The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-05
The Presidents Eloquent Tribute to the
Open.Heartedness of the Nation.
Williamsport Suffers Badly from the Flood, and
Appeals for Help that Is Quickly Given
Relief Measures at Various Points.
COMPUTING THE LOSS.


Ten Thousand Persons Now Believed to Have
Perished-Late Developments.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
JoHNsTowN. Pa. June Awhile the
total loss of life at Johnstown and the bor-
oughs of Cambria, Morelsville, Kernville
and Conemaugh will never be known, yet a
fair attempt is now being made to ascer-
tain it within reasonably fair
limit. This is being done through
a bureau of registration which was
established yesterday. Twenty-eight agen-
cies have been established within the
flooded districts. and all survivors have
been notified to register themselves and
yesterday, and at noon, to-day, 5000
persons had been registered. There
were 29,5OO people residing in Johnstown
and the boroughs named before the
terrible catastrophe. When the work of
registration is finished, which may be to
morrow night, then it will be known
about how many persons are missing The
work is very carefully and thoroughly
done.
Superintendent Morgan, of the Cam
bria Iron Company, who is re-
garded as an exceptionally level
headed man, returned to-day from
tour of the entire flooded district. He de-
clared that only about fifteen thousand
persons are now alive where 29,5OO lived
and had their being before the flood.
Adjutant general Hastings maintains
that the death list may not exceed eight
thousand, and of this number he thinks
three thousand bodies will never be recov-
cred.
Mr.. McConaughey, chief of the bureau of
registration, said to-day that he is con-
vinced that the number who perished is
fully 10000 or more.
Across the river at Old Nineveh, nine
miles below Johnstown. thirty-five bodies
were taken out of the debris and mud to-
day. This is the first opening of the mar
row valley through which the COnemaugh
dashes like mill-race From the acres of
mud on the Nineveh side of the river 200
bodies were recovered in a little while to-
day, making seven hundred bodies
recovered at that point The search
ers find many bodies by means of
hand or piece of clothing sticking up
through the mud. They carry long sticks
with which they prod the soil. Often the
spade will reveal dozen bodies within a
a few feet of each Other. One of the most
CHASTITY finds was that of q baby, which
was hanging in a tree. It's foot had caught
in fork, and by this meansit was suspend
ed. One of the men reached up with pole
to pull down what he believed to be piece
of clothing, when the body fell.
The Westmoreland county commission
ersyesterday purchased an acre of ground on
| the side of the mountains and converted it
into cemetery. A gang of laborers were
| at work all day digging the trenches A
rough pine board was placed at the head
| of each coffin in the trench. The name of
the victim was writteno the board
with lead pencil. The scenes at the GEM
etery tonight were depressing. The torches
| of the laborers look, far across the field,
like SO many jack o. lanterns lur-
ing their victims into destruction
4 Two hundred victims were found
here to-day and thirty-fve across the
! river. Of this number few have been iden-
titled. The Westmorland county corps are
taking care of all bodies found in the
country. They are having them shipped
| to Nineveh, and will bury them in their plot
! of ground.
The residence portion of Woodvale
borough is completely wiped out. The prop
erty loss is estimated at S3. 500. 600. On the
hills above the wrecked village is presented
the worst spectacle of the hour. Here are
clustered the several thousand inhabitants
who escaped. and unless aid is given them
soon they must perish of want. Starva-
tion stares them in the face. They are SO
far above Johnstown that the relief parties
have not yet reached them, and only a few
provisions have been brought up to
them by the other survivors in Johnstown.
Several have lost their mind, and it is