The Portland daily press., 1889-06-03

placeu IN one CONN. Inc nttle D0QleS were
almost naked and the purple faces bruised
and cut Many bodies have not been identi-
fed. The corpse of beautiful young wom-
an lies in the extemporized morgue. Sever
al people say it is Miss Ida Fischer, promi-
nent young lady Of Johnstown. The body
Of another handsome young woman is ex-
posed in rude box. "Anyone know her?
called out committeeman as the crowds
passed the box, but no one called her name.
On the face was sweet expression Of peace.
The features were fine and the clothing ele-
CANT, the only Disagreement being an ugly
cut on the left temple, sufficient to cause
death.
ST. Mary's German Catholic church stands
quarter of mile below the bridge. Its
walls are standing and inside it is filed with
broken benches and ruined images. In it
were found the mangled body of p. Eldridge
and the remains of several negroes. The
distance To st, Columbia Catholic church is
half mile. The streets to it are filled
with broken houses and the people
in those left standing have been busy
shoveling mud from the first floors. The
scene at st. Columbias church was awful.
Forty or fifty bodies had been carried into it
and laid on the. muddy seats. Lying in a
row IN this church were FIVE children from
two to six years old. No one had identified
them this afternoon. Their little curls were
matted with mud. Across the aisle lay the
massive frame of an Hungarian laborer. A
number. of bodies are lying in the fourth
ward school house, some still unidentified.
In the lower Yoder Catholic cemetery and
Grand View Protestant cemetery this after
noon t
MEN WERE DIGGING TRENCHES.
The bodies exposed when the waters began
falling were in bad condition. Some have
been already inferred. In the haste and ex-
citement no definite arrangements were made
for the funeral services. The only sugges-
tion obtained at Morrellville was that all
bodies would be buried and general memorial
services held after the present suffering is
alleviated.
The handsome brick high school building
was so damaged that 1t will have to be re.
built. The water attained the height of the
window sills of the second floor. The upper
stories formed refuge for many persons.
Morrill, Institute, beautiful building, was
totally ruined. The water weakened its
walls and foundation to the extent of caus-
ing danger of its collapsing. Many families
took refuge in this building and were saved.
Now the waters have receded there is great
danger from falling walls. All day long the
crashing of walls could be heard across the
river. Library Hall, another fine building.
was destroyed. OF the Episcopal church,
not a vestige remains. Where it once stood
is now placid lake. The parsonage was
swept away and the rector, Rev. Mr.. Dillon,
drowned. When the church fell 1t carried
with 1t several surrounding houses, many
being occupied. The victims were swept
into the comparatively still waters at the
bridge and there met death either by FIRE or
water.
James A. Walters, an attorney, who spent
the night in Alma Hall. tells thrilling
story. His office was on the second floor.
His home was at 1876 Walnut street. He saws
he was in the house with his family when the
water struck it, All were carried away.
Walters's family drifted on the roof n anoth-
er direction. He passed down several streets
and alleys until he came to the hall. His
dwelling struck that edifice and he was
thrown into his own office. About 200 per-
sons had taken refuge in the hall. They
were on the second, third and fourth stories.
The men had meeting and drew up rules
that all were bound to respect. Walters was
chosen president and Rev. Mr.. Beale was
put in charge of the first floor, A. M. Hart of
the second, DR.. Matthews of the fourth. No
lights were allowed, and the whole night
was spent In darkness. The sick were
cared Tor. The weaker women and chill
dren had the best accommodations to be had.
while the others had to wait. The scenes
were most agonizing, the crying of the
children mingling with the suppressed sobs
OF women. No one slept during the night,
and manylknelt in prayer, their supplications
mingling with the roar of waters
AND THE sHRIEKs OF THE DYING
in the surrounding houses. Two women
gave premature birth to children. DIR. Mat
thews, although several of his ribs were
crushed in by the falling timber, and the
pain was most severe, attended the sick.
When two women In the house across the
street shouted for help, he, with two other
brave young men, climbed across on the
drift and ministered to their wants. No one
died during the night, but woman and
child surrendered their lives the next day as
the result of terror and fatigue. All the
Walters family were saved.
Editor G. T. Schubert, of the Johnstown
Free Press, German.is among the drowned.
Thursday, he sent his three sons to Cone
maugh Borough, and Friday afternoon he,
his wife and six other children called at Mr..
Gribble's residence. They noticed the rise
OF water, but not until the flood washed the
city did they anticipate danger. As the wa
ter rose they went to the attic. Schubert
hastily prepared raft, upon which all en-
barked. just as the raft reached the bridge,
heavy piece Of timber rose from the water
and swept the editor beneath the surface;
the rest were rescued. Schubert's remains
were found this afternoon beneath broken
timber in Cambria.
A squad of Battery b arrived at $50,
and arranged for the proper protection.
One dispensary treated 800 patients to-
day. No surgeons instruments could be
procured in the city until p. m. Many of
the patients have fractured skulls, and
nearly all have broken bones. Several am
putations were necessary. Seventy-six
bodies were taken out at kearnsville and So
above the silk works. Chief Evans, of the
Pittsburg fire department. arrived this eve
ming with engines and several hose carts full
" " SouPAOihOhs Va mCus n Bc Vi
Pittsburgs physicians came on the same
train.
Thieves and plunderers are at work, but
swift justice is meted out to them when
caught. Last evening IS Hungarians were
caught by several farmers plundering the
body of woman. One severed a finger up
on which were rings, and ran. The farmers
chased them. Nine of the brutes escaped
nuF hut e.. Al.
surging river to their death. At $50
this morning, railroader watched three
men going along the banks stealing Jewels
from the bodies of dead wives aid daughters.
de reported the case and five burly men In
20 minutes had overtaken the thieves in the
act OF cutting pieces from the ears and fin
gers of the bodies of two women. They were
SEARCHED AND IMMEDIATELY LYNcHED.
1t is limited that an Allegheny county officiai
was one of the most prominent actors in this
homicide.
Mr.. Grouse, proprietor of the South Fork
Fishing Club Hotel, came to Johnstown this
afternoon. He says when the dam Of the
Conemaugh broke, the water seemed to leap,
scarcely touching the ground. Ii bounded
down the valley, crashing, roaring and car
rying everything before it.
For mile its front seemed like a solid
wall, twenty feet high. Warning to the
stricken city was sent from South Fork Vii
lage by Freight Agent Dechert. When the