Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-24


and literally swept out Of existence, hundreds
of freight cars were crushed Ike paper boxes,
and of thirty-one enormous locomotive engines.
some OF them weighing as much as sixty tons,
which stood in the round-house at Conemaugh
when the resistless wall Of water rolled down
the valley only seven have yet been found. The
rest are still buried out of sight in the deep
bed of rock and sand carried from one place
and deposited in another many miles away, as
it were in the twinkling Of an eye. The picture
of destruction and desolation. as it stands even
to-day, must be seen to be appreciated No
human tongue or pen can sketch the appall-
ing scene as a whole nor fill in the outlines
with the CHASTITY and heart-sickening details
Even imagination fails to portray the over
whelming reality of the awful picture.
But if one is awed and amazed at the terrible
work Of natures angry forces one cannot at
the same time fail to wonder at and admire the
human energy and skill which has in SO short
time done so much to repair the material DAM
age wrought by the great calamity. Within
less than twelve days after the bosom of de-
struction had passed over its fair domain curl
ing up iron rails like shavings from carpen-
ter's plane. hurting immense rocks as if shot
out of catapult, and carrying giant forest
trees before it like straws before q mad gale,
miles of tracks have been reiaid, scores of
bridges rebuilt, long and high embankments
restored, and long freight and fast passenger
trains are again running on regular time over
the vast system, which embraces veritable
empire within its network OF iron. 1t is true
THAT the bridges are temporary structures and
that the roadbed lacks the s,lidity and smooth
ness which have always characterized it, but
the wide gaps are closed up and the great tides
of travel and transportation TOW and ebb as of
old without interruption. Tie achievement is
marvellous. even in this age Of MARI wells, and re-
fleets imperishable lustre On those who &C.
eomplished it, 1t may well he doubted whether
any organization of like character in the world
could have matched, much less excel, what the
management Of the Pennsylvania railroad has
done Ill the great emergency which SO sudden
ly confronted it. Most Of them, indeed, would
have lain helpless for months under such
blow, if they had not succun,bed entirely to its
efects
VISIT TO JoHSerowN.
Making single exception to the fixed rule Of
the road not to run excursion trains to the
scenes Of devastation and suffering, the menu
beers of this party were afforded by the officials
In charge an opportunity to visit Johnst0wn to
personally witness in the scenes there presented
a fitting elimination of the tragedy enacted on
the eastern slope Of the mountains. OF the
picture at that stricken point it is useless to
attempt any description. Much has already
more will be said and written. But all language
must forever fail to present an Adequate idea
of the sad and haunting reality. Only those
who have been familiar with the active, bus
Ting towns scattered along that hitherto un-
known brawling mountain stream can now
see what ruin and desolation have been
wrought-can have even the slightest conception
of the terrible transformation. II will take
years and years TO effsce the rsvages thus
made ON the face Of nature along the line Of
destruction. The wounds in hundreds and
Thousands Of bruised and stricken hearts, slssl
may never heal
ovHRcoA1s At cH1ssox.
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