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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1889)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE EIGHTEENTH YEAR OIMAHA THURSDAY , MOKNING , JTFNE C , 1889. DUMBER 355 MARTIAL LAW IN JOHNSTOWN A Great Demand For Laborers and No Loafers Wanted. ONE THOUSAND FUNERALS. With Mttlo Formality nnil With But Few Mourners tlio Nhinclcss Dctid Arc Hnrrlcil Un der Ground. Tlio Work or RclloP. JOHNSTOWN , Pn. , Juno 5. Six days liavo elapsed stnco tha great disaster nnd tlin tem perature remains low nnd chilly in the Cono- tnnugh valloy. When It Is remembered that In the ordinary Juno weather of this locality from two to three days nro sufficient to bring an unattended body to n degree of decay nnd putrefaction that would render It almost impossible to prevent the spread of disease throughout the valley , the inestimable bene fits of this cool weather are almost beyond appreciation. The emanations from the half rallo of debris , above the bridge , are but lit tle more offensive than yestordaynnd should this cool weather rontinuo n few days longer It Is possible that hundreds of bodies may yet bo recovered from the wreck in such n state of preservation as to render identifica tion possible. The work of clearing up the wreck nnd recovering the bodies Is nowbolnir conducted most systematically. Over BIX thousand men nro at work In various portions of the vnlloy , and each gang of twenty men Is directed by a foreman , who Is under orders from general headquarters. As the rubbish Is gone over , and the bodies and scattered articles of value recovered , the debris Is piled and burned. In this way the vnlloy Is assuming n less devastated condi tion. In twcnty.four hours moro every mass of rubbish will probably have been searched and the Investigation will then bo confined to Tin : SMOKING wuncK above the Johnstown bridge. The Pitts- burgers nro now In solo charge of every thing at this place. NO IIIOT3 AND LYXCIIINOB , The general sent the following telegram to Governor Beaver this morning : ' The chief of police of Johnstown In forms mo there were no depredations last night and everything is quiet this morning. The stories about riots nnd lynchlngs are untrue and uro sent out by people who are desirous of making sensations. " At Johnstown , station on the cast side of the river , Is tlio chief commissary station. This morning by 2 o'clock 15,000 people were fed and about six hundred families were furnished with provisions. Flvoicarloads of clothing were distributed nnd now almost everyone Is provided with ciothintr. At the different registration places 18.000 residents of the devastated district had registered. The total population of this dis trict was between forty nnd fl/ty thousand. There were hundreds of people waiting around the ofllces to have their names placed on the list of. saved. It Is thought that by to-morrow night at least 85 per cent of the survivors will be registered. EXAOnilllATCH STOKIKS OP THIEVING. Roger O'Mara , chief of police of Plttsburg , Who has been here for two days look ing for crooks and pickpockets , said the reports about robborles nnd thieving wcro greatly exaggerated. Said ho : "There are no professional thieves in Johnstown and this is not the place whore they would bo likely to work. They may couio up in the crowded trains nnd rob the passengers , yet they would be Just as likely to help with work hero ns not. No professional thief would work the dead hero , as there is little or nothing for them to gain and there are ao many police that it would bo almost Impossi ble to evade detection. All the liltlo thieving that has been done has boon done by a lot of tramps nnd bums. One thing I notice hero Is that there nre too many relief committees and not enough workers. What Is needed hero is people with picks and shovels and they are badly needed. " nuNimras OF WOHKCIIS AIIIHVK. This morning 1,100 men arrived here , and by 11 o'clock they had succeeded in doing more work at clearing away the debris than has Been done heretofore. Sovonty- llvo carpenters and twenty carloads of pro visions' catno up with tlio laboring men. This morning another delegation of workmen came up from Braddock , each man bringing tools with which to go to work immediately. The adjutant-general stated to the Associated Dress that this kind of men were wanted here , and too many can not be sent. Thirty doctors arrived Iroin Philadelphia this morn ing ; They were thanked for their willing ness to help , , but their services were declined from the fact there nro 110 sick to care for. TWELVE TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND