The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-27
THE SOUTH FORK DAM.
Coroner Evans Resumes His Inquiry and
Hears Testimony of Expert Engineers.

Coroner Evans Resumes His Inquiry and
Hears Testimony of Expert Engineers.
JOHSTOwN. Pa, juno 26.-COroner Evans
this evening resumed the inquest on the
body of Mrs. Ellen Hite, victim of the
flood. Expert witnesses only were ex-
amined. j. l.. Coffin. of this place. q me-
chanicai engineer, the first witness, said he
considered the South Fork dam unsafe, as
it leaked. There was, said he, no means of
drawing off the water.
John Fulton, general manager of the
Cambria iron-works, was the next witness.
He said that hay bad been used to stop up
leaks in the dam, and he believed that the
repairs made after the bursting of the dam
In 1880 were not perfect He also mentioned
that escape pipes should have been used.
Col L. 4. Roberts, civil engineer, of
Pittsburg, said discharge pipes would not
have been any benefit. he considered the
dam perfectly safe, and attributed its
bursting to the extraordinary rainfall on
the morning of the fatal disaster. He be-
Heyed that the bursting of the dam con-
tributed to the disaster of the flood.
John q. Parks, of Pittsburg, also an
engineer, said he was at south Fork when
the dam burst, and in detail he told of the
the fatal morning he found the water sur
prisingly high, and the lake was boiling
and boisterons. He told of how the water
had extended back into the woods, and
said he had rOwed In yawl over the adj
joining fences. The water rose from eight
overflow. and he warned the people of
South Fork and Johnstown OF the approach
ing disaster.
The inquest adjourned until Monday
evening next, when other engineers will be
examined.
workmen Employed at J9hnstown.
JoHNsTowN, Pa, June 26.-General Hast
ings issued the following announcement
this evening: "Some employment agencies
in New York, Pittsburg aud other cities are
sending laborers to JOhnstOwn. They tell
them they will be given transportation and
81 a day wages These promises are prac-
tically false pretenses. There are more
labOrers in J0hnst0wn now than can be
employed. and the rate of wages is not as
high as stated. No workmen should come
to Johnstown at this time to seek work"
The force of men now employed under
contractors, in the flooded districts of the
vicinity, numbers about 1,500, having been
reduced from about 1900 by the discharge
of 500 of Meningitis men, mostly from New
York, this morning. In addition to the
1,5OO men under contractors. there are
pTODaDly OL0efS WORKING the
debris in various places about the
city on their own account The contractors
now in charge are four in number, and
each has a force of about $50 men and 112
teams. The reason gwen for the discharge
of the men this morning is that they were
not needed. Now that the streets are
pretty well open, it is claimed that q
smaller force can work more effectively.
The feeling among the citizens generally
appears to be that the work of clearing up
the wreck and removing the debris and
mud is progressing satisfactorily. The
principal streets are pretty well cleared. SO
that wagons can traverse them in all direc-
tions.
Major Phillips concluded the work of
blasting tonight, and it is expected that
the river channel will be speedily cleared.
Four bodies were found to-day; three of
these were children. and were not recOg-
niZed.