St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-03

JouNsTowN, Pa, June 2.-When
Snpt. Pitcairn telegraphed to Pittsburg
Friday night that Johnstown was ami
bilated. he came very close to the facts
of the case. although he had not seen
the ill-fated city. To say that Johns
town is a wreck is but stating the facts
of the case. Nothing like it has ever
been seen in this country. Where long
rows Of dwelling houses and business
blocks stood forty-eight hours ago, rum
and desolation now reign supreme.
Probably 1900 houses have been swept
from the face of the earth as completely
as if they had never been erected. Main
street from end to end is piled fifteen
and twenty feet high with debris, and
in some instances it is as high as the
roofs OF the houses. This great mass
of wreckage fills the streets
FROM CURB TO CURB
and frequently has crushed the fronts
of buildings in and filled the space with
reminders of the terrible calamity.
There is probably not man in the
place who can give any reliable estl-
mate of the number of houses that had
been swept away. City Solicitor Kuhn,
who should be very good authority in
this matter, places the number at 1,500.
From the Woolen mill above the island
to the bridge. distance OF probably
two miles, strip of territory nearly
half mile in width has been swept
clean, not stick of timber or one brick
on top of another being left to tell the
story. 1t is the most complete wreck
that Imagination could conceive. All
day long men, women and chill
dren were plodding about the desc
late waste trying in vain to
locate the boundaries of their former
homes. Nothing but wide expanse of
mud. ornamented here and there with
heaps of driftwood. remained, however,
for their contemplation. 1t is perfectly
safe to say that every house in the city
that was not located we'll up on the hill
sides was either
SWEPT COMPLETELY AWAY
OF wrecked so badly that rebuilding
will be absolutely necessary. These
losses. however, are nothing compared
to the frightful sacrifices Of precious
human lives to be seen on every hand.
During all this solemn Sunday, Johns
town has been drenched with the tears
of stricken mortals, and the air is filed
with sobs and sighs that came from
breaking hearts. There are scenes en-
acted here every hour and every
minute that affect all beholders pro-
foundly. When brave men die in battle
for country or for principle their loss
can be reconciled to the stern destinies
of life. When homes are torn asunder
in an instant, and the loved ones hurled
from the arms of loving and devoted
mothers, then is an element OF sadness
connected with the tragedy which
touches every heart. An utterly
Wretched woman named Mrs. Fem
stood by muddy pool of water, trying
to find some trace of a once happy
home. She was half-crazed with grief,
and her eyes were red and swollen. AS
the writer stepped to her side she raised
her pale and haggard face and re-
marked: "They are all gone. oh, God,
be merciful to them. My husband and
my seven
DEAR LITTLE CHILDREN
have been swept down with the food,
and ] am left alone. We were driven
by the raging flood into the garret, but
the water followed us there. Inch by
inch it kept rising until our heads were
crushing against the roof. twas death
to remain, so l raised window, and one
by one placed my darlings on some
driftwood, trusting to the great Creator.
AS liberated the last one, my sweet
little boy, he looked at me and said:
Mamma, you always told me that the
Lord would care for me; will BE look
after me now?' / saw him drift away
with his loving face turned toward me,