Evening journal., 1889-06-14
J0HNSTOWN RECOVERING
Business Men of the City Hold
a Meeting.
STORES ALREADY OPEN AGAIN.

STORES ALREADY OPEN AGAIN.
Opening the Channel OF tho River-Crazed
by Grlef-Droves of Drummers at Johns
town--Kilrain and Mitchell spar for the
Sufferers
JoHNsrowN, PA, June 14.--The remnant
OF citizens interested In Johnstown's future
assembled again In mass meeting. This time
Gen. Hastings took the initiative in the mat
ter himself and called on the business men 70
meet with him at his headquarters. Gen.
Hastings called the meeting to order and said;
~ have called this meeting OF interested
business men for the purpose Of consultation
about the future Of the business men OF the
Conemaugh valley
He then outlined his plans for clearing
away the vast accumulation Of debris from
the streets; whether the state would author
ize him TO 60 further and clean out the cell
lars Of private citizens and business houses he
was una le to state. The general assured his
listeners that his work would progress as Wig
orousy as possible He then urged the bust
ness men 10 look ahead TO prompt resump-
tton of business "If there are among you
business men here assembled who desire to
open business. and will indicate to mo what
will he necessary to assist 10 that end, win
communicate with the proper people in order
70 see II we can't get you whnt Is needed TO
put you on your feet again.
He assured his listeners that there was no
necessity for any one now la the valley to
feel hunger or 10 go shelteriess, as the organi-
zation for supplies, clothing. etc, is as near
perfect as is possible, and II any one suffers
from any cause IL Is their own fault. The
general urged the necessity Of their reorgan-
izing their municipal government, the meet
ing Of the city council, and appointment Of
police force for tho protection Of private
interests, that the military guard cannot
undertake. 81 want you TO 90 about your
daily avocations as you did formerly The
speaker again invited them TO make their
wants known, saying that he would call
upon certain parties 10 furnish building mn
terial TO erect structures suitable for the
transaction Of business "Pittsburg mer-
chants are anxious TO provide you with stocks
10 set you up in business again, and there are
gentlemen in this audience who have come
here for the purpose of taking you by the
hand and saying 70 you that II their aid Is
desired they are willing to trust you and
wait on you until this charity can take some
tangible shape The lumber for your build.
ings win be sent TO you in train loads entirely
gratis,
Gen. Hastings Applauded.
Gen. Hastings then asked for remarks and
suggestions from his audience His speech
was received with applause and men rushed
forward TO grasp his hand, tears streaming
from their eyes, speaking their thanks will
husky voices.
William Caldwell, the oldest business mar
in the city, announced that he had arranged
10 resume business Immediately. Many
Others followed ia brief talks, urging upor
themselves united action in all they did II
was then suggested that Col Linton prepare
a set Of resolutions embodying the views Of
the business men Of the city. Col. Linton re.
sponded by saying that his office, together
with his pens, ink and paper, was by thi.
time in the Mississippi river and he could not
write resolutions or anything else
William Seuright, Cen Hastings stenok.
rapher, stepped 10 the front and Col. Linton
dictated the following;
Resolved, That the merchants and business men
Of Johnstown assembled here az the request Of
Gen. Hastings, will each one use his best efforts
TO restore by his own actions the condition of
business and prosperity Of this place prior 10 the
flood
Resolved, That this meeting tenders ts heartiest
thanks 70 Gen Hastings for his kindly sugges.
tons 10 offer aid
The resolutions were unanimously adopted
Forty-two business firms were represented.
stores Again Open.
Several stores were opened during the day,
and were thronged with purchasers Many
of the things purchased were for female wear,
which they have deprived themselves Of
rather than to accept them for nothing In a
crowd Of scrambling men and boys There
has been system everywhere, aud great im-
proyement is manifest There Is an excess Of
clothing. Money and food is the present
great need.
Two car loads Of fresh meat delayed by
the way, were 80 badly spoiled when they
arrived that their precious contents had to
be burned. The donations Of provisions can
not be too extensive.
The Drift Burning Fierceiy.
The intention is 70 solve the raft problem
with petroleum and the torch For the third
time the drift was fired and is burning fierce
ly, but II it Is not destroyed fifty barrels Of
coal oil will be emptied on II and the whole
mass will go up in bonfire
The citizens Of Cambria borough have
passed resolutions asking Gen. Hastings to
furnish them lumber and nails to enable
them to put up temporary houses, there be-
ing only 400 houses TO shelter ], 800 people
now homeless
The new contractors In charge Of the states
work in clearing out the food debris from
Johnstown and vicinity did not have all the
men they needed, but the number was largo
ly increased before nightfall, and some very
effective work was performed
A regular morgue corps Of SIX men fol-
lowed the workers in each district and as
fast as bodies were uncovered removed them
to the nearest dead house, where they were
quickly prepared for burial
Gen. Hastings was very much gratified
with the reports received from his engineer
corps of the work done during the day. Col.
Douglass, engineer-in-chief, said that he ex-
pected to have a channel thirty feet in width
cut through the big raft by Saturday evening.
Dynamite was used very extensively dur,
ing the day to loosen up the big pile OF drift
-Four steam fire engines from PhiIadelphis
are expected to arrive during the night
The engines are needed to check any spread
Of fire from the burning of the debris.
At noon forty experienced lumbermer
from Indiana county, armed with pike poles
hooks, etc, joined Contractor Mcknight.
forces. At o'clock he concentrated his en-
tire gang on the raft and began the task o.
opening up the channel in the Conemaugt
river.
Crazed by Grief
Edward Swineford, Of St Louis, who has
been here searching for the bodies Of his wife