LOST. Conservative men nro of the opinion that the number of people destroyed will reach from twclvo to fifteen thousand. Tills IE baaed upon fragments or evidence obtained from over n hundred persons , care being ta ken to select as intelligent men and women as could bo found. They were chosen from as many occupatlonB as possible and many social classes. They were asked tc estimate the percentage of loss of the tola ! population ; to toll how many people of their ucquuintnnccs have disappeared ; how gath erings of residents on the streets and , In pub lie places compare with the same In forinci times. Their statements of facts anil estimates wcro proved , as far as could be , and the calculation seems to run between twelve to llftecn thousand , It must bo re inouiborcd that u Inrgo proportion of the loss is made up of children. In the morgue the little ones He in dozens whore adults nro In half dozens , Hut there is and has been much greater dlftlculty In recovering the bodies of children , Being lighter and smaller they were often swept into out of the way re cesses that were almost Inaccessible , nnd n very great proportion of the chlldrci have been swept down the river nnd their bodies driven In , under overhanging banks It Is the opinion among Intelligent men physicians , engineers , railroad men am others that from a thousand to lifted hundred bodies will never be found. MOIIK MOSBY MII : : > EI ) . At 11 o'clock Adjutant-General Hastings sent the following telegram to Governor Heaver : "Fully three thousand men are nt worl clean HIT off tliu debris. Bodies arc now being rescued In larco numbers. The citl zcns' ronnnlttco htiu organized and the worl U systematized , A detachment o twenty nuiii of the Fourteenth regi ment wan detailed last night to guard the supply trains , Provisions are pour Ing in and it is dilllcult to take care ot them. There Is no suffcrlm , from want of food or shelter. Contributions of uionuy uro more desirable tlmu anything else , " The state onlcers of the Uo.vnl Arcanum are horu und have called n meeting for tills afternoon nt Prospect lull. Tlmv will nro vldn for the families of the victims of tin. Hood who were mem tiers. I'll'TV MOIIK IIODIEB FOUND. At 1:15 : this afternoon lifty bodies were taken from the debris of the Catholic churcl in Johnstown borough. About ilfty of the bodies wcro these of women. They were immediately removed to tlio morgue foridcn tlUaitlou , IICCKMSSS MIUTAUY MIIX. Some over-zealous local military men mused considerable excitement near the Worrell institute in Johnstown proper ml ! morning by firing upon some men employed by the citizens' committee to rescue the dead. . The BOldlera told them to ccaso work , und upon their refusal llred. but did not hit them , The matter wua reported to General Hastings - ings , who stated that the nhoDlcra would be conrt-murtiu'.cd if caught. THE \VOHK OF IlttHAIII. Assistant Superintendent Stoner , of the railroad , arrived from Puila- dclphla last night , having mndo his way overland , in wagons.-from Edonsburg pike , starting last Thursday. In an interview Slonor said : / "Wo have hired all the teams In Blair , Cambria , Indiana and Edons burg counties wo could possibly got , nnd will , transport nil the passengers in this manner from Kdonsburg to Johns town. The entire force from tlio Altoona shops , 0,000 in number , have been ordered to the sccno of the washout nnd will work until the entire division is repaired. The entire portion of the road which suffered from the flood will bo In good running shape In a few weeks at the latest. " Clara Barton , of Washington , the origi nator of the well-known Keel Cross corps , nr- rived hero this morning nnd will nt once assume - sumo charge of all the female relief corps. Hundreds of the employes of the Cambria works' employes are at work to-day clearing away the debris , and there ls much com plaint over the conduct of the Iron company officials In taking their men oft the gen eral work to their own promises. The ofllcors of the company Justify their ac tion on the ground that the sooner they get their works In operation the better It will bo for the community. CLKAniKO UP. Whore Johnstown's principal stores stood , last Friday , are now pitched 1,000 tents , nnd before to-morrow night this number will probably bo doubled. Under this shelter nro nccomodatcd the members of the mllltln and thousands of workmen who are trying to clear the streets of this wreickeel city. Over llvo thousand men are thus employed in Johnstown proper , about fifteen hundred of thcso being regular street hands , hired by contractors , the others being volunteers. William Flynn , of Pittsburg , contractor , arrived in the wrecked city Jthls morning , nnd at once tookchnrgoof the army of labor ers. In an Interview ho told of the work that has to bo done. The contractor's esti mates show more than anything the chaotic condition of this city. "It will take 10,000 men thirty days to clear the ground so the streets will bo passa- able , and the work of rebuilding can bo com menced , " said ho , "and I am at n loss to know how the work Is to bo done. This en thusiasm will soon dlo out , nnd the volun teers will want to return home. It would take all summer for my men alone to do what work U necessary. Stops must betaken taken at once to furnish gangs of workmen , nnd to morrow I shall send a communication to the Pittsburg chamber of commerce ask ing the different manufacturers of the Ohio valley to taltn turns for a month or so In furnishing reliefs of workmen. These gangs should come for a week at u time , as no or ganization can bo effected if the workmen arrive and leave when they please. " voi.uxTnr.B3 are doing noble work. Nearly every town In western Pennsylvania is represented by from 10 to 100 men , and many towns in Ohio and New York also furnish a quota of labor ers. These volunteers are working with a will , but before the end of the week they will want to return home. Men who como hero will be paid $2 a day nnd board , All laborers who have been toiling with the wcckasc are quartered to night , some In barns and others iu the tents above referred to. LIKE AHMY TIMES. It was a sccno ns of army life at the time that supper was roadv , and the long pine ta bles wcro crowded with men. Coffee , bread and cheese was the faro to-night , but more substantial rations will bo given out to-mor row. As darkness drew a veil over the scene the valley became quiet , the only noise being the occasional challenge of a militia man as ho bade some belated individual obey the orders of tbo sheriff and leave the city of the dead. Johnstown is under MARTIAL LAVT , and laborers only nro wanted. The relief work has been so systematized that there is no danger of any confusion. At the several distributing depots hundreds as sembled this morning , at noon and at night , and forming in line were all supplied with provisions. Many women with fam ilies are given bread butter , cheese , ham , canned moats , tea or coffee and sugar , and unmarried applicants are sup plied with sliced bread und butter , or sand wiches. The action of the authorities , yes terday , in consolidating all authority nnd vesting it in J. B. Scott , of Pittsburg , as dictator , is received with favor on all hands. Dictator Scott has taken hold of the stu pendous task imposed upon himwith energy , nnd already has mapped out his work and assigned the direction of various portions of it to men equally zealous. Scott , in an inter view , said ho proposed to clear the town of all wreckage and debris of all descriptions and turn the townsito over to thocitlzons when ho has completed his work , clean and free from obstructions of till kinds. In a conversation , to-day , Superintendent Duncan , of the Johnstown Street railway , and a loading citizen of the place , declared that immediate measures will be taken in the direction of rebuilding. This will bo a gigantic and costly work , but Duncan expects to sno a now city spring from the ruins of Johnstown. The work of reconstructing the road bed and relaying the tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad Is being pushed forward vigorously , and already trains are running down to the passenger station , while construction trains are able to go < : onsidorubly further. Although the loss of the Cambria City Iron company will foot up Into the millions , the destruction of their plant IB not as bad as apprehended nnd reported nt first , and officers of the company now say they expect to resume operations within thirty dayti. Till ! UliLIIU' THAIN8. The sight of the long relief trains rolling Into Johnstown over both railroads from every section of the country almost every hour of the twenty-four , tends to make the observer conclude that charity , whether Christian or not. is not so rare under the sun as the cynic philosopher would have us believe. Tim registration of survivors goes on , but not so rapidly us yesterday. The total reg istration to date Is only n trifle over 12,000 , out of a total estimated population in the tor rent-swept district of from S5,000 to 40,000 last Friday. Allowance must be made , of course , for the large number of survivors who sought refuge with friends In other places , as well as many who have failed , either from Ignorance or remission , to regie- tcr. But