The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-01
been the culmination OF the struggle OF
the water against the embankment,
ANxIoTR PRIRNDs.
ANXIOUS FRIENDS

been the elimination of the struggle {
the water against the embankment,
ANXIOUS FRIENDS,
The difficulty Of obtaining definite IL
formation added tremendously to tn
excitement and apprehension ofthe pee
pie in Pittsburgh, who had relatives an
friends at the scene OF the disaster
Members OF the South Fork Club, aul
among them some OF the most eminen
men In the Pittsburgh financial anC
mercantile world, were in or near Johns
town, and several OF them were accom-
panied by their wives and families
There happened 10 be also quite q mum
Der OF residents OF Johnstown in Pitts
burgh, and when the news OF thu
horror was confirmed and the rail
road bulletined the fact that nc
trains would 60 east tonight the scent
at the Union Depot was profoundly
pathetic and exciting. But two trains
were sent out by the Pennsylvania road
from the Union station at Pittsburgh
and the first Of these was the special
train of the Associated Press. The Pitts
burgh papers also sent out specials, buI
up 10 1880 nothing reliable as Ia
the details OF loss OF lie or property
had been asCertained, The difficulty
In sending press dispatches was over
come by an expedient familiar to the
Associated Press in trying times,
THE TERRIBLE TORRENT,
Tho course Of the torrent from the
broken dam ut the foot OF the lake Ia
Johnstown is almost eighteen miles, and
with the exception OF at one point the
water passed through a narrow V
shaped valley, Four miles below the
dam lay the town OF South Fork, where
South Fork itself emptied into the
Conemaugh river, The town contained
about 1000 inhabitants. 1t has not
been heard from, but 1t is said that
iour.fiths OF It have been swept
away. Four miles further down,
on tho Conemaugh river, which
runs parallel with the main line OF the
Pennsylvania railroad was the town Of
Mineral Point. 1t had 800 inhabitants; ;
ninety per cent Of the houses were on a
Hat and close to the river. II seems i'm
possible at this time to hope that any
OF them have escaped,
Six miles further down was the town
OF Conemaugh and here alone was a
typographical possibility for the spread.
ing OF tho flood and the breaking Of its
force. II contained $500 inhabitants
and must be almost wholly devastated.
Woodyale with 1000 people lay q
mile below Concmaugh on the flat, and
one mile further down were Johnstown
and It's cluster OF sister towns, Cambria
City, Conemaugh borough and Prospect,
with a total population Of about
thirty thousand on made ground
and stretched along right at the rivers
verge were the immense iron works OF
the Cambria Iron and Steel company,
who have S5,0OO,0OO invested IN
their plant.
There are many other industrial estab-
lishments on the bunk Of the river how
badly damaged cannot be eestimate1. Atll
o'clock railroad man says the loss OF
life will reach hundreds and possibly
over thousands. The report OF the loss
Of these towns above cannot yet be con-
frmed.
THE PHILADELPHIA END.
A dispatch from Philadelphia says:
Dispatches received up to midnight at
the office OF the General Manager OF the
railroad indicate that the
Is hourly growing worse. The
effects OF the storm are now being felt
on the middle division Of that road ex.
tending between Harrisburg and Altoo.
na. Land slides and washouts are re.
ported all along tho line between these
places. :.
No trains will be sent out west OF
Harrisburg until the storm abates and
The extent OF the damage can be ascer'
tained. A telegram from Pittsburgh
places tho location OF the various east
bound trains Us follows: The New York
limited safe at WelmOre the Atlantic ex.
press, which left Pittsburgh at 8 o'clock
his morning and the sea shore express,
which left JOhnstoWp ut an early hour
his morning, are both laid up at Port.
age; the day express from Chipago and
lie mail train leaving Pittsburgh at
! $50 this morning are at Conemaugh,
The foot Of tho western slope OF the ALLIE
uheny mountains.
The Philadelphia express, which
started east from Pittsburgh at 1880 Q.
M, is at Bolivar junction. The Rame
dispatch says; We have had no wire
east Of Conemaugh since noon. Weun;
derstand that Conemaugh town and
Johnstown are entirely washed away
and many lives lost. The water Is new
falling.
The New York limited east bound,
which Is now at Wilmore had y narrow
escape from destruction. The conduo.
tor reports that Immediately alter bis
train lad passed over the bridge which
spans the river at South Pork that sttuc'
ture was swept away by the rushing
water.
General Manager Pugh said at mid
night that no train would be allowed to
proceed until the tracks were cleared
away and rendered entirely tato for
travel.
a TERklbLE bCENb'
A dispatch from Derry, Pa, says: The
tidal wave struck Bolivar just alter dark
and in five minutes tho Conemaugh rose
from Q 10 10 feet, and the waters spread
out over the whole country. Soon houses
began floating down, and clinging
TO the debris were men, women
and children Bhieking for aid. A
large number OF citizens OF onge
gathered on the comfy bridge and they
were reinforced by a number from Gar
field, q town on the opposite side OF the
river, They brought q number Of ropes
and these were thrown over Into the
boiling waters as persons dritted by In
efforts TO save some poor beings.
ABoY's STORY.
For a half hour all efforts wero fruit
less, until at last when the reScuerS
were about giving up all hope a little
ioy astrile q shingl6 roof managed to
catch hold Of ono Of the ropes. He
caught Il under hIB left prm and was
thrown violently against atl abnt:
ment, but managed 10 keep bold and
was successfully pulled out on 10 the
bridge amid the cheers Of the onlookcrs.
His ilamU was HeSsler and his rescueT
was q train hand named Carney The
boys ago is 10. Az midnight your cor