Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-25
THE JOHNsTOwN FIRE.
A Large Number of Buildings Burned
The Health of the District.


The fire which ragged in Johnstown yester-
day, as stated in THE STAR, for time bafHed
the efforts Of the fremen to control it It
commenced in one of the wrecked houses that
are piled up on the bank Of Stony creek, back
Of Alma hall. In less than fifteen minutes a
dozen frame buildings we're on fire and the
pile was blazing fercely and threatening to
carry away the lower section of the city. The
fire had got good start, and ~ there was a
stiff breeze blowing from the northwest, it
famed the flames and::made the heat intense.
For an hour it was a dubious battle. No one
could tell who would win, the fire or the fire.
men. There were ct least 100 frame buildings
huddled together along the creek, all Of
them OF their foundations. Near by were
number of the most handsome residences in
the place that had withstood the food. The
owners had cleaned them ont and were living
In them again. dozen or more families in
the neighborhood began moving their furni-
ture.' There were fifty teams employed in
taking. household effects from different dwell
ings. One woman who had come through the
flood and who was moving out of her home was
weeping as she said: ''Oh, dear! it does seem as
II this town is doomed. I'm afraid my house is
going to be burned. did think I had suffered
enough, but it seems there is more in store for
me. I'll get out my beds and blankets, anyhow
SO if We are burned out we will have some thing
to go to the hills with" Her house was not
burned.
EXTENT AND ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
When Gen. Hastings first arrived upon the
ground he came TO the conclusion that the fire
had been caused by one Of the bonfires started
by the laborers under Contractors Mitchell and
Coburn. He met Coburn and told him that he
was suspended pending an investigation. He
afterward learned that the firm did not have a
fire within 100 yards Of the houses and he rein
stated Mr.. Coburn. He notified all Of the con-
tractors, however, that they would be held re-
sponsible for any damage to property from fire
in their district.
The fire carried away twenty buildings.
lot, which had been but slightly damaged by
the flood, were entirely destroyed; so were also
two residences, which, though foated from
their foundations, were In such good condition
that both would have been moved back again.
None OF the houses so far as learned, were oc-
cupied by people, though some of them con-
tanned household goods. In some cases these
were rescued, but the fire spread so rapidly
That others were consumed before they could
be reached.
mated from small bonfire started by a few
boys In an alley below Walnut street. They
were merely playing with fire, when it got be-
yond their control. Nothing has been done
with the lads, and it is not likely that any ac-
ton Will be brought against them.
hEDOClNd The FORCE OF MEN.
All the contractors yesterday cut down their
forces by order of Col. Douglass, chief engi-
neer. Nearly 200 men have been discharged
given their money and most of them sent out
of town. 1t is explained that this reduction Of
force is for the purpose of wedding out the
malcontents and mischief breeding laborers
and to give the contractors good basis upon
which they can build up their forces While
the different gangs may not again reach the
number mnStpra6 last Mill
come near 1t. The contractors are paid by q
percentage on each man. and if their forces are
SO small some Of them claim they would have
to give up their contracts.
TYPHOID AND DIPHTHERIA
0 DIR. Lee, of the state board of health, SAYS
the sanitary condition O.. the valley continues
good. Two cases of typhoid. fever were re-
ported to DIR. Lee from Moxham. The doctor
ordered an investigation and directed the ply
sicians to isolate the patients if they were suf-
fering with typhoid fever. There are few
cases of diphtheria and about dozen cases Of
measles in the valley. These about sum I'D all
the contagious diseases.
The local finance committee had a meeting
yesterday afternoon while the fire was raging
and adopted these resolutions:
ResoIced That sufficient number of Offices
shall be opened in each district which has suf-
fered by the food, in charge of competent per-
sons, and that the names and former places of
resluence OF ali sufferers shall be registered,
the families being registered by the head of
the family when there is a surviving head and
other sufferers being registered individually;
the present place Of residence being stated
when known; this being done for the purpose
of enabling the committee to distribute the
funds in their charge.
Resolred That it shall also be the duty of the
persons in charge Of registration to make a
record OF the names Of all persons lost by the
flood.
SEVEN MORE BODIES FOUND.
Seven bodies were found yesterday, six Of
them being taken from the drift at the railroad
bridge and the seventh being found at Kern
vile. Three Of the six bodies found at the
drift have been identified. They were Daniel
Hammer, who lived on Railroad street. Johns
town; Maud Connery, aged seven years, and
Rose Carroll. who was about eighteen years of
age. These bodies were badly decomposed
The unknown were boy, whose age was be-
tween twelve and fourteen; man about feet
9 inches in height. He had on button boots,