Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-04
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ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
The Johnstown Catastrophe.

The JohnstOWn Catastrophe
JoHNsrowN, Pa. June For sc hours.
without intermssion fire engines have play
ed on the smoking ruins above the bridge,
but the flames that break out afresh at fire..
quent intervals in this floating field of ruins
seem to defy the sub1uing force OF water.
Nearly 1000 men are employed in different
parts OF the valley clearing up the ruins and
prosecuting diligent search for the undis
covered dead. Their Investigations are not
without fruitful results, for the bodies of the
dead and charred victims of flood and fire
are discovered with undiminshed frequen
cy. II becomes hourly more and more ap-
parent that not single vestige will ever be
recognized of hundreds that were roasted
in the flames above the bridge. Provisions
have increased greatly in price in and
around Johnstown. One dealer was chsrg
ing S. sack fol- flour and was getting it In
one or two cases. Suddenly the crowd
heard of the occurrence, and several desper.
ate ones went to the store and doed the
flour gfatuitousy to the homeless and
stricken army. Another dealer was selling
flour at $3.50 a sack. He refused to give
any away, but would sell to anyone who had
the money. Otherwise be would not allow
anyone to 60 near j., guarding his store with
shot gun. Bodies are recovered in Johns
town to day that have been robbed by the
ghouls that flock to the scene The Huns
attack supply wagons hourly and the drivers
are permitted to go armed 10 order to pro-
tect themselves. Nearly 1000 bodies have
already been recovered and, as the work of
examining the wreckagc progresses, the
conviction grows that the magnitude of the
calamity has not yet been approxmated.
Conservative estimates this morning put the
number of lost at 1000, and many men of
cool judgment and who are not apt to ex-
aggerate and who have been upon the
ground from the first, place the number at
10000 The debris edged against the big
Pennsy vania stone bridge is still burning,
and the efforts of the fremen to quench or
otuy tuC PlOBi Oco vi IbC OIL 40 iuliiS
as were those of Gulliver's Llliputian fire
men. The mass, which unquestionably
forms funeral pyre for the thousands OF
victims who lie buried beneath it, is burning
and ia likely to burn for weeks to come.
AT IL o'clock the first relief train bearing
thousands of pounds of provisions for the
suffering and 1000 collins for the dead ar
rived at job nstown depot. The suggestion
made by the physicians yesterday that the
bodies not buried be allowed to be crema
ted, in the interest OF public health, and
which aroused such storm of indignation
among the surviving populace, Is viewed
with more calmness to day, and there Is q
growing sentiment that it ia after all the
best solution of the problem. Weeks
pendous mass by artificial means, and mean
time the rotting, purifying remains Of poor
humanity buried therein would be dealing
pollution and death to all the surrounding
country. Twenty five registry Offices for
the living were opened this morning. Up
TO noon Q 900 out of 81 900 were registered.
What is needed at Johnstown now more
than anything else are grave diggers. This
morning hundreds of bodies were lying
around and there was no one 10 dig graves.
This morning there have been at least fifty
funeral professions. Ia some instances rela
tives of the victims are compelled to dig
graves in which to inter them.
A Mr.. Gilmore, an old man, who has lost
his wife and family of FIVE children, insisted
on the 6remen playing n stream of water
on the place where his house form
erly stood. The fremen played the
stream on the place for several hours.
At last one of The men picked up charred
skull evidently that of child. 10 few
minutes they came to the remains Of the
mother and three other children. The
heads we're completely burned off, but
there was enough of their clothing left
to recognize them by. What was left was
placed in collins and carried away, the old
gentleman following closely.