New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-09
FEARS OF AN EPIDEMIC.
SURGEON GENERAL HAMILTON VISITING
JoHNSToWN.
HE THINKS THE DANGER GREATER IN TOWNS
DOWN THE RIVER THAN IN JoHNsTowN-
THE PoNTooN BRIDGE IN PLACE
THE TENDENCY TOWARD 'oS


THE PoNTooN BRIDGE IN PLACE
THE TENDENCY TOWARD oS
MILITARY LAW. g.. .
tsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBuNEl
Johnstown, Penn, June s.-The sanitary ques-
ton here hourly becomes more serious. The physi-
clans say that there is great degree Of sickness
| among the people, but the odor OF deeomposing
bodies is now apparent in many parts of the fats
where the men at work, and at the drift against
tic stone bridge, the stencil has become almost
intolerable. Dsinfecsnts are used with a lavish
hand several carloads OF material having ar
rived. II is now evident that 1t will be many days
before the gorge is blasted away. The dynamite
makes little progress against the compact mass,
| and there seems to be little doubt that IL was a
mistake to quench the fires here. The drift might
have been cremated, but when this plan was
proposed the people were intensely indignant and
protested against the burning of their dead with
the wreckage. It has been found that many
thousand feet of wire were carried down from tho
Gautier Wire Works and lodged in the drift. This
became entangled with the piles Of wreckage and
has assisted in making the blasting less effective
When the charges are exploded n mass OF
water and rubbish Is thrown high into the air,
but when the dark fragments Of wood and the
shower of water have rained down again, IT, is
seen that no perceptible part OF the gorge has
been cleared The next few days will decide
whether this work is TO 90 on or some other plan
Of action must be adopted.
There four gangs Of the Sanitary Corps at
work along the river lower down in the valley
under the direction Of Dr. Lee, secre tary to the
State Board Of Health. They are burning every
thing that is likely to pollute the water and en-
danger the lives Of those who use il for drinking
purposes. Surgeon-Gen Hamilton who came
here last evening 10 make report of the situation
to the President says that the greatest danger OF
disease is 20 those down the river. He does not
fear pestilence in this town, but admits that
the drift is most serious problem for the Sanitary
| Corps TO work out He has LITTLE faith in the
success of the blasting scheme, and thinks that
machines for removing the larger pieces OF wreelng %
might prove more efficient The work Of clearing
up the city is going or in an admirable man.
ner II was easy TO see this morning what changes
| had taken place, and tonight the improvement is
! still more striking. There have been at work all
day scarcely less than 1000 men, although IL Is
difficult 70 make correct estimate of their num-
| bers
The grip of those now in authority is growing
| tighter from day TO day, and the
contrast between the system and facil-
| ity shown in the work now and the
| utter confusion and bewilderment OF few days
| ago is not less than the change brought about on
| the Oats during the same time Captain Baker, OF
| General Hastings's staff, has charge Of the city
| proper, and he ia keeping firm hand on affairs.
| His records and reports are extremely eucourag-
| ing. lie says that those who have been engaged
in hunting for safes report thnt money has been
! stolen from them and chat no attempts have been
4 made 10 break them Open
| Tho quarantine svstRYn has DrOV d O be q
success and few people art coming
| here merely out Of curiosity. Those who
| DO get through are promptly arrested
| and set to work. The report in regard 10 the
| last train which arrived here last IiEht shows
that the plan has been success. or the passengers
| 80 were doubtful 81 workmen 81 relief men, 81
| in search Of friends, undertakes, reporters.
| ministers, business man, doctors, Red Cross
| people and sightscers These last were promptly
placed under arrest, and to-day they handled pick
| and shovel AT q meeting this morning Of Mr.
| Scott, General Hastings and the heads
| of committees IL was decided TO re-
| duce the number OF special policemen day
by day. and to dispense with the services OF half
| the deputy sherihs. A large force of secret
| service men is still engaged watching suspicious
! characters and guarding against disorder.
| The drift Of affairs seems TO be toward martial
| law as the benefits 70 be derived from military
! government are seen in many fields Of action.
l Popular opinion favors such course and II Is
likely that Monday or Tuesday, perhaps tom orrow,
| may see such q plan put into effect With this
! in view. General Hastings has asked Governor
| Beaver 20 send him more troops, and he expects
| 10 have the 18th Regiment here AZ
| soon as he may need it. detachment OF the
| United States Engineering Corps arrived here
| last night, and this morning began - build pontOon
| bridges across the river. The work Is under
the direction Of Captain Clinton B. Sears, assisted
| by Captain Eric Bergiand and Lieutenant Biddle.
| Their hundred men had constructed a wagon bridge
| over the river two hours before noon. The work
| IS exceedingly rapid and skilful.
| The work of retaining and burying the DEAD
| goes ahead. Those who have not been recognized
have been buried on the hillside, but their graves
| are marked. Photographs are taken OF the
| bodies, and these together with the Jewels found
| on them are kept for those who may come 10
search for their dead The body of the Rev.
Alonzo Diller, formerly Of Philadelphia, was dis
covered last night. with those OF bis wife, child
end adopted daughter. The minister held his
| child clasped In his arms. The bodies had been
| pinned between the second floor and the rafters,
hundred feet from the place where the building
had stood. In view Of the sensational stories
spread about regarding the stealing Of jewels
TO know that Captain Baker highly commends
the honesty Of the people for delivering. rings
watches anC trinkcts 70 the committee. lie says
that many Of these people are extremely poor and
greatly in want Alexander Adair, who was worth
S3OO, 600 In real estate before the food, walked
over the ruins Of his property this morning lie
found that at the most there was not One-0h'h
Of 10 left 10 him. -..,...
There has been nothing 10 change conservative
cStilnates as TO the loss Of life. Several bodies
have been discovered floating in the cellars OF
houses not destroyed, but thr<c are chiefly In
Cambria, the small village below the bridge
which does not cover O large extent OF ground.
AS for the destruction OF property, men whore
Judgment is worth anything declare that IT. is
Impossible 10 measure il in dollars and cents TO
day there has been an abundance OF food for the
ough and satisfactory work in all departments
and degree OF cheerfuiness hardly 20 be eK.