The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-06-14
THE GREAT FLOODl
Clearing up the Wreck I
FIVE TaoUsA ND LIVES LOST,
SUNDAY IN JoHNsTowN.

| SUNDAY IN JoHNsTowN
JoHNsTows, June 9.-To-day is the
tenth day since the disaster in Cone
maugh valley occurred and the extent
Of the fatality can be appreciated wher
il is known that bodies are still being
found where ever men are at work
To-day one OF the morgue directors
was met and asked the usual question
"How many bodies were recovered to
day 7" "Ob, not very many" he re
piled, 81 believe there were about forty
altogether" The loss of life has been
so great that forty bodies found in one
day, even il that was the tenth, was
considered a light showing. The re.
mains that are now being removed
from the drift are far advanced in de.
composition, and the physicians in
charge are advocating their cremation
az fast as found, as il is almost impos.
sible TO handle them safely The work
of clearing away the debris is progress.
ing very eucouragingly. The work
men were not required TO proceed to-
day, but nine-tenths of them volunteer
ed to continue Governor Beaver ar
rived this morning about 4 o'clock
He spent the day in visiting the ruin.
ed portions of the city and in driving
up ths Conemaugh valley. He held a
conference this afternoon with the
committee heretofore in charge and as
a result will assume control on Wednes-
day morning. He left this evening fer
Philadelphia. The two large hospitals
here, the Cambria and the Bedford,
have but little to do now, but a large
corps of physicians are kept very busy.
At Cambria hospital sixteen persons
injured by the food we're cared for,
and but two died, Miss Maggie Hughes
and Miss Willower. The tent hospi-
tails have been practically abandoned,
as none of them have had case for
several days. The health of the valley
is unusually good, Notwithstanding re-
ports of threatened epidemic.
1.-THE NUMBER OF BODIES FOUND.
Up TO this evening there we're about
81 900 registered, and the list is still
increasing. TIE number of the lost is
placed now at 5000 by those who held
it would reach 10000 week ago. A
conservative estimate is between $500
to 1000. Up to date there have been
1900 bodies recovered.
THE RELIEF FUND.
In a conference with relief commit
tee to-day Gov Beaver stated that he
has S250,000 in his hands now, and
that committee of seven reputable
men of the state would be appointed
to distribute it; that there were 200
men who would be responsible for $500
each that he would give his bond TO
the state treasurer for 81, 100000 with
these two hundred men as bondsmen,
| and the state treasurer would then pay
out the Sl,000,O00 for the necessary
work. When the legislature meets the
money Withdrawn from the treasury
could be appropriated. He said that
the money already subscribed should
be used entirely for the relief of the
sufferers, and the money from the state
treasurer could be used for restoring
the vicinity to its condition before the
food. All debts already contract ed
for the removal of the debris should be
paid, but all money paid out TO, this
purpose from the relief fund shall be
refunded, so that every cent subscribed
for the relief of the stricken people
shall be used for that purpose alone.
wILLIAMsPoRT--sT STORY OF THE FLOOD IN
THE NEIGHBoRHoop OF THE CITY.
The city passed quiet Sunday, the
contrast between this and one week
ago beng truly wonderful. Services
were held in most of the churches, and
some idea of the damage done the
buildings was obtained. The first Pres
byterian, Christs church aud Trinity,
each had their organs badly damaged
by the water. In st. Pauls Lutheran
church the electric motor that pumps
the organ was flooded and large mum.
Der of new books of worship, which
had but recently been received, were
damaged by the food. Among other
churches that suffered were the Mul-
berry street Methodist, Market street
Lutheran and Immanuel's Reformed
Church of the Disciples. Inc city
mission foundation walls were injured
and the edifce is now badly out of
plumb. All classes are very indignant
at some of the wild reports sent out by
individuals who talked for publication.
Our own people never exaggerated the
situation either as to loss of property
or life. The Associated Press agent
sent out as early, as full and as accurate
information as was forwarded from
any source. In light of the actual
facts, such falsehoods are outrageous
in the extreme and have done great
harm, imposing upon the charitable
people abroad. and putting the people
here in false position. Col. Thomas
". Lloyd, of this city, who was hem
med in a fishing cabin on Larry's
creek, in the northwestern part of the
county, to-day, made the following
statement: The valley of Larry's creek
from Salladesburg to the mouth of the
stream is swept almost as clean as
carpet floor. Not only houses, barns,
oulnouses, horses, cattle, ana grain,
were swept away, but even the very
soil itself has been washed out so that
what was once blooming and fertile
farms, is now nothing but barren
mass of stones. Every bri ige on the
creek was swept away except the one
below Salladesburg at Malloy's, which
still stands though it is badly damag
ed, one abutment being gone and a
large tree driven through its centre.
The scene In Salladesburg on Monday
beggars description. Houses were
swept from their foundat any many
of them upset, bridges were lodged in
trees, and outhouses, boardwalks and
planks from the road were scattered
and piled up in all directions. The
borough was filled with debris of every
kind aud the whole creek from there
to its mouth was a scene of devastation
and ruin. The highest water reached
these people at 2 o'clock on Saturday
morning, aud they were compelled to
flee from their houses TO high grounds