Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-21
In A SILENT CITY.
A View of Johnsfown and the Conenaugh
Valley From Grand View Cemctery-The
Number of Victims Buried to Date
NearJv OOO
cFRoM A STAFF coRRkspoNpENr.1 ]


Nearly 1000.
cFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
JoHNsTowN, June 2O.-The town was full of
well-dressed ladies and handsome maidens
to-day, with lunch baskets under their arms
filled with good things to eat They wandered
about among the ruins as free as the air, and
clambered up on the Keynville hill, where the
finest view of the wreck and the Conemaugh
Valley is obtained. Everybody here is glad TO
see the girls, and they will be welcomed daily.
There has been woful lack Of women In the
town since the female portion was depopulated.
The press headquarters are one of the centers
of attraction, and the ladies are furnished with
some very graphic descriptions of the flood.
Not Bad Summer Resort.
The work Of clearing up the debris has been
progressing very rapidly up till to-day when
many of the men refused to work unless their
demands were acceded to. During the first
week of the flood one could scarcely see that
any impression had been made on the mass of
rubbish, but chaos and disorder are fast disap-
pearlng before the systematic onslaught of the
workmen. Johnstown used to be one of the
prettiest of summer resorts, and it must be adj
mitted it is not q bad sort of resting place yet
Probably tent life with a board floor and a cot
to sleep on at night are so much preferable to
a barn and limekiln that outsiders, used to all
the comforts of life. may not agree with the
last statement, should they come here.
Some Unpleasant Stories Denied.
The stories about the dogs trying to dig up
bodies in the various graveyards are universal
ly discredited here. On Prospect Hill, where
number OF bodies were buried, the graves
were dug five feet deep and the collins well
covered with dirt.
climbed up the high Kernville hill this
morning, and visited the Grandyiew Gene
terry for the first time. The place has been well
named, as 1t really affords one of the finest
views to be seen anywhere. From this elevated
point the work of the flood can be best seen in
a few moments. and the picture will never be
forgotten. Along the CoDemaugh river the
average observer will soon discover there is
scarcely house left. The Conemaugh Valley
has been cleared of its human habltations.
The ruins of the Gautier mill are in sight, and
near by stands out, in bold relief. the span of a
bridge that mirAculously escaped the rush of
the flood.
The City of the Dead.
Turning to the Grandview Cemetery. the first
thing that strikes the visitor is the beautiful
stone gateway erected by Mrs. Morrell in
memory Of her husband. A short distance up
the drive is the handsome brick chapel paid for
by Mrs. James McMillen. But the cemetery
itself could not be prettier. 1t consists of 100
acres of rolling ground on the top of the hill.
Running out into the country are big fields Of
waving grain. and not far away is q fine farm
house that Mr.. James McMillen will occupy for
the summer. Mr.. McMillen is President of the
intendent of the cemetery, stated that 323 bodies
were buried there since the flood, l6 of whom
have been removed, leaving 307 up to date.
One hundred and twenty bodies are buried in
two trenches, each 160 feet long and four feet
deep. The bodies are well-covered and there
isn't sign anywhere that dog. has been on
the ground. The Superintendent denied the
dog story, and anyone could see that the bodies
had not been disturbed. A piece of board with
a number on it is the only thing that marks the
head of each grave. An accurate record is
kept at the cemetery to correspond to each
body. There are about AZ unknown dead buried
in the cemetery. and they have descriptions of
most of them at the office. Others are sup
posed to be certain persons" but there is moth
ing sure about 1t.
KePnville a Sad Wreck.
In Kernville number of the houses are out
of plumb; some of them are turned completely
over, and others are badly bent and knocked
out of shape. Between the houses the hills of
debris can be seen as the water deposited them
when IL subsided, but good progress has been
made in this place. Many of the streets have
been opened, and the residents are busy clean
ing their cellars and securing out the houses
This has been a perfect day, and the house
wives looked more cheerful as they scrubbed
away at windows, wainscots and furniture
Occa sionally a little party can be seen
sitting in the midst of the runs of
their home, contemplating the scene in silence.
The Number of Bodies Buried.
James McMillen lis authority for the state |
ment that up to date 300 bodies have been
buried altogether. If this estimate is correct,
it is safe to say that between 5000 to 5000 peo-
pie were lost. An unknown man was buried
last night His age was about so, and he had
s256 on his person. He had watch with
gold charm marked "God with u.s." This
her body was buried in Grandview. Her sister
and mother are buried in the same place. Yes
terday some of the bodies were raised by
friends, but they were in such condition that |
they were returned to the graves. On one plot |
of ground the Pritchard monument is erected, |
The saddest feature connected with it is that |
the husband and eight children are lost, and |
none of their bodies have been recovered.
AYoung Lady's soIiloquy.
"Isn't it strange" said beautiful young |
lady this morning. as she glanced from the car
window and saw a brewing establishment in
tact. 'that the liquor should be saved and the
bread destroyed by the waters. 1t looks as if |
God was not in this food" The observation |
of the young lady is quite correct but the |
brewers were fortunate by virtue of their posi-
ton. Most of the breweries are above the /
water line and are saved ISRAEL,
HpC OTCUCI lND,0 Dpm HnT