The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-01
And Entire Families are Swept
Away by the Raging Torrent.
COMMUNICATION is CUT OFF
With the Outside World and De-
tails of the Calamity are
Very Meagre.
Great Floods at Other Points Clear
field Under Wator-RallrOad Bridges
Swept Away-The Damage Can.
not be Estimated at Present.

PlTTsHuRaH, Pa, May sl.-The flood
at Johnstown has resulted in an awful
catastrophe. 1t is said that the reservoir
above the town broke about 5 o'clock
this evening and the immense volume
Of water rushed down to the city carry
ing with it death and destruction.
Houses with their occupants were swept
away and scores, probably hundreds Of
people were drowned, There is no con-
nection with Johnstown, but a telegraph
operator in the Pennsylvania rail-
road tower at Sang Hollow, twelve
miles this side Of YOUNGSTOWN, says at
least seyenty.fve bodies have tloated
past, The wires are all down and no
trains are running east Of Blairsville,
which is about twenty-five miles west Of
Johnstown. There is no way to get To
the scene Of the disaster and full particu.
lars can hardly be obtained tonight,
although every effort is being made to
do so. There will be no trains through
before tomorrow.
A LATER DISPATCH.
Latest reliable information received
from Johnstown comes from Pennsyl.
vania railroad men, who aver thatover2OO
dead bodies have been counted floating
down stream at Johnstown alone, while
along the line many additional lives
have been lost. 1t is asserted that there
are but two housesin YOUNGSTOWN entire
ly above the water line Aspecial train
bearing the Pennsylvania Railroad
officials and a large number Of news.
paper men, has left this city for the
scene. Telegraph communication Is en-
tirely cut of and until telegraph repair
men and operators with necessary in
struments reach the nearest point, but
little reliable information can be OBJ
tanned.
CuNFlhMED AT uhEbNhBuRu1
A dispatch from Greensburg, Pa,
says report has Just reached here that
the greater portion Of Johnstown has
been flooded and hundreds Of lives lost.
Houses are floating about and the peo-
pie who are free arc panic stricken, and
are fleeing to the mountain. At a point
near New Florence elghty.hve persons
has been seen floating down the river
on drift wood. One report comes that
but two roofs Of the houses In YOUNGSTOWN
can be seen. The Coketown and New
Florence bridges have been washed
away and all the buildings along the
Conemaugh between New Florence and
Johnstown have been carried away.
The railroad towers have been abandon.
ed by the operators,
AEAsRE DETAILS.
The Associated Press train, from pres.
emit appearances, will not be able To run
nearer than six or eight miles Of that
part Of YOUNGSTOWN where the food was
worst. Consequently dispatches for
some time will be In the form Of Concen.
trated bulletins.
Superintendent Pitcairn promptly took
charge OF the railroad end Of The work
and began the double duty Of cleaning
tracks, and sending all possible aid to
those In danger. His prompt work and
intelligent comprehension Of the danger
and his strenuous efforts to spread the
alarm no doubt saved many lives. In or.
der 10 understand the nature Of this ca.
lamity II Is necessary to describe the re.
BpeCtiye locations Of the reservoir
and Johnstown. The reservoir lies
about over eighteen miles northeast OF
JohnBtown and is the site OF the old
reservoir which was one OF the feeders
OF the Pennsylvania canal. II Is the
property oil o number OF wealthy gentle.
men In PitBburgh, who formed them.
selves into the corporation, the title Of
which y The South Fork Fishing and
Hunting Club, This aheet Of water was
formerly known a. Conemaugh lake. II
ID from 200 10 800 feet above the level
Of Johnstown, being In the mountains,
II 10 about three and one.half miles long
and from O mile 10 one and one.fourth
miles in width, and In some places II
10 100 ieetln depth. 1tholds more water
than any other reservoir, natural or atti.
ilclal, In the United States. The lake
has been quadrupled In size by artificial
means, and was held In check BY dam
from 700 10 1000 feet wide. II ID 90 feet
In thickness at tho base. The height ID
ITO feet and the top has breadth OIL
over 20 feet,
AMIanTY rowEH.
Recognizing the menace Of The lake Il
the region below, The South Fork Ulub
had the dam inspected once a month b.
the Pennsylvania railroad engineers
and their investigation showed thai
nothing less than come Convulslon O.
nature would tear the barrier away ant
loosen the water Of death,
The very steady rains Of thl
past iofty.eight hours increased Thu
volume Of water In all the small noun
tain streams which were already swellet
BY the lesser rains. Early In the week
from the beat information pbtalhable q
this time, IL ID evident that Bomethinl
In Nhn taaltlea ~ a hiHttH httFnt tytink ha,ji