Evening star., 1939-06-04
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star

to The Star from all directions told of
storms of cyclonic proper
Johnstown tions, cloudbursts. heavy
Flood rains and high winds
sweeping over areas for
miles out of Washington. This city suf-
fered storm of severe proportions,
causing food and doing heavy damage,
but it was not until the following day
that news of the disaster at Johnstown,
Pa, reached this Office. The following
in The Star Of June /, 1889, tells part
of the story:
The water which overwhelmed this
town yesterday, carrying death to hun
dreds and misery to thousands. are sub
siding rapidly, but as yet it is impossible
to obtain anything like exact informa-
ton concerning the extent of the disas-
ter that has visited this city and the
district surrounding. Thousands are
missing, and while many of those who
are now missing and who are mourned
as dead have doubtless been saved the
final death roll will, beyond doubt. be of
appalling length It is impossible to
describe briefly the suddenness with
which the disaster came.
"A warning sound was heard at Cone
maugh few minutes before the rush OF
waters came, but it was attributed to
some meteorological disturbance and no
trouble was borrowed because of the
thing unseen. AS the low rumbling noise
increased in volume, however, and came
nearer suspicion of danger began to
force itself even upon the bravest. which
was increased to a certainty few min
utes later when with rush the mighty
stream spread out in width and when
there was no time to do anything to save
themselves. Many of the unfortunate
were whirled into the midst of the stream
before they could turn around; men,
women and children were struggling in
the stream.
THE imagination of the reader can
better depict the spectacle than the
writer can give it. 1t was twilight of
terror and the gathering shades of eve
ming closed in on panorama of horrors
that has few parallels In the history of
casualties.
"The calamity was as singular as 1t
was fatal. 1t is now evident that more
lives have been lost because of foolish
incredulity than from ignorance of the
danger. For more than year there have
been fears of an accident of just such
character. The foundations of the dam
were considered to be shaky last spring,
and many increasing leakages were re-
ported from time to time. According to
people who live in Johnstown and other
towns on the line of the river, ample
time was given to the Johnstown folks
by the railroad officials and by other
gentlemen of standing and reputation
in hundreds of cases, but this warning
was utterly disregarded, and those who
needed 1t early in the day were looked
upon as towards and many jeers were
uttered by lips that now are cold among
the rank grass beside the river. There
has grown up bitter feeling among the
surviving sufferers against those who
owned the lake and dam.
"The people had been warned early in
the morning to move to the highlands,
but they did not heed the warning up to
o'clock, when the water poured into
Cinder street several feet deep. Then
the houses began rocking to and fro. and
finally the force of the current carried
buildings across streets and vacant lots
and dashed them against each other,
breaking them into fragments.
"One can estimate that the loss of life
will reach more than 1000. No one
knows. No one can guess the sickening
sight to be met by the correspondents
when they arrive at the scene. The air
is filled with thrilling and incredible
stories, but none of them has as yet
been confirmed. 1t Is certain, however,
that even the worst cannot be imagined.
"Two-story houses, barns, smokehouses
and whole forests of trees, railroad
bridges, county bridges, RATS, inverted
skiffs and driftwood by the acre are
floating down the river, from all of which
imploring hands are held out to those on
the banks, willing but impotent to help.