Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-06-07

SHOCKING SEEM Els AMONG HE DEAD AMI
woBNDED-LYNCH LAW TO ROBBERS OF
THE DEAD-INDTvIDUAL EXPERIENCES.
&C.. sc. sc.
On Sunday, communication was establish
ed with the ruined city, which had become
charnel house since the Thursday pre-
vious One of the correspondents who en-
tered the city among the first after the
water subsidized, writes:
After landing, one walks across a desc
| late sea of mud, in which there are inferred
the remains of many human bodies. 1t was
once handsome portion OF the town. The
cellars are filled up with mud so that per-
son who has never seen the city can hardly
| imagine that houses ever stood where they
did, four streets solidly built up with
houses having been swept away. Nothing
of them but a small two-story frame house
remains 1t was near the edge Of Wane and
thus escaped. One side was taken up and
it hangs to one side, making a picture of
misery. The walk up to the wrecks of
houses was interrupted in many places by
small branch streams. Occasionally across
| the flats could be seen the remains OF a VIC
tim.
+ The stencil arising from the mud is sick
ening to an extreme degree. Along the route
!
~, iron pipes, wares OF every conceivable
kind of store. In the midst of the wreck a
clothing store dummy with a hand in the
position of reckoning to a person, stands
erect and uninjured.
1t isimpossible to describe the appearance
of Main street. Whole houses have been
swept down this one street and become
lodged. The wreck is piled as high as the
second story windows. The reporter could
| OBJ into of
the Opera House. The ruins consist of parts
of houses, trees, logs, reels from Wire
factory Many houses have their side walls
and roofs torn up, and you can walk into
what had been secOnd-stOry bedrooms OF go
in by way of the top. Further uptown a
raft of logs lodged in a street and did great
damage.
THE FIRST WARNING CIV EN- THE CITY.
The warming given the stricken city was
sent from the South Fork village by Freight
Agent Dechart. When the great wall that
held the body of water began to crumble at
the top he sent a message begging hepeople
of JohnstoWn for Gods sake to take to the
hills. He reports no serious accidents at
South Fork. Richard Davis ran to Pros
pect when the water raised. About MI.
Dechart s message, he says just such have
been sent down at each flood since the lake
was made. The warning so often proved
useless that little attention was paid to it
this time. II canOt describe the mad rush, y
he said. cat first it looked like dust. That
must have been spray. | could see houses
going down before it like the child S play of
blocks set on edge in row. AS it came
nearer / could see houses totter for a mo-
ment, then rise, and the next moment be
crushed like egg-shells against each other. u
| At WOOdville there was a row OF brick ten
ement houses 100 feet long and three stories
high. 1t stood broadside to the current.
A few tenants fled, but many went to their
attcs to watch the flood. To-day scarcely
foundation Of the row of brick houses can
be found"
A NIGHT OF AGONY.
James H. Walter, attorney, spent the
night in Alma Hall, and relates a thrilling
story. One of the most curious Occurren-
ces of the whole disaster was how MI. Wal
ters got to the hall. He has his Office on
the second floor. His home is at AS Wal
!, nut street. He.says he Was in the house
with his family when the waters struck it,
All were carried away. MI. Walters fam
lily drifted ON the roof in another direction
until he came to the hall. His dwelling
struck that edifce and he was thrown into
) his own Office About 200 persons had tax
, en- refuge in the hall and were on the second
third and fourth stories. The men held a
! meeting and drew up some rules which al
were bound to respect. MI. Walter was
[ chosen president, Rev. MI. Beale was put
in charge Of the first floor, A. M. Hart oil
5 the second floor, and Dr.. Matthews of the
7 fourth floor. No lights were allowed and
S the whole night was spent in darkness. The
7 sick were cared for. The weaker women
1 and children had the best accommodations
e that could be had, while the others had tt
3 wait.
The scenes were most agonizing. Heart
S rending shriekS, sObs, and means pierced
S the gloomy darkness. The crying of Chill
n dTen was mingled with the suppressed sob'
L of the women. Under the guardianship O
e the men all took more hope. No one slep1
: during all the long dark night. Many znel
t mingling with the roar Of the waters an(
e the sllrieks Of the dying in the surrounding
n houses. In all this misery two women CAV
y premature birth to children DE-. Matthew
is a hero. Several Of his ribs were crushed
by falling timber, and his pains were mos
severe, yet through all he attended the sick
II When two women in house across tn
Il street shouted for help, he, with two othe
i brave young men, climbed across the drift
IS and ministered to their wants. 10 one die
: during the night, but women and childre
y surrendered their lives on the succeedin
e day as the result of terror and fatigue
Miss Rose Y Dung, one OF the ladies in th
o hall, was frightfully cut and bruised. Mrs
l. Y Dung had a leg broken. All of MI. Wa
. tiers family were saved.
# A TOUCHING sCENE-A MOTHER LOOKING
IS FOR HER HOME AND FAMILY,
a During this solemn Sunday, Johnstow1
T. has been drenohed with the tears OF str1ck
~ 1,tolc a,6 40
e. and signs that come from breaking hearts
/ There are scenes enacted here every hou
u and every minute that affect all beholder
L profoundly. An utterly wretched WQma
IL named Mrs. Fem stood by muddy poo
lie of water trying to find some trace OF a one
d happy home. She was half crazed wit
oe grief, and her eyes were red and swollen
s. 5, As the writer stepped to her side she raise
i'll her pale and haggard face and remarked
S, to them My husband and my seven dea
little children have been swept down by til
w flood and 1 am left alone. We were drive
Is by the raging flood into the garnet, but tn
NJ waters followed us there. Inch by inch
kept rising, until our heads were crushe
~ against the roof 1t was death to remain
So | raised the window and one by OF
, placed my darlingS on some dr1ft-Woo'
al trusting to the Great Creator. AS | hbe
~ ated the last one, my sweet little boy, |
as looked at me and said; Mamma, you alWa.
IT. told me that the Lord would care for m
L., will He look after me now?' | saw hi
ge drift away with his loving face turned t
ward me, and with prayer on my lips f
~ his deliverance he passed from my sight TO
d. ever. The next moment the roof crasbe
in, and / hoated outside to be rescued ii
ge teen hours later from the roof Of a house
IS Kernv1lle. If I could only find one OF n
Ell darlings L could bow to the will OF 90
M but they are all gone. l have lost ever