Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-24
A BIG FIRE RAGING.
Johnstown Visited With q Disastrous
Confiagration.

JoHSsTowN, Pa, June 24-Maior Phillips,
who is in charge Of tn, work Of removing the
dam above the railroad bridge, began the use
debris at s O'Clock this morning. The sleeping
city was rudely awakened and somewha,
frightened by the frequency Of the shocks, and
for once at least all hands. although not in the
best bumor over their early rising. were
promptly on hand at the regular hour for
beginning work. Major Phillips said this morn
ing that he was seriously handicapped in per-
forming his work since restricted to the use OF
only 25-pound cartridges. He promises, how
ever, to do something-he did not say what
before next Thursday that will
OPEN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE.
The Cambria City council held meeting yes
terday and discussed the question Of building
houses for the homeless. Nothing has yet been
done for them by the state in the way of build
lngs. The burgess was instructed to address a
letter to the state relief commission asking
that Sl2, coo be aprrc cria.ed for the purpose OF
erecting frame buildings
Lieuts. Reed and Patrick, Of the o. s. regular
army, began wcrk to-day and erected the first
permanent bridge across tne Conemaugh river
at this place. The bridge will lead frcm the
present general headquarters to the street lead
ing to the Pennsylvania railroad
TO CONSTRUCT TEMPORARY HOUSES.
Capt. d. H. Reed, of Pittsburg, arrived here
yesterday. and at the request of the citizens OF
Cambria borough viii superintend the con-
stru,tion of two hundred temporary houses.
Sl2.0U to cover the expense of building but
whether this is forthcoming or not the bou3es
will be commenced at once.
AFFAIRS HERE ARE SHAPING THEMSELVES
more systematically and to all appearances
work is going on more satisfactorily to-day
than at any time since the disaster. All the
contractors reduced their forces this morning.
which enables them to be handled and man.
aged with some degree OF satisfaction. The
confusion which has prevailed in the past
seems to have been all allayed, and more and
better work is being done now than when the
forces were larger. The workmen's camp con.
demned by the surgeon-general yesterday il
being renovated and all the debris about the
place Is being burned.
AIIG FIRE RAGING.
At O'Clock this afternoon the upper part o,
the first ward caught fire from huge pile Of
debr is that was burning. The flames envel
oped twenty-five or more houses and in few
moments were beyond control The four Phil
adelphla fire engines we're put to work bu
could do nothing to stay the spread of the fire
which now threatens to sweep away the entir,
upper end OF the town. A high wind is blow
ing. The militia have been ordered from tn,
camp to assist the citizens and firemen. tn,
value Of the property in this district Ia at ieas
$4,000.
CORONER EvANs WILL BEGIN THE INQUEST
on the victims Of the food on Wednesday O.
this week. The troublesome disease that mad,
its appearance last week and was thought to b.
hives is now believed to be scuryv or sonetbino
very similar. the physicians agree that it i,
entirely due to the salt meat diet
with which the people have been supplied
The physicians also think that the straw fur
nished for bedding in the camps is to a great
extent responsible for the prevalence Of
measles. An order was issued to-day to burn
all of the straw in use, and new supply will be
furnished
The body of an unknown young girl abou,
fifteen years old was found in Kernville.
Major Phillips has ceased dynamiting in the
drift, claiming that he can effect nothing with
such light charges of the explosive. He claims
that there are $50 tons of steel wire tangled ur
in the mass of debris.