The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-06
Rev. Mr.. Ranney Tells of the Disaster to
the Trains and the Loss of His Wife.
Americans in Paris Show Sympathy in Words
and Deeds-Extent of Flood Damages at
Huntingdon and Other Places.
THE PROBABLE LOSS OF LIFE.
Growing Belief That Nearly Half the People
in the Valley Were Drowned.


Growing Belief That Nearly Half the People
in the Valley Were Drowned.
JOHNSTOwN, Pa, June 5.-As the days
roll on and the heaps of debris are penetrat-
ed it becomes more and more apparent that
the death list will be more than 5000 and
the general impression among the physi-
clans, undertakes and morgue attend
ants is that the victims will
number between 5000 and 1900.
The deeper the wreck drifts are
penetrated the greater the number discov-
cred. On Franklin street thirteen were
found in cluster to-day, and few min
utes afterward twelve more were found.
Conservative men are of the opinion
that the number of people destroyed
will reach from 1900 to 1900. This
view of it is based on many fragments of
evidence obtained from over one hundred
citizens, being careful to select as intelli-
gent men and women as could be found.
They were chosen from as many
occupations as possible, and from as many
social classes. They were asked to esti-
mate the percentage of loss to the total pop
ulation to tell how many people of their ac-
erings of residents on thestreet aud in pub
lie places compare with the same in former
times. Their statements of fact and esti-
mates were proved as far as could be, and
the pendulum of calculation seemed to be
beating time when they swing from II, 900
to $1,000.
The registration of survivors goes on, but
not so rapidly as yesterday. The total reg
istration to date is only q trife over
$4,000, out of total estimated
population of, the torrent-swept dis
trict of from $1,000 to $4,000 last Friday.
Allowance must be made, of course, for the
large number of Survivors who have sought
refuge with friends in other places,
as well as many who have failed,
either from ignorance or remissness,
to register. But the falling of to-
day leads the authorities to ,apprehend
that their worst fears may yet be realized
and the death-roll will foot well up into
the five figures. Visits to sew
eral of the registration Offices to-
day and inquiries among survivors
who came in to register and compilation
of the replies to them indicate that the
proportion of saved and lost is about equal.
Out of total population of 1850 at
Woodvale. 667 are known to have been
saved, making the loss of life about 80 per
cent. of the submerged portion of the vii
lage.
Mineral Point, containing about 225
residents, is situated about seven miles
east of Johnstown. 1t has, since last
Friday, been completely cut off from
the rest of the world, and, until
reporter managed to get into the place
to-day by working his way along the bed
of the stream, it was uncertain whether
any one had escaped. The loss of life wasnot
nearly so large as it would otherwise have
been had not the most of the people
left their homes some time before.
owing to the reports of the dam be-
ing liable to break at any moment.
Out of total of thirty-four
houses in the place only seven are left, and
the reason they were not taken was thai
they are situated some distance up the
mountain, out of the floods reach.
Not single vestige of the houses
swept away can be seen. There was only
one church in the place. and it was swept
away. The number OF people lost was
| sixteen. The town is almost completely
obliterated. What was formerly the main
street is now the bed of the river.
Many responsible people here who saw
| the food coming, affirm that it
was at least twenty feet higher in the CEN
ter than on the sides, and, as one person
graphically expressed it, looked just like
sliding forest rushing on u.s."
1t is estimated that the number of
orphans in the Conemaugh val
ley will be about five hundred.
They are being removed to CEN
tral points. where they can be found in
case they are inquired for. st. Marks p.
Z. Church lost twenty seven out of mem
bership Of $50.
The Monster Pile OF Debris.
| JOHNsTowN. Pa, June 5.-The enormity