Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-21
,rRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT,

JoHNSTowN, June 20.-Coroner Evans,
of Cambria county, will resume the work
of investigation next Wednesday in earn
est. So far he has been too busy, caring
for the living, to proceed. The Coroner is a
fne-lOoking old man of massive proportions
and determined expression. He is a man
OF strength, and if the jurymen partake
somewhat of the qualities of the Coroner,
something is likely to drop in the way of
startling decision. Coroner Evans is very
much in earnest, and means to place the
responsibility for the recent terrible disas-
ter, if, indeed, human negligence had any
thing to do with the frightful catastrophe.
In a short chat to-day DR.. Evans said:
81 will make an effort, when the Jury
meets, to secure some expert testimony
about the condition of the dam. / have in
mind John Fulton, who examined the reser-
Kroir, and draughtsman at Moxham, whose
thame have forgotten. understand other
nginees have inspected the structure, but
ave been so busy that do not even know
| leir names"
EXPERT TESTIMONY WANTED.
Y At this point the reporter suggested
Engineer Brinkerhoff, of the Mining and
Civil Engineering Journal, and some others
who had been at South Fork. Mr.. Brinker-
hof's opinion of the dam has already ap-
peared in THE DISPATCH. The Coroner
wrote down the names suggested, and said
he would endeavor to secure sworn deposi-
tions of their testimony. Continuing Coro-
ner Evans said:
81 will take the jury to the dam if can't
get satisfactory evidence. The trouble is
that the Coroner has not the control of anv
funds. 1 can't pay experts to go to South
Fork and examine the dam for me. In fact,
1 am not allowed by law to pay witnesses,
but l can compel them to attend the hear
ing. From what l am told and have read,
the dam was without q food-gate
Of any kind to relieve the pressure of
the water. The reason given by the mem
bers of the club is that they were
AFRAID OF LOSING THE FISH.
"It seems to me they value the fnny tribe
more than the human race. 1 think they
could easily have had food-gates in the |
dam, and prevented the fish from escaping |
BY the use of screens. But there is no use |
talking about that now. see the West |
moreland county jury has rendered ver- |
dict, and all can see in it is that so many |
people died from the effects of food, caused |
presumably by the breaking of the dam at |
South Fork. 1 should think there is not |
much doubt about that by this time, / |
haven't heard of any damage suits as yet. 1 |
lost my library and surgical instruments, |
and my Office is ruined; but s., 600 will |
cover my entire loss. l was more fortunate
-tban my neighbors."
CONTRIBUTIONS OF CLUB MEMBERS.
The Coroner wanted to know if the dam
people had contributed anything to the suf-
terers, and if SO, how much. The reporter
was unable to answer this question, but as
many of them are very charitable men, / as
sured him that l thought some at least had
contributed literally. He then asked IL
Mr.. Carnegie had given much money, but
his generosity is on record.
1t is expected there will be some trouble
when the time comes to lay out the lots.
Many of the boundary lines and landmarks
have been washed away, and some litigation
is probable. However, the plan of the
town and the records of all deeds are pre-
served at the Court House in Ebensburg,
and after all the various plots may be To-
Gated without much wrangling. At any
rate there is no use borrowing trouble and
worriment Concerning this vexed ques-
tion, Coroner Evans said:
NO GREAT DIFFICULTY ANTICIPATED.
'I do not think there will be much trou-
bic on this score. In the annihilated parts
of the town the streets we're nearly all paved
with Belgian blocks, and these remain in
tact With the streets definitely located,
can't see that the engineers will have much
trouble to renew the plan of the town, not
only on paper, but on the EARTH"
Coroner Evans did not think consulta-
tion of the Coroners of the different counties
would be called. He hasn't heard what the
officials of Indiana and Armstrong counties
have done. Coroner Hammer and the Com
missioners of Westmoreland county left the
reporters under the impression that the ver-
dict of their jury would be pretty salty, but
when they came to pen their decision, they
weren't even sure that the South Fork dam
had caused the flood. Coroner Evans doesn't
say much on this subject, because he is not
allowed, but if anybody can be held re-
sponsible for the breaking of that dam the
jury will try to name them. ISRAEL.