Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
REVEALED TO SIGHT.
The Morning Scenes in the Vicinity Of
the Great Disaster.
WORK OF THE FIERY ELEMENT.
The Flames Add to the Horrors Of the
Dread Catastrophe.
PITIFUL STORIES OF THE RESCUED
rrRon A STAFF CORRESPONDENCE

gerate the glare of the scene, and the slow
subsiding of the water bring to light scenes
most horrible. It is estimated by reliable
railroad men engaged in the work of pull
ing out dead bodies that not less than
5000 people have perished. Of all the
fearful occurrences the most terrible was the
fire in which Supervisor Hayes, of the
Pennsylvania road, estimated that from
1000 to 1000 unfortunate beings were
burned to death. The sight was so heart
rending that brave men turned pale and
sickened. Over 300 frame houses were
jammed together in a heap, 40 feet high,
against the massive viaduct of the Pennsyl-
vania road. Att Johnstown all the houses were
destroyed and the majority of the inmates
were crushed to death before the terrible
fire began. Men, women and children,
with their limbs pinioned between the
timbers, their life blood slowly ebbing
away, begged piteously for relief. One un-
fortunate woman asked a man on the
bank for Gods sake to cut her
legs of. A man was caught
by the arm and he pleaded piteously
for a knife to sever the member. Others
were literally all smashed and squeezed to
death beneath the grinding timbers and
surging waters, some were pressed deep into
the water, and the food soon ended their
misery. But to add to the horror of this
scene, fire broke out in the mass of timbers
and no body escaped. Flames soon devoured
the people, and nothing now remains but
A. a
somewhere on the water. Supervisor Hays
stood on the bank watching the fire, power.
less to render the victims any assistance.
AGoNIzING MANIFESTATIONS.
The cries of suffering and pain only doubled
the horror of the great disaster. Long
after dark the flames of fire shot
high above the burning mass of lumber,
lighting up the vast food of rushing waters
on all sides. ''The city of Johnstown is an
INITIATED" said Supervisor Hayes. "I
have inst come from there, and there is
scarcely frame house left in the town.
There is only one frame house standing
in Cambria City. Every house is said
to have been washed away in
Conemaugh and MorrellvilIe. These cir
cumstances are reported all along the river
between the Allegheny river and Johns
town. Dead bodies are being picked up.
The train master, E. Pitcairn, has been
working manfully pulling out dead bodies
at Ninevah. In a 10 acre field rs
bodies were taken out within a half mile of
each of other. OF this number only five
were men the balance were women and
children. Many beautiful young girls, re-
fined in features and handsomely dressed,
were found nd women and young mothers
with the hair matted with roots and leaves
are constantly being removed. The wreck
ing crew who took out these bodies
are confident that 15O bodies are lying
buried in the sand and under the debris
SOME FRIGHTFUL DISCOVERIES.
On those lying bottom-lands some of the
bodies were horribly nangled and the
features twisted and contorted as if
they died in the most excruciating
agony, and others are found lying in
stretched out with calm faces. Many a
tear was dropped by the men as they worked
away removing the bodies. An old lady
with fine gray hair was picked up alive,
although every bone in her body was
broken.
Judging from the number of women and
children found in the swamps of Nineah
the female portion of the population suffered
the most.
Mr.. O'Connor was at Sanghollow when
the food began. He remained there through
the afternoon and night, and he states
foA al
island, against which a number of
hoaters were dashed and instantly killed.
Their bodies were almost tied in knot, |
doubled over the tree by the force of the
current. Mr.. O'Connor states that the first
man who came down had his brains knocked
cut against this obstruction. In fact, those
who hit the tree met the same fate and were
instantly killed under the pile of driftwood
collected there.
He could give no estimate of the num-
Der lost at this point, but he makes the
figures large Mr. r'o'Connor says he never
saw such an awful spectacle. In this city
the poor people in the raging
food cried out in tremor for aid
that never came. Gladly would the
brave men standing upon the banks have
helped them out, but this was impossible.
More than one brave man risked his life in
trying to save those in the food.
HERoIsM EXTRAORDINARY.
Every hour details of some heroic action |
are brought to light. In many instances the
Aoaters displayed remarkable courage
and gave their chances for rescue to
friends with them. Sons stood back |
for mothers, and were lost, while the pa
rents were taken out. Many a dear boy |
went down to watery grave that a sister or
father might be saved. Such instances of |
self sacrifice in the face of fearful danger |
were numerous and it shows con-
clusively that the heroes are not |
all dead. Up to the present hour
it is reliably reported that in the lower |
part Of Johnstown the only buildings stand |
ing are the company store, the big brick |
schooIhouse and DowelPs residence. The |
frame houses have disappeared and nothing |
remains but the stone foundations or a piece |
Of wall.
The following facts are authentic
and were furnished by E. Pit |
cairn and the Messrs. Berry, of |
the wrecking crew, who were on the ground |
and saw the scenes. People can estimate
tbe Iorce of the water when it carried heavy |
locomotives down the mountain side and |
turned them upside down on their backs, |
where they are now lying. Long trains of
cars have been derailed and carried great
distances from the railroad. The first |
sight that greeted the men at
Nineveh this morning was beautiful /