Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-06-08

motives were blown 50 long and loud that
the people, realizing that something was
wrong, rushed from their houses, and, see
ing the water coming, fed to the mountains.
The total number of bodies recovered is
now estimated by Adjutant General Hast
ings and the undertahers at 2,3oO, but the
General has wired Governor Beaver that he
believes the loss will amount to from 5000
to 5000 lives and that time would produce
ample proof of this
UNHEEDED WARNINGS.
JoHNsTowN, Pa, June About eleven p
m. of Thursday, May 80, the storm burst
upon the city Of Johnstown and continued
until II 80 a. m Friday At eight a. N. the
torrent began to pour into the city from the
creeks and rivers. At ten a. II. there was
no outlet for the people. The first message
from the lake at South Fork was received
at ten a. m. Friday, that the dam was weak
ening. But the people, or the few who
heard the report, laughed to scorn this mes
sage, saying they had heard such news be-
fore. The second came at II 80 a. In. Itwas
to the effect that the dam was likely TO burst
al any moment. AT 23O the final message
was received, advising the people to flee to
the mountains for their lives, as the dam
must surely burst within the hour,
The messages were held by few officials
about the railroad, who neglected to sound
the alarm until it was too late. At that
time the water had reached the second story
of some Of the dwellings in the lower part
of the city All bridges had been swept
away by the avalanche of water pouring
through the city. The warnings, which
were received in ample time for all to have
escaped, were sneered at and cast aside as
being an old story. At $3.50 the whistles
and bells gave warning that the dam had
broken, but then it was too late. There
was roaring sound, and before the people
could realize the danger the water was
upon them in mass, carrying every thing
before it. Had they taken the warning in
the morning from the messages received,
thousands of lives would have been saved.
Yesterday corn patch of about an acre
in extent at Nineveh was dug over by vol
untcer force and 13S corpses were uncov-
cred. The manner in which the ghastly
find was made was purely accidental. A
man walking over the field kickedata clump
of garland; overturned it and uncovered
woman's face. This indicated a rich find
and the people around were called to assist
With the Iesul,s aboTo statco This in
creases the list of dead at Nineveh to 23O
| The dead were found under about four feet
of alluvial deposit
PITTSBURGH. June 4.-There have been be-
tween 1000 and 5000 collins sent or ordered
to be sent from Pittsburgh. OF these 2,9OO
were sent yesterday morning. At noon an
order was given for 1900 more. The relief
committee has receiveda telegram from the
New York and Brooklyn Casket Company
offering two car loa ds of caskets and all the
help necessary to handle them. Only the
caskets are being sent to Johnstown, as the
force of undcrtakers has no time to handle
rough boxes. Another firm has shipped 400
caskets and 800 shrouds. The statement
that there is a coffin famine is untrue Two
car loads of caskets shipped from Cincinnati
were sent to ,Johnstown on the Baltimore q
Ohio road yesterday.
Thomas d. Williams, his brother, wife
and infant child, who lived in Johnstown,
came to their relatives here yesterday. FRI
day morning the water was in the lower
part of their house. Some of their neigh
bors urged them TO 90 to the mountains with
them but on account of Mr.. Williams
brothers foot being injured, they delayed
until danger was more apparent The water
rose slightly. They moved to the upper part
of the house, but kept marking the advance
of the water, and for an hour previous to
the rush they saw it was at a standstill.
| suddenly they heard great shrieking and a
rush of some mighty force. Looking out,
they saw vast volume of water advancing
upon them The partition of the house sep
arated and lodged on one side. Upon this
they clambered and foated for several
miles, surrounded by the floating debris and
passed by people in the same condition as
| themselves.
They finally drifted to brick house which
had withstood the force of the deluge Mr..
| Williams broke in the window, meanwhile
securing safe hold of his child by grasping
its clothing with his teeth. The house waa
empty. BY aid of the materials in the house
| Mr.. Williams and his brother and half a
dozen persons from the water got in. Sat
urday night parties in skiffs came TO their
relief and brought them to the mountains.
Their own clothing was in shreds, but in
this house they found sufficient to cover
themselves.
| The secretary Of the South Fork Fishing
| Club stated yesterday that the club had not
filed an indemnity bond and that no com
plants had ever been made about the safety
Of the dam by anyof the Johnstown citizens,
HARRISBURG, Pa, June A message was
received at the Pennsylvania railroad sta
ton at this point yesterday from Williams
port stating that a meeting had been held in
that city during the afternoon at which the
following was authorized to be issued tothe
public. "The city of Williamsport has been
sorely stricken by the most severe flood
ever known in the State of pennsylvania.
| All have suffered great loss. Large num-
hers of our citizens are wholly destitute and
suffering for the necessaries Of life. Those
of our people able to do so are giving what
they can. but are unable to furnish the re-
lief needed. We appeal TO generous pub
lie in the name of God to help us. Let every
thing be sent to the mayor of Williamsport" "
Governor Beaver has issued proclama-
tion. in which he saws: "The most conserv-
ative estimates place the loss of life at 5000
human beings and property at S5'Oo'ooo'
Shoes and clothing Of all sorts for men,
women and children are greatly needed
Other localities have suffered to some ex-
tent in the same way, but not in the same
degree. Late advices would seem to indi-
cate great losses of life and destruction of
property along the west branch of the Sus-
ouehanna and in localities from which we
can get no definite information"
RENovo, Pa, June 4.-This town suffered
about $3.50, 900 loss by Friday nights flood.
Telegraphic communication has Just been
restored Three-quarters of the town were
under water and many people are homeless,
their houses being ruined. Railroad bridges
all through this section were carried away.
The flood came suddenly and people had to
flee for life, saving nothing else. AT Lock
Haven the damage was equally great The
lumber industries at Emporium and other
points suffer loss OF VI least a. niililon dol'
lars. Tho loss of life is small.