The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-04
But in the Opinion Of Conservative
Old Citizens
Thirty Per Gent. of q Population
of So, 900 Are Drowned.

YOUNGSTOWN, Pa, June 3.-The dark
disaster Of the day, with It's attendant
terrors, thrills the universe and draws two
continents closer together in the bonds Of
sympathy that bind humanity TO man.
The midnight terrors Of Ashtabula and
Chatsworth evoked tears Of pity from
every iireside in Chris,endom, but the
true story Of Johnstown, when all is
known, will stand solitary and alone as
the acme OF mans humiliation by the
potent forces TO which humanity IL ever
subject. The menacing clouds hover
darkly over the valley Of death. and the
muttering thunder that ever and anon
reyerbentcs family in the distance seems
the sardonic chucklo Of tho demon OF
destruction rs he pusues his way TO other
lands and other homes. But the modern
/, deluge has done its worst for Johnstown.
The waters are rapidly subsding, but the
angry torrents still eddy around, and the
winged messenger Of peace has not yet
appeared to tell the pathetic tale Of those
who escaped tho devastation Of Black Fri.
day. II is not hackneyed utterancc 10
say that no pen can adequately depict the
horrors Of this twin disaster, holocaust and
deluge; the deep emotions that well from
the heart OF every spectator find most
eloquent expression Ia siicnce-the silence
that bcspcaks mans recognition OF his
subscryicncy 10 the elements aud impo-
ience TO avert catastrophe. Tho insignih-
canoe Of human life is only fully realized
by those who witness such scenes as Johns
town and Chaisworih and Ashtabula, and
TO those whose memory
RETAINS rHE PICTURE or HORROR
the dread experience cannot fail to DO a
fitting lesson. This morning opens up
dark and drcary. Great drops Of rain fall
occasionally and another storm seems i'm.
mineni. Every one feels thankful, though,
that the weather still remains cool and
that the gradual puiriiaetion Of the hun.
dreds Of bodies that s;ill lie In the streams
under the miles Of driitwood and debris is
not unduly haslcncd. This morning the
peculiar stencil Of dccaying human flesh is
plainly pcrcopiible TO the sense as one as.
cends the bank Of Stony Creek for half
mile along the smouldering ruins Of the
wreck, and the most skcptical now con.
ceiyo the worst and realize that hundreds
aye, perhaps thousands Of bodies lie
CHARGED and blackcned beneath this great
funeral pyrc. searchers wander YEARLY
over this smoking mass, and as OCCASION
ally n sudden shout comes over the waters,
the patient watchers on the hill realize
that another CHASTITY discovery has been
added 10 that long list OF revelations that
chill every heart aud draw tears 10 the
eyes Of pcgimis,s. From the banks many
charrcd remains Of victims OF flames and
food are plainly visible TO the naked eve
rs the receding waters reluctantly give np
their dead. Beneath almost every log or
blackened beam n glistening skull or the
blanched remnants OF ribs or limbs mark
all Mat remains Of LIES hopes and dreams.
Since 10 clock last night the fire engines
have been busy. Water has been con.
stantly playing on the burning ruins. AZ
times the fire seems almost extlnguishod.
but ltiul
FLAMEs SUDDENLY BREAK OUT AFREsH.
In some new quarter and again the water
and flames wage fierce combat The chicl
sensation Of the morning has been the
united rcmonsiiance Of the physicians
against the oxtinguishment Of the burning
wreck. They maintain, with philosophy
that 10 anxious fcarchers seems heartless,
that hundreds, II not Thousands, Of liielcss
and decaying bodies lie beneath this mass
oi burning ruins ut would be better"
thoy say, ITO permit natures greatest
scayenger, the flames, to pursue their work
unmolcsted than tooxpose tofuriher decay
the horde Of puirciying bodies tina, lie be.
meath this debrG There can be but one
result Days will elapsc before tie rub.
bish can be sufficiently removed to permit
the recovery Of these bodies, aud long ere
that every corpse will be a pulrd mass,
yielding forth those frightful carnations
Of dccaying human flesh that In crowded
community like this can give but one re-.
sult--tho dreadful typhus. Every battle.
fold has demonstrated the necessity Of the
hasty interment Of decaying bodies and
tho stencil that already arises Il lorcrun.