Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-10
THE SITUATION AT YOUNGSTOWN.
Report Of Surgeon General Hamilton to
the President

DICTATOR SCOTT IN cHARaK-FEAruaEs OF THE
BRIDGE - JoHSsrowS's WATER suPPLY - NO
FEARS OF GENERAL EPIDEMIC.
DIR. Hamilton, surgeon-general Of the Marine
hospital SERVICE returned from Johnstown last
night, and to-day submitted to the President
his report upon the disaster. 1t gives very
clear idea of the situation there. The report
says:
THE sURGEoS-GENERAL's TOUR OF INSPECTION
have the honor to report for your informa-
ton that visited Johnstown, Pa. according to
your verbal instructions, leaving this city at 10
p. m. on Thursday last. arrived at Johns
town on Friday at 2:3O p. m.
On arriving Immediately visited the "head-
quarters building, where found DIR. Croft
and DR.. Llbbett, Of the Pennsylvania state
board OF health, and miscellaneous mob of
people in the building. most Of whom were en-
gagged in some sort of work connected
with relief measures. Finding that there was
nothing for me to do at that Office / started out
on tour OF inspection of the place. After
some difficulty pushed my way through the
crowd to the desk of Mr. Scott, who has as
sumed the powers Of dictator, and procured
a pass to enable me to go through the guard
lines.
SCENE OF TIE DISASTER.
are correct in the main. The disaster occurred
on the 31st of May. at about 8 p. m. The bust
ness portion of the city of Johnstown occupied
the area between the large stream known as
stony creek and the small stream known as
Conemaugh river, and is a triangular area Of
ground, having for its two sides the rivers
aforesaid and for its base high hill, at the
base OF which there is fringe of wooden
houses yet untouched by the flood
This main triangle is Joined by triangle on
one side, the apex extending up the Cone
maugh valley, and on the other by one ex-
tending up, Stony creek. The Pennsylvania
railroad entered by the Conemaugh valley and
the Baltimore and Ohio by the Stony creek
valley: These sub-triangular spaces are in
cluded in the general devastation. Scarcely
yestige Of the plan of streets remained
on Friday, except that Main street had been
cleared ,Ia In NJ, Its center by gangs of men en-
OF Pittsburg, but by Saturday morning there
were several streets passable. Curbstones were
visible in few places on this vast area and
here and there house. store, or other public
building was standing in ruins to give a land
mark to the workmen.
REMOVING THE DEBRIS.
1t is estimated that about {, 900 men are en-
gagged In the work Of the removal of the debris.
The debris consists Of saw-logs, house-timbers,
wreckage Of furniture, floors roofs and wooden
wood. Among the debris are found the re-
mains OF persons drowned or killed by the fall
ling tmbers, and dead animals of all kinds.
The work OF clearing up the surface
DEBRIS is going on well, and in my
judgment ten days more of the same
systematic work will suffice to clear the sur
lace OF the main portion of the late city, but
the debris OF the Conemaugh valley proper
and that OF the Stony creek valley has yet only
been touched by the gangs of laborers of the
vail do ,la L.
have been partially cleaned.
THE DRIFT AT THE RAILROAD BRIDGE.
The Pennsylvania railroad had a stone arch
bridge across the Conemaugh Just below the
junction of the two streams, and at this bridge
there is an area of drift of about twelve acres
This drift consists of saw-logs, locomotives,
iron boilers wire from the wire works debris
from wrecked buildings, and dead bodies Of
humap beings and animals. strong
stencil was plainly perceptible at this
point, and but little success had
had been met with i'll the attempt to clear it
out. Many charges Of dynamite have been
exploded in the vain attempt and in my judg-
ment nothing but the most persistent effort will
remove the drift, and the efforts should be in
diligently directed; grapple irons and tackle,
such as are used on the U. S. snag boats, are
directed by GONE one familiar with
that class of work. Adjutant-Gen. Has
tings, of the Pennsylvania national guard, on
Saturday employed Messrs. Coburn Il Co.. of
Altoona, with $50 men to work at this drift and
hand-grappllng irons. The general SAYS that
5000 men could be employed at this work. Mr.
Coburn informed me that at the same rate of
progress as that made on Saturday he thought
the drift could be removed in ten
days. Through the generosity of Altoona
this force is paid by that city, but it
is apparent that the force is inadequate, and
their work would be more intelligently divided
II an officer of the engineer corps of the army
were instructed to advise with Gen. Hastings
as consultory engineer. This suggestion | had
the honor OF making to you by telegraph.
THE MEDICAL RELIEF WORK.
On Saturday the medical relief work was
divided into districts by the board of health
and ten local physicians placed in charge of
them. There is large beer hall converted
into hospital, which is in charge of a
physician from Philadelphia To this hospital
all the wounded are brought by the police and
the different attendants.
The sick and wounded are now mainly con-
fined to those persons working as laborers and
in the various relief organizations outside of
the laborers there are few citizens left. Many
are lost and many gone away from the scene of
their great calamity. There are some twenty
physicians, ten Of whom are able to work. but
no more are needed, and it would be a great
relief If many OF those from distance would
go away.
ORDER SUCCEEDS CONFUSION.
For time there was great confusion in the
issue of supplies of clothing and food but on
Thursday that portion Of the work was turned
over to the commissary general Gen. Leach
accompanying Gen. Hastings command, and
system has taken the place of the chaotic con-
dition All supplies intended for the sufferers
should be sent to the care of Gen. Hastings
and clothing supplies are believed to be now
no longer necessary.
Fifty dozen pairs of rubber gloves for the
use OF the persons handling dead bodies would
be a welcome present to the workmen clearing
up the debris, especially for those at the bridge
drift
There are many private organizations having
tents and temporary sheds. each working on
its own plan. Some philosophical towns, hav-
ing sent relief supplies, send along a corps to
attend to their issue. This is no longer neces-
sary, and this plan reminds one of the
COUNTY DONATION PARTIES
where the good people of the parish, having
resolved to send in lot of good things to their
minister, go along and eat them up in a single
evening. 1t is safe to say that the relief work
would be much better done by the national
guard under the intelligent command OF Gen
Hastings than in any other way The Red
Cross association have a hospital above the
town in the Stony Creek valley and on
Saturday started one at Kernville. At
the latter place. there being no other hospital,
the Red Cross hospital may be of some service.
The first location served a good purpose at
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