Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-03
A SCENE0F DEVASTATION
A Voice of Those Weeping
for their Children
ANDREFUSING TO BE COMFORTED.
Thousands of Bodies Buried in the
Mud-RObbers of the Dead.
Relief for Survivors.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALI


here has not changed, and yesterdays
estimates of the loss of life do not seem
to be exaggerated. Six hundred bodies
are now lying in Johnstown, and large
number have already been buried. Four
immense relief trains arrived last night
and the survivors are being we'll cared
for. A portion OF the police force of
Pittsburg and Allegheny are on duty,
and better order is maintained than pre-
vailed yesterday. Communication has
been restored between Cambria City and
YOUNGSTOWN by foot bridge. The work
OF repairing the tracks between Sang
Hollow and YOUNGSTOWN is going on rap
idly, and trains will probably be running
by tomorrow morning. Not less than
10, 600 strangers are here.
TWO LITTLE GIRLS IMPRISONED.
The handsome brick high school build
ing is damaged to such an extent that it
will have to be rebuilt. The waters at
tanned to the height of the window stills
of the second story. Its upper stories
formed refuge for many persons. All
Saturday afternoon, two little girls could
be seen at the windows frantically call
ing for aid. They had spent all the night
and day in the building, cut off from all
aid, without food or drinking water.
Their condition was lamentable. Late
in the evening the children were re-
moved to the higher ground and properly
cared for. A number of persons had
been taken from this building earlier in
the day, but in the excitement the two
children were forgotten.
ANOTHER SOURCE OF DANGER.
Now that the waters have receded
there is great danger from falling walls.
ALI day long the crashing of walls could
be heard across the river. Before day
break this morning the sounds could not
but make one shudder at the very
thought of the probable death that
awaited many who had escaped the de-
vastaring foods.
The library hall was another of the
fine buildings that were destroyed. OF
the Episcopal church not vestige re.
mains. The parsonage is swept away,
and the rector of the church, Rev. Mr..
Dillon, was drowned.
NIGHT OF HORRORS.
James M. Walters, an attorney, spent
the night in Alma Hall, and relates a
thrilling story. One of the most serious
occurrences of the whole disaster was
how Walters got to the hall. He has
his Office on the second floor, and his
home is at 1876 Walnut street. He says
he was in his house with his family
when the waters struck. All was carried
away. Walters family drifted on the
roof in another direction. He passed
down several streets and alleys until he
came to the hall. His dwelling struck
that edifice, and he was thrown into his
own Office. About 200 persons had taken
refuge in the hall, and we're on the Sc
cond, third and fourth stories. The men
held meeting and drew up some rules,
which all were bound to respect. Wal
tiers was chosen president, Rev. Beale
was put in charge of the first floor, A. M.
Hart, of the second floor, and DIR. Mat.
thews, of the fourth floor. No lights
were allowed, and the whole night was
spent in darkness. The scenes were
most agonizing. Heartrending sbreks,
sobs and means pierced the gloomy
darkness. The crying of children min
ged with the suppressed sobs of women.
No one slept during all the dark night.
Many knelt for hours in prayer, their
supplications mingling with the roar Of
the waters and the shrieks of the dying
in the surrounding houses. In all this
misery, two women gave premature birth
to children. DR.. Matthews behaved like
a hero. Several of hisribs were crushed by
the falling timber, and his pains were
most severe, yet, through all, he attended
the sick. When two women in a
house across the street shouted for help,
he, with two other brave young men,
climbed across the drift and ministered
to their wants. No one died during the
night, but women and children surren-
dered their lives on the succeeding day,
as the result of their terror and fatigues.
Miss Rose Young, one of the young ladies
in the hall, was frightfully cut and
bruised. Mrs. Young had her leg
broken.
ONLY STRANGE FACES TO BE SEEN.
A tour of the west bank of the river, a
distance of two miles, leaves ones mind |
confused. There are not over two hun |
dred bodies to be seen, but while the |
nj ass of people walked back and forth |
they were strangers. Not one person in
ten that one met was a resident Of this
vicinity. Itl.ads to the belief that hun
1reds, perhaps thousands, are still buried
"a the mud and debris, burned in the
awful furnace at the stone bridge or
edged further down than the searchers
nave yet gone. That many are buried
yet, is also indicated by fresh find
very few hours and the unmistakable
,dor that rises from the acres on fire on
N the river bank.
RoBBlNG THE DEAD.
As roads to the lands round about are
'psned, tales of almost indescribable
lorror come to light and deeds of the
'ilest nature, perpetrated in the dark
less of the night are brought to light.
ust as the shadows began to fall upon
be earth last evening, party OF thirteen
were noticed stealthily pick.
ng their way along the banks of the
towards Sang Hollow.
their purpose, several farmers !
rmed themselves and started in pur-
nit. Soon their most horrible fears
1ere realized. The Hungarians were
ut for plumber. Lying upon the shore, 6
hey came upon the dead and mangled {
ody Of woman. Upon her person /
1ere a number OF tripkets, jewelry and +
wo diamond rings. In their eagerness 9
, secure the plumber, the Hungarians q
OF into squabble, during which, one of I
neir number severed the finger upon G
'hich were the rings and started to run q
nth his fearful prize. The revolving I
AZURE of the deed so wrought upon the
ursuing farmers, who by this time were I