The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-07

SAVED MANY LIVES.
In order to understand the nature of this
calamity, it is necessary to describe the re-
spectivc locations of the reservoir at Johns
town. The reservoir lies about two aud Il
half miles northeast Of Johnstown, and Is
the site Of the old reservoir, which was ono
of the feeders of the Pennsylvania canal.
1t is the property Of number of
wealthy gentlemen in pittsburg, who formed
Eemfe.ves into the cooperation the titleof
which is the South Fork Fishing und Hunting
club. This sheet of water was formerly
known us Conemau:h lake. 1t is from 200
to 300 feet above the level OF JohnstOwn. be-
ing in the mountains ltis about three and
a half miles long and from mile to o mile
and quarter IN width, and in some places
it is 100 feet In depth. IL holds more water
than any other reservoir, natural
or artificial, in tho United States.
The lake has been quadruped in size by ar
tihcial means. aud was held in check by u
dam 700 to 1000 feet wide. II is 30 feet
In thickness at tho base md the height is
40 feet The top has breadth of over 20
feet Recognizing the menace which the luke
bad to the region below the South Fork club
had the dam inspected once month by the
pennsylvania railroad engineer. and their
investigation showed that nothing less than
some convulsion of nature would tear the
burrier away and
LOOSEN THE WEAPON OF DEATH
The steady rains Of the past forty eight
hours increased the volume OF water in all
the email mountain streams, which we've
already sWelled by the lesser rains earlier in
the week. From the best information OBJ
tanned at this time IL Ia evident that some
thing In the nature OF cloud burst must
have been the elimination OF the strug-
gle OF the water against the EN-
bankment. The difficulty OF obtaining defi-
mite information added tremendously to the
excitement and apprehension of the people
in Pittsburg who had relatives and friends
ut the scene Of the disaster Members OF tho
South Fork club, and among them solne Of
the most eminent men in the Pittsburg finan-
cai and mercantile world, were in Or near
Johnstown, and several OF them were
accompanied by their wives and families
There happened to be also quite number
Of residents Of Johnston in Pittsburr, and
when the news of the horror was confirmt
md the railroads bulletined the fact that no
trains would 60 east Tonight, the scene at
the union depot was profoundly pathetic and
exciting. But two trains were sent out by the
Pennsylvania railroad from the union station
ut Pittsburg, and the first OF these was the
special train OF the associated press. The
Pttsburg papers also tent out special, bu.
up to 1890 nothing reliable as to the de-
tails If loss of life or property has been
ascertaned. The difficulty OF sending press
dispatches was overcome by an expcdent
familiar to the associated press in trying
times
The tracks west of Johnstown are at some
points entirely carried away and the road
bed gone. The river for some distance ahovc
the bridge in flied with buildings and drift
forty feet high. which is on fire und likely to
damage the bridge. which is Of stone. The
orally wiped ou:.
POSSIBLY THOfsANDs LOST.
The course OF the torrent from tho broken
dam at the foot OF the lake 10 Johns
town is almost eighteen miles, and with
the exception of ut one point the water
passed through narrow V-shaped valley.
Four miles below the dam ley the town
Of South Fork, where tho South Fork itself
emptics inta tho Concmaugh river. The
town contained about 1000 inabitanta /,
has not been heard from, but it is said thu
-tif,hs of it has been swept
away. Fou: miles further down
on the Conemaugh river. which runs para!
lei with the main line OF tho Pennsylvania
railroad was the town OF Mineral Point il
had 500 inhabitants. 90 per cent of the
houses being on the flat and close to til,
river. 1t seems impossible ut this time tt
hcpe that any Of them have escaped.
ALMOST WHOLLY DESERTED
Six miles further down was tho town 9
Conemnugh. and hero alone was there o to
biographical possibility-the spreading Of tn