The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-05
FIRE ADDS IFS HORRORS.
The Wrecks Of Houses at Johnstown bridge
Are All Ablaze.

Are All Ablazs.
NEW FLOBENCE, Pa, June I.-After long,
weary ride Of eight or nine miles over the
worst of country roads, the Associated Press
correspondent arrived in New Flor
ence, six miles nearer JohnStown and
along the scene of the awful disaster.
The details at this hour are rather limited.
Everybody seems dazed the calamity seeming
10 oyerawe the natives. The road between this
and Bolivar is washed out in many places.
The trackmen and the wreck crews are work
ing all night in the most dangerous portions OF
the road. Reports at this point substantiate
the widest that have yet gone out. The latest
man from JOhnStown brings the information
that scarcely house remains In that city. The
upper portion above the bridge has been COM
pletely submerged. The water damned up
against the vIaduct, the wreckage and debris
finishing the work that the torrent had failed
10 accomplish. The bridge at Johns
town proved too staneb for the fury
Of the water. 1t is heavy
piece OF masonry and was used as a viaduct by
the old Pennsylvania canal. Some of the top
stones were displaced.
The story reached here a short time ago that
q family consisting OF father and mother and
nine children were washed away in O creek at
Lockport. The mother managed 10 reach the
shore, but the husband and children were car
ried out into the COnemaugh 10 drown. The
woman is crazed over the terrible event.
After night settled down upon the mountains
the horror Of the scene was enhanced Along
with the roar OF the water could be heard the
piteous appeals from the unfortunates as they
were carried by.
To add also to the terror a brilliant illumina-
ton liz up the sky. This illumination can be
plainly seen from this place. A message re-
ceived from Song Hollow few moments ago
states that the light comes from a hundred
burning wrecks OF houses that are piled up on
the Johnstown bridge. A supervisor from mp
the road brings the information that the
wreekage at JOhnstown is piled up forty
feet above the bridge The startling news also
comes that more than thousand lives have
been lost This cannot be substantiated. Ii is
known by eetual count 100 people were
seen hoaung past Song-Hollow before
dark. F0rty-seVen were counted pass
ing New Florence, and the number had
diminished to eight at Bolivar. This will give
some idea OF the terrible fatality. The dark
ness coming on stopped further count, and it
was only by the agonizing cries that rang out
above the rise OF the waters that IL was known
a human being was being ,arrled to his death.
The scenes along the river are wild in the
extreme. Although at this hour the water is
gradually subsidiug, still as il dashes against
the rocks that fill the narrow channel of the
Conemaugh, Its spray IS carried high up the
shore. As pieces OF houses and wreekage
strike these boomers 10 carries with IL
vividly the idea that another poor unfortunate
has met his fate. The towns all along the
railroad, from Johnstown west have received
their visitation. Many of the houses in New
Florence were partially under water, while the
lower part of the town is submerged.
The ride tonight over the mountain road
gave one a good idea of the cause of this water
spout Every creek is a rushing river and
every riyulet raging torrent The ground
is water soaked, aud when that district
that drains into the Consmaugh above
the South Fork Is taken into
consideration the terrible volume OF water that
must have accumulated can be realized. and,
gathering as il did within 9 few minutes, it