The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-05

Owners of the Former Sharply Criticised.
and Engineers OF the Latter Praised.
JOHNSfOwN, Pa, June Al notice that
the secretary of the South Fork Fishing
Club said yesterday that the club had not
filed an indemnity bond, as claimed by a
citizen Of Ebensburg. and that no COM
plants had ever been made about the safety
of the dam by any of the Johnstown citi-
zens. He is undoubtedly correct as to the
bond but is misleading as to the second
part of his statements There is not a
shadow of doubt but that citizens of Cam
bria county frequently complained, and
that at the time the dam was constructed
very vigorous effort was made to ppAa stop
to the work. 1t is true that the le3der in
this movement was not citizen of Johns
town, but he was a large mine-owner IN
Cambria county. His mine adjoins the
reservoir property. He related to me on
Saturday the story of his labors in an effort
to protect the lives and property of the peo-
pie in that valley. He was frequently on
the spot, and his own engineer inspected
the work. He says the embankment was
principally of shale and clay. and that
straw was used to stop the leaking
of the water while the work was
going on. He called on the
sheriff of Cambria county and told him
it was his duty to apply to the court for an
injunction. The sheriff promised to give
the matter his attention, but instead of GO
ing before court, went To the Cambria
Iron Company for consultation. An en-
plOye was sentup tomake an inspection, and
as his report was favorable to the reservoir
work, the sheriff went no further; but the
gentleman referred to said he had not
failed to make public his protest at the
time and to renew it frequently. This rec
Ommendation for an injunction and pro-
test were spoken of by citizens Of Altoona
as hackneyed subject
Confirmation was certainly had at South
Fork, Conemaugh, Millvale and Jobnstown
on that fatal day. The rumor of an ex-
pected break was prevalent at these places
early in the day, but citizens remarked
that the rumor was familiar incident of
the annual freshets 1t was the old classic
story of Wolf wolf" They gave up the
first floors to the water and retired up
stairs to wait until the river should recede,
as they had done often before, scouting the
oft-told story of the breaking of the reser-
i
conflict between the shale and clay story
of the mine owner, referred to above, and
the published statement of General More
head, who had charge of the construction.
that the masonry was of solid granite and
limestone, and was believed to be as en-
during as the pyramids of Egypt. The aw-
full disaster would seem to confirm the al
legation of the use of unit materials in the
construction.
The number of passengers of the day ex-
press known to have been lost is six.
Besides these there are two ladies missing
and unaccounted for, but who may yet be
alive. conductor who was at Conemaugh
on that fateful day claims To have run
through the cars and told the passengers to
run to the mountain. The passengers who
survive are anxious TO make the acquaint-
ance of that conductor. They certainly
neither saw him nor heard him on Friday.
His intention may have been good. but the
good deed was omitted. When the passen-
gers reached the mountain side they found
there two conductors IN beautiful white
caps Their manner was calm, and their
clothing was unspotted, L asked one of
them why he did not notify the passengers
of the breaking of the dam. He replied. in
some confusion, that he had not time. His
companion made a report To his superior,
which report was carried over the mountain
by passenger that night, but there was
nothing in it 10 indicate that passengers
were any of his concern. He reported the
loss of two trains
In striking contrast TO the neglect of duty
OF these conductors. IT is pleasant to note
the manly conduct of Others First-always
first--mention should be made of the loco
motive engineers and firemen, whose
bravery and devotion was conspicuous.
They never neglect 70 give such warning
as they can, IN the face OF danger, and II