Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-06-03

JOhnstown, the largest town II
Cambria county, situated on broaC
: fat at the confluence of Stony creel
and ConeInaugh river, two streami
Of nearly equal size, is completely
surrounded with mountains and Oc
cupies the site of an old Indian tow
called Kickenapuwling, and wai
named after an old German, Josepl
! Jahns, (or Yahns, as he spelled it,
who settled there about 1892, or Just
two years after the first white settler
came into the county. ] have beer
all along the Conenaugh, Stony
creek and Kiskiminetis rivers, and
am, pcrhaps,as familiar with all that
country ~ any man living. Stony
creek flows into the COnemaugh with
It's course direct from the south; CO.
neRiaugh rivers course is from the
northeast, and the south fork or
main tributary of the Conemaugh
has its source on the summit of the
Allegheny mountains, about twenty
miles direct east of Johnstown, but
much farther following the course of
the river The South Fork is a
beautiful mountain stream, clear as
crystal, and famous for fine trout.
The "Conemaugh lake" is n myth.
! There never was lake where the
great reservoir was built. The great
sheet of water occupied rectangular
basin or plain, hemmed in by high
hills on either side, with almost u
uniform width, but suddenly mar
rowing down to "a thousand or even
less feet at the foot or breast of the
dam. When this great body of
water, reinforced by the heavy rains
and cloudbursts, suddenly rolled
down the narrow channel of the ro-
mautic Conemaugh, about fifteen
miles 10 Johnstown, one, like myself,
thoroughly familiar with the valley
and its towns, can to some extent
realize the awfulness of the dire oc-
casion. The account as given by
Saturdays kilograms In relation to
the different towns clustered together
ut Johnstown is in the main
correct. What is known as Johns
town to the traveller really consists
of numbers of independent boroughs,
yet practically one city, as it lies in
one continuous body, extending
along in the valley in horseshoe
form from Franklin and East Cone
maugh boroughs ut the northeast
extremity to Morrellville and Coop
ersdale ut the northwestern extrem-
ity, u distance of six miles and con-
tanning 10000 or more souls. AS
every borough, except Prospect, was
nearly equally exposed to the fury of
the dreadful elements of destruction, |
1t is only marvel that the destruc-
ton of life Is not much greater even !
than as reported. Between the
boroughs already named, occupying
the extremes of this horseshoe |
shaped city are Woodvale, Cone
Johnstown proper Prospect,
Millville, where stood the great
Cambria iron works, and Cambria
boroughs.
Johnstown has for many years en-
oyed the distinction of being one of
the most properous and wealthy
,itles of Pennsylvania. Alas! poor,
devoted city, although in form be-
iokcning good luck, how bitter, in
Iced, is thy cup of htel Johnstown
had many costly, substantial build
ngs, private and public, business
md residence. Ii was also city of
Inc, beautiful churches, one super
structure of this kind alone costing
iearly u quarter of u million. Ii the
'ity Is wrecked rs badly as reported
en- million dollars will not near !
over the loss TO property, But 10
no the tragedy is especially "A sad !
ne, BESIDES knowing thousands of /
he people of Johnstown, | have had |
eNen,l hundred relatives In the city,
nclcs, aunts, cousins, and morc dis
ant relations, and also dear grand.
loIher seventy-nlne years old. As 4
hese lived mostly in very exposed /
ortions along the tide carrying sud q
On death and devastation To many q
lousands of once happy homes | {
'el that many of my dear friends
nj relatives have bcen suddenly
NepI into eternity. oh, how great
ne suspense till further news comes n
ling all and telling the worst, $
lille We hope for the best. As IL
amy of those who came with me "
lis spring ARE mum Johnstown aud l'
cnlIy, ! am not the only one In
spense rolative Ia tidings of dear \
lends. Aud to-day this tragic news :,
'ngs over our heads aud hearts as a a
'rilable funeral pail. whno hen, a
body, my mind is golng n
aud down the Conemaugh, N
autlhll in name, grand la n