The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-06-06
Terrible Disaster at Johnstown,
Pa.-One Hundred People
Drowned in a Flood.
Horrible Assassination In Ireland.
Two Bankers SLAIN In the
Road.

burg has had no wire communication
with YOUNGSTOWN for three hours.
The flood at Johnstown has re.
suited in an awful catastrophe. The
reservoir above the town broke about
5 O'Clock this evening, and an
immense volume of water rushed down to
the city, carrying with it death and de.
struction. Houses, with their occupants
we're swept away, and scores, probably
hundreds of people were drowned. There
| is no communication with Johnstown, but
| the telegraph operator ia the Pennsyl-
vania railroad tower, at Sag Hollow
twelve miles this side of YOUNGSTOWN
says that at least seventy fl We
dead bodies have fioated
| past. The wires ara all down and no trains
are running east of Blairsville, which is
about twenty-five miles west of Johnstown
There is no way to get to the scene of dis
aster, and full particulars can hardly lie
obtained tonight, although every effort
is being made to do SO. There will be no
trains through to the east before to-mor-
row.
8S~
CHICAGO, May 31.-The Chicago agents
of the line to which the Lake Oatario be-
longs have received telegram from the
Montreal owners saying that steamer
passed Fare Point yesterday, and that
was the last news which could have been
received of her.
VARIOUS RUMoRs.
prnrrc Do Mor enoo;ol
from Greensburg, Pa, says a report
reached here that the greater portion of
Johnstown has been flooded and hundreds
of lives lost. Houses are floating about
and people who are free are panic stricken
and are fleeing to the mountains.
At point near New Florence
eighty five persons have been seen float
ing down the river on driftwood. One
report comes that but two roofs of houses
in Johnstown can be seen. At Covetown
and New Florence the bridges have been
washed away, and ali buildings along the
Oolemang HE, between New Florence and
YOUNGSTOWN have been carried away. Rail-
road towers, have been abandoned by the
operators.
BODIES FLOATING IN THE RIVER
PITTsBURa, May 3l.-Latest reliable in
formation received from Johnstown comes
through Pennsylvania officials, who aver
that over 200 dead bodies have been
counted floating down the stream at
Johnstown alone, while along the line many
additional lives have been lost. 1t is re-
ported that there are but two houses In
Johnstown proper entirely above the
water line. A special train bearing
Pennsylvania railroad officials and a
large number of newspaper men has
left this city for the scene. Telegraph
communication is entirely cut off, and
until telegraph repairers aud operators,
with necessary instruments, open up at
the nearest point, but little reliable in
formation can be obtained.
BULLETIN NO. l.
PITTsBURG, May 31.-The Associated
Press train from present appearances will
not be able to run nearer than six or eight
miles of that part of YOUNGSTOWN where the
flood was the worst. Consequently the
dispatches for the newspapers will be in
the form of corrected bulletins
COMPLETELY SUBMERGED.
GRUNsBURG, Pa, May 31.-Johnstown
is completely submerged and the loss of
life is inestimable. Houses are going
down the river by the dozen, and people
can be seen clinging to roofs. At Cake
town, village of several hundred inhabit-
ants, the houses are almost entirely Gov
cred, and great many dwellings, at Blairs-
vile are submerged. Scarcely dwelling
in the vicinity of Sag Hollow can
be seen. The bridges at Bolivar and Mini
veh it is reported have given way and that
at Salisbury it is feared they will be car
ried away. People here who have friends
in the flooded districts are eagerly waiting
for news at the telegraph Office. Great
uneasiness prevails. The river at Liver
more is rising and great destruction will
follow.
EN- ROUTE TO THE SCENE OF DISASTER.
BRADDooK, Pa, May 31.-The telegraph
wires being down absolutely for six or
seven miles between the immediate scene
of the disaster and being in an uDwwork-
able shape for three or four miles distant,
it was at least 1880 before an accurate out
line Of the effec6 of the tidal wave could
be learned. The chief officials of the
Pittsburg end of the main line of the
Pennsylvania railway received most of
their information from the signal
tower at San Gullvid, six miles
west of Johnstown. At quarter
of o'clock boy was rescued by the men
in the signal tower of the railroad com
pany. His name is unknown, but he said
that with his father, mother, brother and
two ei,ters he was swept over the new
stone railroad bridge at JohnstowD; that
it capsized few seconds later, and they
were all drowned, so far as he could tell
the railroad operator. Before dark they
we're able to count 119 persons cling
ing to buildings and wreckage or
drowned aud floating in the current.
If this information is to be credited the
damage on tie town proper must be in
the nature of clear sweep.
As early as O'Clock the alarm was sent
to JOhnstown that there was danger from
the dam. The railroad officials were Dod-
fed and in very short time began to
carry people from the town to places of
safety on regular trains and hastily i'm
proyised resouing trains. Superintendent
Pitcairn, of the western division of the
Pennsylvania railroad, was on his way to
South Fork and was notified OF impend-
ing trouble.
AT OTHER POINTS.
PrrraRuRa Nav 3I-A anaoiaI frnm