Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-04
HOSTS OF DEAD.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE FIVE.

i
height of the flood the spectators were
startled by the sound of two loco
motive whistles from the very midst
of the waters. Two engineers
with characteristic courage, had re-
manned at their posts, and while there
was destruction on every hand, and ap
parently no escape for them, they
sounded their whistles. This they re.
peated at intervals. The last time with
triumphant vigor, as the water was
receding from the sides OF their locomo
tives. BY $50 the force of the
reservoir waters had been spent
on the village OF Conemaugh and
the Pullman cars and locomotive of the
second section remained unmoved. This
hardest ground, the destructive current
that and the mountain while the current
of the river did not eat it away. But the
other trains had been destroyed. A
solitary locomotive was seen imbedded
in the mud where the round-house had
stood.
AS the greatest danger had passed, the
people of Conemaugh gave their thoughts
to their neighbors of the city of Johns.
town. Here was conferred the great steel
and iron industries, the pride of Western
Pennsylvania, the Cambria Iron Works
being known everywhere. Here were
churches, daily newspapers, banks,
drygoods houses, warehouses and the
comfortable and well-built homes oil
| $1,000 people. What was their fate? In
contemplation of the irresistible force of
that awful flood, gathering additional
momentum as it swept on towards the
gulf, it became clear that the city must
be destroyed, and that unless the inhab-
itants had Geographic notice of the
breaking of the reservoir, they must
perish. A cry of horror went up
from the hundreds on the mountain
side, and a few iDstinctively turned
their steps toward Jamestown. The city
was destroyed, all the mills, furnaces,
manufactures, the many and varied in
dustries, banks, residences, all swallowed
up before the shadows of night had
settled down upon the earth. What
of the inhabitants? Vino can tell with
any certainty Those who came back
by daybreak said that from 5000 to 5000
had been drowned. Our hope is that
this is an exaggeration, and that when
the roll is called most will respond.
In the light of this calamity the de-
struction at Conemaugh sinks into insig-
nifcance. In this latter place they were
already bringing in the dead on stretch
ers. How many had been lost here, at
Mineral Point and at South Fork, could
not be told and may be never known.
There were some passengers and prob
ably forty or fifty inhabitants. The loss
| of property is enormous. The
track of the railroad company is
certainly destroyed for at least ten miles
below the south fork, and all other prop
erty of the company on the line.
REPAIRING THE RAILROADS.
PHILADELPHIA, June 3.-The best in
formation that can be obtained to-day at
the Pennsylvania office in this city is
that the road will be patched up to AL
toona within thirty.six hours, thus Civ
ing to eight hundred or more east and
west bound passengers, laid up at this
place, an opportunity to get away. 1t is
also stated here that only seven passen-
gers on the Inflated trains were lost. On
the middle division OF the main line, the
road is clear from Altoona to Petersburg.
there are several bad breaks. All but
one span OF the Manayunk bridge have
been swept away. East of that point
the Mays bridge is gone, and but one
span remains of the Gronville bridge.
From Altoona, westward, on the
main line, the track is open to
within short distance of South Fork
where the bridge was washed away Fri
day. Between South Fork and Johns
town, 1000 men are busy putting the
railroad in shape. At Johnstown, ant
west of there, several large gangs of mer
are employed. 1t is not believed tina
passengers can be conveyed from Harris
burg to Pittsburg over the main line in
side of week or ten days. AS to thu
transportation of freight and mails
nothing definite can be learned.
No direct intelligence has been received
from Lockhaven since 9 o'clock on Fri
day night A dispatch, then received
stated that lumber boom had broker
and the town was flooded. The wildes
kind of rumors are received as to tn
situation at that place, but they lack con
frmation. 1t is believed, however, tina
the loss of property at that place will b.
enormous.
l SANITARY MEASURES.
| WASHINGTON, June 3.-The Masoni
Relief Committee telegraphed the Presi
dent this afternoon, urging the appoint
ment of National Committee to tax,
charge of the sanitary affairs at thu
scene of the disaster. It was urged tina
the presence of SO many decayinl
corpses would breed a pestilence there
besides polluting the water of the streams
and affecting all the country between
Pittsburg and New Orleans. Presiden
Harrison conferred with Genera
Schc6eld, and shortly after, Surgeon
General Hamilton was summoned to take
part in the conference. The fact
was developed that the National
Sanitary Corps, if such it may be called
is composed of physicians located
at the various points. DR.. Atkinson
would confer with and assist the Penn
sylvania State Board of Health in any
measures it might institute in aid of the
public health and comfort, and Surgeon.
General Hamilton would be ready to
give advice or assistance, SO that what
ever was undertaken might be carried
forward by official sanction and author.
ity. Instructions in accordance with
this decision we're at once sent to DR.
Atkinson by Surgeon General Hamilton.
| The following telegram was received
this evening by the President from Gov.
ernor Beaver: "The Sheriff of Cambria
county says he can control the situation
without the aid of troops. The people
are fairly housed and good order pre-
walls. The supply of food, 80 far, is
equal to the demand, but supplies Of
l e. MI nks A.