New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-06
GOOD ORDER RESTORED.
A BOARD OF HEALTH APPOINTED IN JOHNS
TOWN.
THE WORK OF CLEARING AWAY THE RUINS
CARRIED on v1GoRoUsLY-THE PEOPLE
STILL UNDER THE SHADOW OF DESPAIR.

bT&LJ UNDEk ShADO" We DESIAlh'
'rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TaIDrSE.l
Johnstown, Penn, June 5.-To-day has wit
messed some changes OF Importance here. The
people OF the have been led to see that affairs
were becoming critical, and some decided action
has been taken Men were put TO work at an
early hour to-day on a roadway from the railroad
track across the river to that part Of the town
which has not been destroyed. BY night the tif-
teen hundred woFlmen had cleared a stretch Of
several hundred feet. The progress of the work
showed that 1t had been begun none too soon.
-Four bodies were found in the street before way
had been opened many feet through the wreckage.
From that time until nightfall the men dug out
numbers Of them. In one place alone twenty
corpses were discovered. The result of this work
seems TO have shown to every one the danger from
pcStilence There Is no possible way Of telling
how many hundreds Of bodies lie in this neighbOr
hood, and effort will be made 20 clear away the
ruins as rapidly possible.
Board OF Health has been appointed, and
plans are making to put a thorough system OF
inspection into operation. James Is. Scott, the
newly elected director OF the town and the sur
rounding villages has placed firm hand on the
rcin OF affairs, and the relief machinery is moving
more smoothly. The visiting relief committees
have in great port been displaced by men directly
under the orders OF the chief committee At the
supply stations ratous were issued during the day
20 90 900 people, and il is likely that few people
now suffer from hunger, although there is stlll
great need among the poor people. AT meeting
between the heads OF the committees aAd General
Hastings this afternoon, it was decided to clear
the town OF all those people who have no business
here and to keep such persons from entering the
town As q result two bayOnets are crossed 10
night at every avenue leading into the town. ana
no one may pass without military permit.
Hastings is going ahead at the stone bridge
where the river is choked up and the raiIroaus
ore rebuilding. Save for the fact, however, that
fewer people are hungry to-day than yesterday,
and that some work clearing up the town mas
been accomplished, the condition OF the people
themselves tonight has not improved greauy
The shadow still hangs over the unfortunate val
ley Men are still looking for their dead, while
Others who have found theirs, are heartbroken
Mothers are in despair, hoping against hope that
tomorrow will bring them some little encourage-
ment II is hard for them TO believe that their
whole family has gone They cannot remain at
the morgue for fear they may find there those
they are seeking and they dare not stay away
1t is a sad thing TO walk along the unlghted,
muddy, obstructed streets at night The houses
are dark, for hall OF the people have nothing
with which 10 light them, and the other hall
would not light them If they could. On the
steps are sitting the people, shivering in the damp
chilly air, talking in whispers, or silent with chns
touching their breasts, as they bow their heads
1t seems cruel 10 break upon their dismal reilec-
tious II one asks q man IL he has suffered much
by the food, he is likely TO answer:
Lost them ALL And many will make the
sane reply that one wonders how any people az
all were saved Some men answer with a fierce
ucss that is startling, while Others seem indif-
fcrent II is complete submission rather than
indifference. however, for hcneath their eyes are
dark threads, and their lips are dry
Johnstown will not be town again for many
wcrks The life and spirit and energy have been
crushed out Of IT, II is only a number OF scat-
tered Villages, Of scattered houses. Men have no
interest to-day in the living. Their thoughts are
with the dead and the tomb Of their dead is
their own city, their own homes.