Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-22

n few days ago in his Office, on the tenth moor
of the National Press Building, and for awhile
had the pleasure Of swapping "reminiscences
with him about old Washington.
He knows his Washington pretty well, ana
what he says is always interesting In his con-
versatton he spoke of the great flood OF 1883,
when certain parts Of downtown washington
were inundated and Pennsylvania Avenue from
Second to about Eleventh street, reSembled Tor
a brief while street scene in Venice Upon
this occasion he said he visited the Center
Market, now thing of the past, after the
water had partly receded, and saw rats floating
on top of boxes and barrels, within the building
He said the rats were so large that even after
the lapse of AZ years they still appeared 70
him as being as big as tomcats
Naturally the writer had vivid recollections
Of this flood himself, and was able to keep up
with what Mr.. Boyle had to say and feels that
he but slightly overestimated the size OF the
rodents, which for many years did tnestimable
damage to the butchers supplies until the place
was taken over by the Government and con-
Quoted by the Department of Agriculture, when
they were almost exterminated.
what a different Washington we have now
from the one many Of us know OF that period.
The streets were not near so beautiful then as
they are now, few being paved with asphalt
Flagstone crossings with cobblestone paving in
between and on the outside, prevailed through
out the city. Bicycling was approaching its
height and the automobile had not been in
and many forms of amusement and instruction
now popular either had not been invented, or,
If 80, were barely known. The flying machine
was then only in the mind of Samuel P. Lang
ley who was building up valuable information
for his subsequent invention fer the first
heavier than-a air machine. These were the days
when young men were handles and dudes, and
girls were peaches; it was the day Of tight
pantaloonS for the men and bustles, jerseys
and spitcurls for the women
INDEED, AZ years have brought many changes
] to the city of Washington and elsewhere, OF
course They have brought many changes to
the people as well, some OF whom were then
striking brunettes with eoal-black hair; now,
alas, white as the driven snow The change
with the ordinary blondes has not been so
noticeable, but with those of the strawberry hue
the change from red to white is remarkable.
few months ago the writer on his way
north passed the city Of JohnStown, Pa, where
one Of the greatest disasters in America took
place in 1889, due to the conditions which also
caused the great flood here in 1889, Of which
Mr.. Boyle was speaking It was fine sum-
mer's day when the writer passed this town,
and the glaring sun was rejecting its warm
rays down on old Mother Earth to an uncom-
Portable degree. The scenery was beautiful, and
yet, with all Of natures grandeur about at a
time of the year when life has the greatest
appeal to the human mind, stil the memory
of that momentous thirty-first day Of May,
1889, crowded out the charm Of the mountains,
the valleys, the streams and the trees-the
handiwork Of the Great Creator Of all.
There are ever so many people who remem-
Der the Johnstown food, ever so many who
recall its sorrows, its heartburnings and its
horrors. Time healeth all things" It's said,
and those who suffered loss and aff1iction by
this calamity, living today, perhaps have
ceased to grieve for those whose lives were
art hot fIf1
occasion; but history has made a record Of
what then took place, of the anguish and suf-
feTings of those left behind, and even In ages
TO come there will be those who will read, not
only Of the appalling loss Of life which took
place there, but also Of the heroic deeds then
performed by the people of that town. and who
for their bravery gave up all they possessed
even life itself.
THOUGH 5ohnstown was good sized, thriv-
ing manufacturing place in 1889, yet 1t
was scarcely known outside Of Pennsylvania
before the flood, which was primarily due to
the heavy rains Of that year, particularly i'm
mediately preceding the catastrophe. The
direct cause of the flood was due to the giving
away of the dam across the South Fork, a
branch Of the Conemaugh River. IL miles
directly east Of the city, resulting in the re-
leasing of Conemaugh Lake, situated about
800 feet higher than Johnstown, about "a
miles long, 12 miles wide at its greatest width.
and in many places as much as 100 feet deep,
which had been quadrupled In size by artificial
means and held in check by dam 700 to 1000
feet wide, 80 feet thick at the base, 20 feet
at the top and ITO feet In height. Johnstown,
being located in the irregular and narrow valley
formed by the confluence Of Stony Greek and
the Conemaugh River, was ideally situated for
just such disaster which befeu 1t little
more than four decades ago.
Indeed, it is impossible to comprehend what
a gigantic bank Of water was suddenly Let
loose upon Johnstown and nearby towns with
out taking into consideration the enormous
amount Of impounded water in Conemaugh
Lake which its dimensions indicate. The sud.