Daily Republican., 1889-06-01
AWFUL CATAS R0PHE
JoHNSTOWN, PA D STA EYED
BY A FLOOD.
Hundreds of Lives Lost-2OO Bodies
Counted at Johnstown Alone
Scores Counted at Other
Points.

lOWIl UTOkb hDOub v u ClACh tui5
and the immense volume of water rushed
down to the city, carrying with 1t death
and destruction.
Houses with their occupants were
swept away, and scores, probably hun
dreds, OF people were drowned.
FLOATING DEAD BODIES.
There Is no communication with Johns
town, but a telegraph operator In the
Pennsylvania Railroad tower, at Sang
Hollow, 10 miles this eide of Johnstown,
says at least 10 dead bodies have iloated
past.
TELEGRAPH AND RAILROAD COMMUNE
CATION INTERRUPTED.
The wires are all down, and no trains
are running east OF Blairsville, which Is
about 25 miles west of Johnstown. There
Is no way to get to the scene Of the dis
aster, and full particulars can hardly be
obtained tonight, although every effort
Is being made TO do so. There will be no
aims through to the East before to-mor-
-3w.
Houses are floating about and the
-ople who are free are panic-stricken
iii are fleeing to the mountains.
i!GuTY FIVE PERSONS FLOATING DOWN
ON pRIrTwooD.
Al a point near Florence eighty-fve
ueTsons were seen floating down the river
"a driftwood. One report comes that but
roofs OF the houses OF Johnstown
tam be seen.
The Cove town and the New Florence
bridges have been washed away and all
the buildings along the Conemaugh be-
tween New Florence and Johnstown have
been carried away. The railroad towers
have boon abandoned by the operators.
OVER 200 DEAD BODIES COUNTED AT
JoHNsTowN.
PITTsBURG, May 3l.-The latest infor-
nation received from Johnstown comes
through Pennsylvania Railroad officials
who aver that over 200 dead bodies have
been counted floating down the stream at
Johnstown alone, while along the line
many additional lives have been lost
Johnstown is situated at the confluence
of Conemaugh river with Stony creek, on
the Pennsylvania Railroad, in Cambria
County, eighty-fiye miles east of Pitts
burg. The western division of the Penn
sylvanla canal extends from Johnstown
70 Pittsburg. IL contains national bank
and several newspaper offices. 1t had a
| population OF about 4, 100.
LATEST REPORTS.
TYRONE, Pa, May 3l.-The Juniata
river has overflowed its banks al this
place aud flooded the entire southern
portion Of the city, causing great destruc-
ton to property and the streets.
As early as l O'Clock the alarm was
sent to Johnstown that there was danger
from the dam. The railroad officials were
notified, and in very short time began
| to arrKfK IL,
of safety on regular trains and hastily
improvised resouing trains. superinten-
dent Pitcairn, OF the western division of
the Pennsylvania Railroad, was on his
way to South Fork and was notified Of
impending trouble.
| WASHINGTON, May 31.-Reports re-
ceived at the Signal Office from the OBJ
server at Harper's Ferry show that the
Potomac has risen seven feet above low
water mark at that point, and that three
feet Of this rise occurred between and 7
p. IN. Both the Shenandoah and upper
Potomac are rising rapidly, and the indi-
cations point to big freshet In the lat
ter river below Harper's Ferry.
At Harrisburg about AZ inches of
rain has fallen to day and q flood may
result in the Susquehanna. Destructive
freshets are also Indicated for the James
the Middle Atlantic States.
Railroad traffic has been seriously In
terfered with, and no trains from the
West came In over the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad.
The Southern trains were unable to
leave the Pennsylvania station owing to
| washouts along the roadA and railroad
traffic from the South was about at a
standstill.
HARRISBURG, Pa, May 3l.-This city
has been In the midst of deluge all day
long. There has been a steady downfall
since before daylight this morning, and
up to 10 O'Clock tonight AZ inches of
rain was registered at the Signal Service
Station. Danger of disastrous flood in
the Susquehanna river is imminent. Old
people say the Parton creek, which sepa-
rates East Harrisburg from the main sec
tion of the city, and is q raging torrent
to- night, is higher now than during the
great food Of 1865. People were taken
from their houses in Sibletown in boats
tonight, and cellars along Cameron
street are filed with water. 1t is still
raging at late hour and grave fears are
expressed for the safety OF the people
living on the low lands.
WILLIAMsPoRT, Pa, May 31.- The re-
ports at 10 O'Clock to-Iight are alarming
from points up the river. At Cleartield
the water is considerably higher than in
1865. Two or three bridges have been
carried away aud there are fears for
safety of the boom at Lock Haven.
WlLLIAMsPoRT, Pa, May 3l.-Heavy
rain has been falling here almost con
tinually since yesterday evening. Reports
from up the river announced a II foot
flood at Cleartleld and high water in
sinnemahoning, indicating bigger flood
than that of 1875.
INJURED BY LIGHTNING.
CARLISLE. Pa, May 31.-This after
noon at two O'Clock heavy rain and
wind storm visited this section. A bolt
OF Lightning, or, as some say, a ball OF
fire, was seen TO strike the pavement OF
the First Presbyterian Church, shattering
the pavement and throwing large pieces
OF bricks some distance.
coLLIERIEs FLOODED.
SHAMoKIN, Pa, May 3l.-The leayy
rain of the past SO hours has caused
great damage. All collieries were forctd d |
10 suspend and many are drowned out. |
No Trains have arrived on the Lehigh |
Valley Railroad since noon, on account |
OF bridge west OF here being swept |
away.
TIE POTOMAC RIVER DISTRICT,
HAGERsTowN, Nd, May 3l.-A ter.
rife storm passed over the Potomac river
district OF Washington County yester-
day afternoon. II seemed to follow the |
course of the river, leaving destruction
In its path and blowing down buildings,
trees and fences and running growing