are made use of to
good advantage: General Hastings has sent
them all out to labor. well guarded by soldiers,
who see to it that they work hard.
1x&
When become calloused at times like this, and
none but newcomers or those searching for
friends now look a second time to see q corpse,
or even a wagon load of corpses come by. In
the embalming rooms the busy attendants
work on corpse with one hand, while the
other holds food at which they are munching.
They have no time to stop to eat. They
all work faithfully, and but one black sheep
was found among them. He was caught steal
ing jewelry from bodies that were brought in,
and is now at work with the chain gang, spur
red on to his labors by the presence of the
armed soldiers.
The uniforms of The Pennsylvania militia,
which contrasted so poorly with the gaudy
trappings of the holiday soldiers in New York,
look different in this scene. They are bright
bits of color on dun landscape and guaran-
tee of security.
All kinds Of relief corps are here and orga-
nizing-Masons, Odd Fellows. Knights of
but the yellow badges of the Pittsbugers are
the most numerous of all
R.x
Anxious crowds throng the windows at the
little brick building where the postofice is
established, inquiring for letters from friends.
1t is one OF the sad sights to see the faces of
the disappointed ones as they walk away. One
small room accommodates the force of clerks
and the four, with the postmaster, are now
finding plenty to do. The postmaster and bis
clerks escaped safely from the food. One of
the carriers lost two Of his children.
SIMPSON.