Evening capital., 1889-06-04
pREDIcrIoNs or pEsTILENcE.
The Horrible Results OF Putrcfying Flesh
That Threaten Survivor.

The Horrible Results Of Putrefyimg Flesh
That Threaten Survivors.
JoHNsTowN, Pa, June A gang Of
300 men was put to work removing the
debris around the Cambria iron mill.
At almost every step dead bodies were
unearthed and being carried to the
Pennsylvania railroad station house and
placed in collins and laid on tie plat
form for Identification. One Of the
bodies found here was that of Mrs.
Ogle, the telegraph operator who was
heard from in the town only moment
before the flood struck the building.
From the banks many SCARED remains
of victims of flames and flood are
plainly visible as the receding waters
Reluctantly give up their dead. Beneath
most every log or blackencd beam
skull or blanched remnant of ribs and
limbs mark all that remain OF lifes
heroes.
All day Yesterday the fire engines con-
stantly played on the burning ruins. At
times the fire seemed almost ex-
tinguishcd. but flames suddenly broke
out afrcsh in some new quarter.
Warnings or PcstIIence.
Asensation was created by the united
rcmonstrance of the physicians against
the cxtinguishment OF the burning
wreck. They maintain, with q philosophy
that to anxious searchers seems heart
less, that hundreds If not thousands Of
lifrlcss and dccaying bodies lie beneath
this mass of burning ruins.
ut would be BETTER" they say, "to
permit natures greatest scavcnger, the
flames, to pursue its work unmOlested
than to further decay the horde OF piItre-
flying bodies that lie beneath this debris.
There can he but one result. Days will
clapse before the debris can he sufii-
ciently removed to permit the recovery
OF these bodies, and long ere that every
corpse will be a putrid mass, yielding
forth those frightful emanations Of do
caying human flesh that can give but
one resuIt-the dreaded typhus. Every
battle field has demonstrated the neces-
sity of hasty interment of decaying
bodies, and the stencil that already arises
Is a fOrerunner Of the impending danger.
Burn tic wreck! Burn the wreck"
Sentiment Prevails Over science.
A loud cry of indignation arose from
the lips of the vast multitude and the
warnings of science were lost in tile
eager demands Of those that sought the
remains Of friends. The hose was again
turned on the kissing fame, and again
tIle flames yielded To the water.
1t Is almost impossible TO conceive the
extent Of these sickcning ruins. An area
of eight or ten acres above tile dam Is
covcrcd to depth of forty feet with
shattered houses, borne from the resi-
dent center of Johnstown. IN each Of
these houses IL Is estimated there weFc
from five 10 twenty-five people. This Is
accepted as data upon which TO estimate
the number that perishcd on tile spot,
and IL the data he correct, the bodies that
| lie beneath these ruins must numbcE
/ into the hundreds If not thousands.
The Town Under Martial Law.
The scene at the lower end OF the city
| is beyond description. The half has MOI
| been told and never can be, as to The
/ extent Of tie awful wreck. The town
| ii now under martial law and every one
who goes about the place Is challenged
| and required to give an account Of him
st.If. The water has subsided toa great
extent. and the streets In the main parl
1 0f the town are free from water.
i Tile falling water has laid bare the
/ lorril,lp work Of flle food. and the flflI
Continued Oh Fourth Page.