Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-06-07

houses still standing on high ground
threw them open so those who had lost
slt snd 10 the passengers of the train,
During the night of the
hood the the spectators were startled
by the sound of two locomotive
whistles from the midst of the waters.
Two engineers, with their characteristics
courage. had remsined st their posts,
aud as there was apparently no escape
for them, they sounded their whistles.
This they repeated st intervals, and the
last time with triumphan vigor as the
waters were recediua from thelr engines.
BY half past five the force of the reservoir
waters had been spent on the village of
Conemaugh, and the Pullman cars and
locomotive of the second section remain
ed enmoved. This was because of bsinS
on the higest and hardest ground, the
destructive current of the reservoir food
had passed between that and the noun
tain, while the current OF the river did
not eat it away. But other
TRAINS HAD BEEN DESTROYED.
solitary locomotive was seen imbed-
ed in the mud where the round house
had stood, as the greatest danger had
passed, the people of Conemaugh gave
thelc thoughts to their uelghbors of the
city of JohHstown. Here was centered
the great steel and iron Industries, the
pride of western Pennsylvania, the
Cambria Iron works which are
known everywhere. Here were churches,
daily news papers, banks, dry goods
10 -ses, warehouses and the comfortable
ard well built homes of 1900 people.
What was their fate In contemplation
of the irresistible force of that awful
Hood, gathering additional momentum as
1t swept on toward the Gulf, it beca me
clear that the city must be destroy ed and
that unless the inhabitants had tele-
graphic notice of the breaking of the
reservoir they must perish.
A CRY OF HORROR
went up from hundreds on the mountain
side and few instinctively turned sheir
steps towards Johustown. The city was
destroyed. All the mills, furnaces
manufactures, and many varied indus
tries, banks, residences, all were swai-
lowed up before the shadows of night
had settled down upon the earth. What
of the inhabantsf Who oan tell with
certainty Those who same back
by daybreak said that from five to eight
thousand were drowhed. In the light of
this calamity the destruction of Cone.
maugh sinks into insignificance. In this
latter place they we're already bringing in
the dead on stretchers. How many
have been lost here at Mineral Point
and at Sc nth Fork could not be told and
may never be known. There were some
passengers and probably 30 or so inhab-
itants. The loss of property is enor-
nous.
The track of the railroad company is
certainly destroyed for at least ten miles
belov South Fork, and all the other prop
erty of the company on the line.
TRAINS AT A srANDsrILL.
PHILADELPHIA, June 3.-The best in-
formation that Gun be obtained today at
the Pennsylvania office in this city is that
the route will be pptched up to Altoona
within sc hours, thus giving the eight
hundred or more east and west bound
passengers laid up at this place, an OPP
portunity To get away. Ii is also stated
here that onty seven passengers of the
i'll fated trains were lost. On the middle
division of the main line of the road
clear from Altoona tn Petersburg. From
Huntington to Manayunk bridge there
are several bad breaks. 1t is not be
lieved passengers can be conveyed from
Harrisburg to Pittsburg over The main
line insids of Il week or ten days; as to
transportation of froi,h5 and mails
nothing definite can be learned.
No direct intelligence of any sort has
been received from Lock Haven since
O'Clock Friday night. A dispatch then
received stated that the lumber boom had
broken and the town was flooded. The
widest kind of rumors are received in
ar1 To he 81 ,Hns i
it is believed the loss of property will be
enormous.
AFRAID OF PEsTILENCE.
WASHINGTON, June 3.-The Masonic
relief committee telegraphed the presi-
dent this afternoon urging the appoint
ment of national committee to take
charge of the sanitary affairs at the
scene of the disaster. 1t was urged that
the presence of 80 many decaying
corpscs would breed pestllence there,
besides pOlluting the water of the stream
affecting all the country between Pitts
burg and New Orleans.
President Harrison conferred with
Gen. Schofield and shortly after with
Surgeon General Hamilton who was sum
moned to take part in the conference.
The fact was der yloped that
if such it may be called, is composed
of physicians located at various poins,
DR.. Atkinson would confer with and assist
the Pennsylvania state board of health in
ary measure it might Institute in the aid
of public health aud comfort, and Sur
geon Hamilton would be ready to give ad-
vice or assistance, so whatever was under
taken might be carried forward by Off
cial sanction and authority. Instructions
in accordance with this decision were at
once sent to DR.. Atkinson by Surgeon
Hamilton.
NO TROOPS NEEDED.
The following telegrm was received
this evening by the president from
Goernor Beaver: "Tbesherif of Cambria
county says he can control the situation
without the aid of troops. The people
are fairly housed and good order pre-
walls. The supply of food 50 fer is equel
te the demand, but the supply of food
and clothing are stu greatly needed.
Conservative estemates place the loss of
life 5000 to 10000; and the loss of prp-
erty from $25,000,0O0 To $40,0O0,000.
The people are at work heroicly and will
have laege force clearing away debris.
The sympathies of the world are freely
expressed. One telegram from England
gives $1,000. Help comes from ali
quarters. II is universal and greatly en-
couraRes our people. l will communicate
with you promptly if suything unusual
occurs" The officials of the war de-
partmeut learned of the existence of
so tents at PitGsburg which by order of
General Schofeld after consultation with
the president we're turned over to the
local authorities.
PJToNAC GOING DowS.
After reaching the highest mark on
record yesterday afternoon the Po'om &c
began to fall rapidly, and this morning
the streets in South Washington were
free from water all along the river front.
II gradually receded throughout the daf,
bringing the wharves once more in view.
Hundreds of fish were left behind by the
receding stream, and were caught with
the hanos By boys and men rho searched
through he vet grass and elsewhere for
them. The IN commissioner spread
large nets out in the river Lear the
moument for the purpose Of recovering
as msuy German carp which escaped
from the breeding station. as possible.
Besides carp, q million young shad two
inches long were set at liberty by the
food. Several schooners and large boats
have been left high and dry.
WASHINGTON MONUMENT DAMAGED.
Fears are expressed that the founda-
ton of the Washington monument might
ha hAen sHrInuzlv 6arnaOsd and