Daily Republican., 1889-06-03
A CITY OF DEAD.
Further Details of
Fridays Calamity
YOUNGSTOWN THE SCENE OF
ALL THE HORRORS OF
THE INFERNO.
Hundreds of People Burned Up with
the Wreckage-Loss of Life Esti-
mated Mt 5000 TO 10000.
RUFFIANs CAUGHT AND LyNcHEp

RUFFIANs CAUGHT AND LYNCHED.
JoHSsTowN, Pa, June al have Just
come from Jobnstown proper, over a
rope bridge which was completed this af-
ternoon. reached there at 8 o'clock
last night, and tell only what did see
and do know.
The mighty wave that rushed through
the Conemaugh Valley on Friday even
Ing cut swath OF death Is miles long.
AN ADDED HORROR OF FIRE.
Shortly after the blockade had formed
the dry tlmbers of the houses caught fire,
and the mass nearest the railroad bridge
became a glowing furnace. Hundreds OF
people, who had not been drowned or
crushed to death in the mad rush down
stream, were burned alive.
Meanwhile the greater bulk OF the
houses had gone down along the right
bank. One mad rush carried away q
portion OF the stone bridge and then the
Hood bore down upon the thousands of
homes AID floated them further west
ward in the Conemaugh.
All along the way bodies were seen
lying on the river hanks. In one place
woman was half buried In the mud,
only a limb showing. In another was
mother with babe clasped to her
breast.
Further along lay husband and wife,
their arms wound around each others
necks. Probably so bodies were seen on
that one side of the river, aud it must be
remembe red that here the current was
he swiltest and consequently fewer of
ia faa l.. Il
pushes. On tho opposite side bodies
could also be seen, but they were all
covered with mud.
AS Deared Johustown the wreckage
became grand In its massive proportions.
In order TO show the force OF the current
| will say that three miles below Johns
town saw grand piano lying on the
bank, and not board or key was broken.
HEARTRENpINa SCENES.
The scenes ss l neared Johnstown
were the most heartrending that man
was ever called on to look upon. Proba-
bly, 5000 people were scattered In groups
along the Pennsylvania Railroad track,
and every one of them had relative
lying dead either in the wreckage above,
in the river below or In the still burning
furnace. Not house that was left
stand NO was plumb. Hundreds of them
were burned on their sides, and in some
cases three or four stood one on top OF
the other.
FIERY FURNACE.
At this poiut there was bend In the
river, and the titry furnace, b azlng for a
quarter OF mi square above the stone
bridge, came into view. "My God"
screamed a woman, who was Fastening
up t. track, "can it be that any are In
thereP YES, over thousand" re-
Piled man, who had just come f. ON the
neighborhood, and it is now learned that
he estimated one thousand too few. The
scenes OF misery and suffering aud agony
and despair can hardly be chronicled.
The tre has spresd steadily all day, and
the upper part Of the DRIFT is burning to-
night. The fire engines are stationed on
the river bank, and line of hose laid far
up The track OF the coal mine. The
flames tonight are hi her than ever b.
fore. and by The light long lines of the
curious eau be seen along the banks.
EFFECTS OF DESPAIR.
One man, a clerk named Woodruff.
was reeling alcng Intoxicated. Suddenly.
wi Ii u irau,io shout, he threw himself
over the bank into the flood, and would
have been carried TO his death had he not
been caught by some persons below.
"Let me die" he exclaimed, when they
rescued him. "My wife and children
are gone; have no use for my life."
An hour later | saw Woodruff lying
on the ground entirely overcome by
liquor.
RuFFIANIsM RAMPANT.
What was verse than anything, how
ever, was the fact that incoming trains
from Pittsburg brought hundreds of
toughs who Joined with the Slavs and |
Bohemians in iiiug the bodies, stealing
furniture, insulting women and endeay- |
oring control of any rescuing parties that |
tried to seek the bodies under the bushes
and in the limbs OF trees.
/ saw persons take watches from dead !
mems pockets and bsutally tear finger
rings from their hande. The ruilians
also climbed into the overturned houses
and ransacked the rooms, taking what
ever they thought valuable.
just az the shadows began to fall upon
the earth last evening party OF Is Hun
garians were noticed stealthily picking
their way along the banks of the Cone
maugh towards Sang Hollow. Suspi-
cious OF their purpose, several farmers
armed themselves and started in pursuit.
Soon their most horrible feals were
realizSd. Tie uungaiians were out for
plumber. Some of the Eun. .arans
showed fight, but, being outuumbertd,
were compelled to fl;e for their lives.
Nine OF the brutes escaped, but four
were literally driven in o the gu ging
river and to their death.
Ia 20 minutes, SO 1t is stated, they had
overtaken two OF their victims, who were
then in the act oil cutting pieces from the
ears and fingers from the hands OF the
bodies of two dead women. With re
volver leyeled at the scoundrels, the
leader of the posse shouted, ''Throw up
your hands or II blow your heads of. +"
With blanched faces and trembling forms
they obeyed the order and begged ior
mercy. They were searched, ard rs their
pockets were emptled of their ghastly
llnds the Indignation of the crowd inten-
sihed, aud when a bloody finger of an
infant, enclrcled with two thy gold
rings, was found among the .plunder in
he leaders pocket, cry went up:
Lynch tbeml Lynch theml" Without
l moments delay ropes were thrown
lround their necks and they were dang
ing to the limbs of a tree, In the brane hes
)f which an hour before was entangled
he bodies OF dead father and son.
The committee at Johnstown, il their
bulletin, placed the number Of lives lost !
1t 5000.
THE SCENE AT THE STONE BRIDGE.
1t Is almost impossible In this great q
,atasftonha tO 90 mora into dafaila ,