Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
THE SISTERS.
How the Little Chapel in the Ell Part
Became Their Salvation.
ASSAULT UPON FATHER DAWN.
A MurderOus Ghoul Attacks a Priest Who
demonstrated With Him.
OBSERVATIONS By BISHOP PHELAN


Bishop Phelan returned to Pittsburg late
last evening, after two trying days at the
scene of the disaster. To the reporter who
visited him at st. Peters Episcopal resi-
dence, he expressed himself as worn out,
averse to talking for publication in
general, and averse in particular (this
very emphatic) to appearing in print
as criticizing, patronizing or even
presuming to comment upon the noble
work that is being done. Gradually, how
ever, in spite of his indignant protest to an
interview, hisinterest in what he had passed
through, led him into conversation.
"When 1 got there" he said, "they
stopped me. Wanted to know what I
wanted. 1 told them I wanted to assist.
They replied there was no one to be as
sisted. They were all dead. Indeed, don't
know but they were right, in the main. The
flood did its work well.
81 don't want to speak of what we did. We
did all we could. That's all. took two priests
with me. There were four other priests who
came in from the mountains. All worked
heartily, cheerfully Four of the franciscan
Sisters who went down asked permission to
stay. 1 gave it-told them to stay. A number
of the
Sisters of Mercy
were given permission to stay. I told DIR.
Stewart that if more were needed to telegraph
me, and they would be sent at once. All
worked in entire harmony. Mr.. Scott under
stands that all the Sisters that are needed in
caring for the sick and injured are at his COM
mand. sA-1
shall go back again? think not-not
unless am sent for. All that could do did
while was there. Ny work done, couldn't
bear to stay there. Work-hard work-being of
some use, is all that could enable one to brace
up under such scenes. The work done I must
get away as soon as possible.
Father O'Connell, who went down with me,
remains there. He would have come back with
me but for an accident to Father DAWN, one of
the local priests. Father DAWN was trying to
prevent Hungarian from robbing dead
upon him and kicked him. 1t was some time
before we knew that Father DAWN was hurt.
At last we noticed it from his walk. l demand
ed to know how he had been hurt. He told me.
Nv as there no one with your" asked.
Yes; a crowd was not far away"
why didn't you call upon themr
because they would have hung the man, and
Didn't Want Him Hung.
"And so that was the reason Father DAWN
had said nothing about it-mercy for the ghoul
that had assaulted him. So have left Father
O'Connell to remain with Father DAWN until
he is entirely over this injury"
Bishop Phelan talked rapidly interspersing
all with emphatic, sometimes almost angry
protests against anything like an interview.
While speaking of the burials he said:
There is one matter that meant to have
talked with Mr.. Scott about before 1 came
away. That is the burial of the many who are
unidentified. But mind, there is no clash, or
Hv of a a1
else. All denominations are working together
in perfect harmony. Those VINO wish can
have for their friends Catholic burial One
girl met just before L came away was
anxious that her mother should be buried in
st. Mary's ground here, and I promised her
that it should be done If had to see to it my
faith still clinging to their poor dead bodies.
These, of course, there is no doubt about.
And here it seemed to the reporter that the
Bishop in his emotion said something very
broad and tender and liberal and noble about
all the unclaimed dead, but the reporters
anxiety not to misrepresent him, prevents him
from presuming TO quote 5e,, ms e3se5 I words:
the school of the Sisters of Charity. ut is not
true as reported" he said, that that building
was entirely swept away. The ell part con-
tanning the chapel still stands. Early in the
day, fearing the rising waters-but not dream
ing of the flood that was to come-the Sisters
had sent their pupils home. Soon after, warned
fed to the chapel in the ell, leaving the main
part of the building. There in the chapel they
fell upon their knees and prayed, the waters
roaring about them.
las the food rushed into the chapel they
were still upon their knees-praying The
waters rose about them. Taking the blessed
sacrament they went to the room above the
chapel, and kneeling about it, prayed. The
torrents bore a crushing mass of shattered
houses down upon the school building, tearing
it from its foundation and hurting it onward
with the flood.
the chapel and the sisters in the room above it.
KNEELING BY THE SACRAMENT
and praying-that remained. The deluge beat
against it, but it fell not while all the rest of
the building was whirled along a shattered
ruin that little part, with its precious contents
in safety.
"AII night in trembling and prayer-kneeling
all night about the sacrament, in that little
room above the chapel, waited the sisters, and
in the morning rescue came. Draw your own
inference. The ell part Stands there witness
to what have said"
This incident the Bishop related rapidly and
with no attempt at eloquence, for
getting himself entirely in the narrative. When
at its conclusion the reporter said And if
they had not gone into the chapel to pray they
would have been lost in the wreck of the main
building?" He drew himself back, little in
dignantly. Don't question me" he said This
is no interview, nor am preaching sermon"
AT some lurCner lenRIn Cne DlSnOp talked,
seeming to look for some light in the general
gloom. Many, he thought. that had been re.
ported lost were being found. He called to
mind a man he knew, prominent in Johns
town. Mr.. Linton, a Protestant in faith.
Il was told that he was lost" Bishop Phelan
said, "but on my way to the depot to take the
train home met him. He had had
THRILLING ESCAPE
with his family. Making perilous way from
floating roof to roof, he had at last been
rescued. Another man was told was lost-a
Mr. Mclaughlin. a Catholic, 1 met just before
I came away. He had been prominent man
in Johnstown, and 1 knew him well. When
the crash staid, he remained right in his Of
fee, never stirred inch, and the floods
carried him at last to place of safety. Others
who have been reported lost are being found.
Heaven grant it may be true OF many"
In concluding the conversation the Bishop
said: "Only one thing 1 am willing you should
print as coming from me. That all is being
done that can be done, that all are doing their
work carefully, that the care of the dead, the
work of the undertakers and embalmers is
being well done, and that so far as L am con-
cerned have simply done what little could;
only wish it could be more. and 1 want
nothing said about it"
THEY YIELDED HANDSOMELY.