Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-01

males in their shrieks for help that il was not
possible to give. just at dark a lad was noticed
clinging to log. James Curry secured long
line and ran to the river bank. The moose OF
the lasso fell over the boys shoulders, and a
moment later the drenched, poverty-stricken
little fellow was hauled to the bank. He was
soon restored and stated that his name was
Edward Harten, IS years Of age. He had
lived with his father, grandfather and mother
in Cambria City, part Of Johnstown. At 4
flood They had all climbed upon a mass Of
driftwood and were carried along. The raft
went to pieces against q bridge pier and he
had not seen his relatives since, but thought
that
THEY WERE ALL DROWNED.
Harry Fisher, q telegraph operator at Boil
var, says: 1--WE knew nothing of the disaster
until We noticed the river slowly rising. Within
three hours the water in the river rose at least
20 feet. Shortly before o'clock ruins OF
houses, beds, household utensils, barrels and
kegs came floating past the bridges. At 8
O'Clock the water was within six feet OF the
roadbsd Of the bridge. The wreckage foated
past without stopping for at least two hours.
Then 1t began to lessen. and night coming sud
denly upon us we could see no mors. The
wreckage was floating by for a long time before
the first living person passed. Fifteen people
that saw were carried down by the river.
One of these. boy. was saved and three OF
town. 1t was an awful sight and one that 1
will not soon forget"
PITIABLE SIGHTS AND SCENES MULTIPLY
more rapidly than cross ties. The Conemaugh
is one great valley Of mourning. Those who
have not lost friends have lost their homes or
their substance, and apparently the grief for
the one Is as poignant rs for the other.
Albert Harvey, who left Conemaugh late last
evening, has just arrived, having tramped over
hills and mountains. He says the great volume
of water struck Johnstown about $50 in the
afternoon. 1t did not find the people unpre-
pared, as they had notice from South
Fork that the dam was threatening
to go. Many, however, disregarded the
notice, and remained in their houses in the
lower part Of the city and were caught before
they could get out. once the water was on
them. Superintendent Pitcairn. who has spent
the entire night in assisting those afflicted with
the Hood, went home about o'clock this
morning. Before this he issued an order to all
Pennsylvania railroad employees to keep a
sharp lookout for bodies in the river.
The assistant superintendent is still on the
ground near Sang Hollow, directing the move
ments of gravel and construction trains. which
are arriving as fast as they can be filled up and
started out. The road beds of the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad and West Pennsylvania are badly dam
aged, and it will cost the latter, especially. from
Bolivar junction to Salisbury many thousands
of dollars to repair injuries to embankments
alone.
THE PLACE rs ANNIHrLATED.
". n. Hayes has just returned from Johns
town. He says the place is annihilated. Cone
maugh is wrecked and Cambria City swept
away. Fully 1920 lives have been lost.
One hundred bodies have been recovered at
Ninevah. Seventy persons are reported to have
been burned to death in a fire at Johnstown
bridge.