New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-03
TIE GREAT CATASTROPHE.

Only the vaguest outlines of the fearful fate
| which has overtaken the COnemaugh Valley
have vet been disclosed, but enough is known
TO make it certain that history will assign to
this catastrophe place among the monumental
horrors Of all time The truth about even the
worst calamites is generally less pitiful than the
first wild surmises, but in this instance, with
every new source of information, the conception
of what has actually occurred becomes moro
appalling and eXaggeration more difficult. II
is evident that days and perhaps weeks must
pass before it will be possible to call roll Of
the dead. and hundreds, il not thousands, OF
the missing may never be identified. Some
idea of the magnitude Of the less may be do
rived from comparison. The Mill River diS-
aster, which is still remembered with shudder,
took only Ia lives, and its counterpart ut Shef-
field, which gave n vivid and narrowing picture
to English literature, only $50. II is believed
that not fewer than 5000, perhaps 10000
not impossbly 8, 900, cOrpses are lying in the
Conemaugh Valley. There are records or ira
ditions of more than one food in China which
has swept hundred thousand human beings
out of existence, but very seldom before IN
any country which we are wont to call civilized
has Nature wrought such havoc at single
blow as that which now horrifes the world.
How far Nature and in what proportion man
are responsible for this prodigious loss it is
impossible to say. 1t is evident that there
would have been serious inundation, with
large waste of property and possibly of life,
II the Conemaugh dam had withstood the tor
rent which tore it asunder; but there seems to
be no doubt that this great artificial lake was
the prime agent OF destruction. Reports OF its
threatening condition and Of the anxiety which
it caused among the more sagaciouS and watch
full Of those who lived below il come from too
many sources TO permit of their being dlSrc-
garded. 1t is certain that there was no Suf-
ficient reason for exposing thousands OF persons
to the awful fate which has now oveFtaken
them. There is nothing in familiar experience
with which to compare this present ruin, but
more than one disaster due 10 the same cause
has offered to teach lesson which ought 10
have been learned long ago. The ConeTaugh
dam had the appearance Of enormous strength.
but it had been greatly enlarged without ref
erence to the original purpose; and this is al
ways dangerous experiment, as General New
ton has pointed out. II II had been an i'm
portant factor in the prosperity Of the valley
had furnished livelihood TO thousands and had
in some sense justified its existence by its utility.
the result would have lacked one element which
now makes it hard TO bear. But this huge
reservoir did nothing for tho busy region which
it has devastated 1t existed simply 10 give oc-
casional pleasure TO a club Of gentlemen, and
performed no useful purpose whatsoever which
could not have been rs well accomplished with
out the possibility of harm to any one. II is
easy to say, now that renionStrances are too
late, that such peril should not have beer al
lowed TO hang above populous valley, but it
is not too late to insist that there should never
be repetition Of such folly.
The thoughts OF all the world are busted first
with the mournful fact that thousands OF lives
| have been destroyed aud thousands Of hearts
made desoate; but, after all. it is the destruc-
| ton OF material wealth, Of the means OF sup
| port and The savings Of industry, which will
cause the most prolonged, II not the sharpest
distress, and it is to this point that the active
| sympathy Of the country should be addressed.
A prompt beginning has been made and wo
| have every assurance that a universal response
will be given to the appeal for immediate and
| generous assistance. New-York will not fail
| to do her part. The metropolis has a noble
reputation for making It's sympathy known in
| a practical way, and We shall expect TO see this
reputation splendidly maintained in this emer-
gency. THE TRIBUNE urges its readers to
share in the work Of relief according to their
means, and it will acknowledge and forward all
| contrib utions entrusted TO it.