Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-09
WORSE THAN POMPEIL

By the Wafer From seuth Fork Dam
and the Rain Of Ashes From Fesuvius--
Pompsirs Population Less Than ~, 900,
the Valleys $4,000.
New York World.l
The destruction of Hereulaneum and Pompeii
has stood up to date as the most terrible
calamity which ever swept down on city. For
the last 1000 years the world has looked upon
the fiery extinction Of the old town Of Pompeii,
which nestled at the base of vesuvius on the
sunny Bay of Naples, as the crowning blow Of
disaster In the story Of human mortality
But the late horror in the Pennsylvsnia
valley is really 2 greater misfortune than that
which befell the old Campanian town 70 years
after the birth Of Christ If the number of vic
Tins or the extent of territory devastated by
the destroying element be considered. To
make comparison between Pompeii and
Johnstown may serve to bring home more WV
idly to the minds Of many the extent of the
terrible calamity which occurred last Friday IN
the Keystone State The entire area of Pompeii
was not more than two miles IN circumference,
and its shape was that of an irregular oval
Its site was somewhat different from that of
the town s e. = 4 KaOgn tGcag y the
alteration in the ground by volcanic action
and earthquakes. Something of that terrible
irony of fate which brought two elements, one
of which Is usually employed for combating
the other, into connection with regard to the
desoIation wrought at Johnstown is also sug-
gested by this location Of Pompeii
Interesting Comparisons.
Seated on the Bay 2 Naples, with water al
most at their doors. the unfortunate Pompei-
ans were smothered and roasted under the
scorching rain of ashes which fell upon them.
Johnstown, on the other hand, high up among
the mountains and remote from the sea, was
whelmed beneath the flood Of water which
tore down upon the small town and carried it
away WIG, Iunultuous Wnlrlpo0l. tnsn,
rom tnls SMatery gIaye ourss dorLn deaeely
~ f,I destrct;o, ,,v,., t' n1 \, III
,a .esiaui tue'i0n apon Lhs "iseraOis nnApi-
Ia1T,s, T,c 90. ,n..o,.,. h :,
the fates of the cav and festiye romneisns-
who at the very time when death rained down
upon ni, tno ssy o. nre
idlinos in the hafbs and eTcifsd dai;gbt at tbe
amphitheatrical spectacles-and the frugal
hard-working country. folk of Johnstown is not
in the territory devastated but in the numbers
ss Mnien "enL ~ SVEN tne oeatn hse Oh Tue VIC
The data from which the ronp1ation of
Pompeii may be gathered are somewhat insult
hcient, and as result the census is put at
widely differing figures. i was once generally
snppose8f 70 ~ Oesween T9vy snu oyyV DuS
d sne c1Ls ss'ina.e " HLoIsiS Nno lAs supeI'
lntenueu tne e1cafason OF Lne puLleu Iount
@ srs Sy - sns sii,e %
than i2o 600 souls. ''1'-11
hi d nIaol.
=. tn @ ptooaOiy nDersl esumate. anu tIsre
esuye Issson ~ ~ suXEposo LnaS ~hs tsss
had isnfo,d ts faciIi,.s ~
tIo nAo ,,Sa ,enIu snG ~ ~iaces io1 escape tnan nau
sre,p sw ~ 5000 .sv ~ taSest th
deaths S AZ ~ nm or * doo PrnheSiv ,1ae1 the
.,,t;ra ,,r,nhor of ~ ~ l, @ sne
snnaS 4, ttnt LII ~ tne WIZ PET,
,sneu ~ e IN Inss % nSii ol wIteI asceLtAnso VIII
pe lonn9 IN EXCESS oL Lhese ngaIes rather gnan
tos psloM snen.' Eor i1s.eno OF s,arnng VIII 2
~ w ... EuDs. @ sIu ,g q w1ltting loMn -
ias,,ar Srs ts Stssy GHy 1ss ~.
Sas;h.raii 01iv ooc hn,a Wy v,,ninsnas sns
Sas f...sd - ~! Dv nuen sAeIesvns IHte m
peen M io9lu ~ ~ sns oiIpons eASAxations. AnS
quosa qIs, " u1au DouIes loIno ~ yonnstoWn al
reauy number as many tnousanos
An Unenvinble Position.
Tbsre is littIe doubt than that IN. ohscnra
- Co.a..S ~, Sne ~
~"n Al Sonensusn 'shey' WHICH "eeA hso
was unknown, mas Lne uneny1able position OF
heading the list in the roli-call of the worlds
disasters. and Pompeii. which has held this
monrnfnl ,,restioe ~ d,.ostar,e biroast rnarE