The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-05

JonNsTowS, Pa, June A Pelion OF
calamity is piled with each passing hour
hero upon the Ossa Of calamity already
uncovered. Every moment now the body
Of some poor victim is taken from the
debris, and the town, or the remnants Of
IL, TO write with accuracy, is one vast
charnel-house. The scenes at the eXtem-
porized morgue are beyond powers Of de-
scIiption in their ghastlincss, while means
and groans Of the suffering survivors. toss
ing in agony with bruised and mangled
bodies, or screaming in a delirium OF fever
as they issue from the numerous tempo
rary hospitals, make even the stoutest-
hearted quail with terror. Nearly 1000
bodies have already been recovered, and
MS the work Of examining the wreckage
progresses the conviction grows that the
magnitude Of the calamity has not yet
been approximated. Conservative esti-
mates this morning put the number Of lost
at 1000. and many men Of calm judgment
and who are not wont TO exaggeate, who
have been upon the ground from the
outset, place the number at 10000. The
debris wedgcd against the big Pcnnsylya-
mia stone bridge is sill burning, aud the
efforts OF the iiremen TO quench or stay
the progress Of the flames are as futile as
wcIeihose OF Gulliver's lllliputian fremen.
The mass, WHICH unquesiionably forms
FUNERAL PYEE ron THOUSANDS
Of victims, who lie buried beneath IL, Is
burning and is likely to burn for weeks
TO come. The flames arc not active, but
burn away iu n sullen, determined fashion
as though bent for once upon proving how
futile are mans efforts when the fire god
is aroused, and, perhaps, after oil, the
hand Of Providence Is in II, for the suggcs-
tions made by the physicians yesterday,
that the bodies not buried bc allowed 10
be crcmated in the interest OF public
health. and which aroused such n storm Of
indignation among the surviving populaoc,
Is viewed with more calmness today, aud
there Is a growing sentiment that II is,
after all, the best solution OF the problem.
Weeks and months will be required 10 re-
move the stupcndous mass by artificial
means, and meantime the rolting, putrify-
ing remains OF poor humanity buried
therein, would be dealing pollution and
death TO all the surrounding country. The
awful dcsolation OF the scene has been de-
scribed often enough already 10 render a
repetition OF the attempt here unnec-
cssary. These descriptions have been rs
truthful and graphic rs II Is possible for
man 10 make them; but none have been
adequate, none could be. Where once
stood solid, uubroken business blocks for
square after square with Easements aud
subcolaH, there Is now level plain a.
free from obstruction or excavation as the
fair fields OF Arcadia, after they had been
swept by the British flames. The major
md prciticr portion Of the beautiful city
literally been
frED PROM TnK FACE or THE EARTH.
rowds Of strangers anxiously watched
the wreck this morning from the railroad
bridge and as far up the river on both
sides as the eye can reach. At Johnstown
proper the rcscuers continue 10 bring In
bodies by the hundred.
Thomas Williams, the husband who
lost his wife and family, recovered his
wiie's remains and took them up the
mountain, where he dug a grave aud
buried them himself. lie said: "This Is
the most terrible thing have ever done.
But when buried them all has been
done"
Mn. Frcdercks, an aged woman. was
rescued alive from the attic In her house
yesterday afternoon. Tho houlo had
hoaicd from what was formerly Vino
street 10 the foot Of the mountains. Mrs.
Fredcficks says her experience was terri
bic. She saw hundreds Of men, women
ard children floating down the torrent 20
meet their death, somo praying, while
others actually became raying maniacs
wrecken are working nearer tho bridge
today than at any time since the disaster.
The special train Of the Masonic Relief
Association, which left Pittsburg at /
o'clock yesterday afternoon on the Balii-
more & Ohio, did not reach here until just
tore midnight, at which time Il was i'm.
liblo 10 do anything. Under the cir
istanccs, the party concluded 10 pass
Ihe night In the cars, which they did,