St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-03
PAUL.. MORNING,

require several days yet to ascertain
anything like definite idea of the loss
of life, but it will certainly reach up
into the thousands. Every hour brings
fresh evidence of the fact that the dis
aster eclipses anything of the kind in
tine history of the country, and no one
can say what the final results will be.
NO EXAGGERATION.
The Story of the Disaster Not at
All Overstated.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa, June 2.-The sltuat
ion here has not changed. and ye ster-
days estimates of the loss of life do not
seem to be exaggerated. Six hundred
bodies are now lying in Johnstown,
and large number have already been
buried. Four immense relief trains ar
rived last night, and the survivors are
being we'll cared for. A portion OF the
police force of Pittsburg and Allegheny
are on duty, and better order is main
tanned than prevailed yesterday. Com
munication has been restored between
Cambria City and Johnstown by foot
bridge. The work Of repairing the
tracks between Sang Hollow and Johns
town is going on rapidly, and trains
will possibly be running tomorrow
morning. Not less than $4,000 stran-
gers are here. The Handsome brick
high school building is damaged to
such an ex tent that 1t will have to be
rebuilt. The water attained the height
of the window sills of the second floor.
Its upper stories formed refuge for
many persons. All Saturday afternoon
two little girls could be seen at the win
dows frantlcally calling for aid. They
had spent all night and the day in the
building,
CUT OFF FROM ALL AID,
without food and drinking water. Their
condition was lamentable. Late in the
evening the children were removed to
higher ground and properly cared for.
A number of persons had been taken
from this building earlier in the day,
but in the excitement the children were
forgotten. Their names could not be
obtained. Morrell institute was beau
tiful building, and the old homestead of
the Morrell family is totally ruined.
The water has weakened the walls and
foundations to such an extent that there
is danger Of its collapsing. Many
families took refuge in this building
and were saved. Now that the waters
have receded, there is great danger from
falling walls. All day long the crash
ing of walls could be heard across the
river. Before daybreak this morning
the sounds could not but make one
sh udder at the very thoughts of the
horrible deaths that awaited many who
had escaped the devastating flood. Lii
brary hall was another of the fine build
ings of the many in the city that are
destroyed. OF the Episcopal church
not vestige remains. Where it once
stood there is now placid lake. The
parsonage is swept away, and the rector
of the church, Rev. Dillon, was
drowned. The church was one of the
first buildings to fall. 1t carried with
it several of the surrounding houses,
many of them occupied. The victims
were swept into the comparatively still
waters at the bridge and thereemet
death, either
BY FIRE OR WATER.
James NJ. Walters, an attorney, spent
the night in Alma hall, and relates a
thrilling story. One of the most curious
occurrences of the Whole disaster was
how Mr.. Walters got to the hail. He
has his Office on the second floor. His
home is at 1876 Walnut street. He says
he was in the house with his family
when the waters struck it. All were
carried away. Mr.. Walters family
drifted on a roof in another direction.
He passed down several streets and
alleys until he came to the hall. His
dwelling struck that edifice and he
was thrown into his own Office.
About 200 persons had taken ref
uge in the hall and were on
the second, third and fourth stories.
The men held meeting and drew up
some rules which all were bound to re-
spect. Mr.. Walters was chosen presi-
dent, Rev. Beale was put in charge of
the first floor, A. NJ. Hart of the second
floor, DR.. Mathews of the fourth floor.
No lights were allowed, and the whole
night was spent in darkness. The sick
were cared for. The weaker women
and children had the best accommoda-
tions that could be had, while the 9TH
ers had to wait. The scenes were most
agonizing. Heartrending shrieks, sobs
and means pierced the gloomy darkness.
The crying of children mingled with:the
SUPPRESSED sOBs
of the women. Under the guardianship
of the men all took more hope. No one
slept during all the long. dark night.
Many knelt for hours in prayer. their
supplications mingling with the roar of
the waters and shrieks of the dying in
surrounding houses. In all this misery,
two women gave premature birth to
children. DR.. Matthews is hero. Sew
eral of his ribs were crushed by falling
timber and his pains were most severe,
yet through all he attended the sick.
When two women in house across the
street shouted for help. he, with two
brave young men, climbed across the
drift and ministered to their wants.
No one died during the night,
but women and children surrendered
their lives on the succeeding day as
result of terror and fatigue. Miss Rose
Young, one of the young ladies in the
hall, was frightfully cut and bruised.
Mrs. Young had leg broken. All of
Mr.. Walters family were saved. This
afternoon spring wagon came slowly
from the ruins in what was once Cam
bria. In it, on board and covered by
a muddy cloth. were the remains of
Editor G. T. Schubert, of the Johns
town Free Press, German. Behind
the wagon walked his friend Benjamin
GribDle. Editor Schubert was one of
the most popal ar and well-known Ger