the fulling off to-day leads the au thorities to apprehend that the worst fears may yet bo realized , and that the death roll will mount sadly up in the live figures. A THOUSAND l'UNKHAI.8. The gray inlsta had scarcely risen from the hills this morning uiitll a thousand funerals were covering their grcensido. There were no hearses , few mourners and as little so lemnity ns formality. Instead of six pall bearers to ono coflln there were six coffins to onn team. No minister of God was there to pronounce the last blessing as the clods rat tled down , except a few faithful priests who hud followed some mangled representatives of their faith to the grave. All day long corpses were being hurried below ground. Tlie unidentified bodies were grouped on n high hill west of the doomed city , where ono epitaph must do for all , and that is the word ' UNKNOWN. " Thbro are thousands of these graves al ready , und each ; day will increase the pro portion. The possibility of Identification diminishes every hour. Fires nre raging over the graves of hundreds , and the partial cremation of many bodies Is inevitable. Although Urn funerals of the morning ro- 1 loved the morgues of their trust , before night they were ) as full of the dead us ever , The enormity of the devastation wrought by the Conumaugh flood is becoming more and moro apparent with every effort of the la borers to resolve order out of chaos. Over a hundred men have been engaged all day iu the effort to clear the narrow passage from the bridge upward through the sea of debris that blocks the Conomaugh for nearly half a mile. Kvery ingenuity known to man has been resorted to by this crowt Glnnt powder ttiiel dynamite ) Lfivej uOun brought. Into requisition , anil at fre quent Intervals the roar of explosions re verberated through the valleys , and sticks , btoncs nnd logs would ttf high. In the air , Gradually a few of the heaviest timbers were demolished and the fragments permit ted to float downward through the ccntei arch. At nightfall , however , the clear space1 about the bridge did not exceed an area ol nuo feet in length by 40 ft-ut in width. Whe-i inn. ' reflects that fully twcuty-li vo acre * ur < o bo cleared In this way , the task ahead scorns nn Interminable one , but there Is no royal road , nnd If the hundreds or thousands of bodies beneath thcso blackened ruins nro o bo recovered for Christian burial the la bors of to-day must bo continued with In creased vigor. SENTIMENT VS SCIENCE , There are many conservative minds thnt recommend the use of the torch In this work of clearing the river , but they arc not among lie sufferers , and when such counsels nro icard by thoao whoso wives , children , sis- : crs or brothers rest beneath this sea of lotsnm nnd Jetsam , the suggestions of cre mation moots Indignant objection. It Is only in deference to the unreasoning man date of grief that the herculean labor of clearing the river by means of dynamite and derricks is persisted In. There Is no hope In ; alinor minds thnt this task can bo pursued to the end. The progress of to-day Is hardly dlscornablo nnd ore two moro dnys have elapsed there Is little doubt the emanations of the putrid bodies will hnvo become so frightful as to drive the hardiest workmen from the sccno. Until that time arrives , however , there is no hope that this stricken populace will abandon the cherished hope of again gazing upon the forms of loved ones whoso lives wont out la the lira and Hood of Concmaugh. The pleadings of sanitarians nnd the logic of engineers , alike fall to find . clio In the minds of the grieving and af- llctcd , but m a few moro days the sterner ogle of nnturo will assert itself , and crcma- .ion will become n Christian duty. MOIIE HEM * Notwithstanding the fact that nearly nvery prominent city In the United States Is rais ing funds for the relief of the sufferers , the wants of the homeless and nflllctcd nro far From bcincnlloviatcd. At the various sta tions , to-day , the crowds of appllcantsjwcro continuous from morning till night , nnd many of the needy were forced to wait In Hue for hours before their turn came , nnd their little portion was allotted to them. Hundreds of thousands of dollars must pour into this stricken vnlloy If positive suffering nnd privation Is to bo avoided. Labor and manufacturing of nearly every kind is at a standstill in the vnlloy , and weeks or months must elapse before the Cambria Iron works and other Industrial institutions can possibly resume anil give employment to the thousands that depend upon them for support. TWO HUNDRED I10DIES were recovered from the rulus to-day. Some wcro idontlllcd , but the great majority were not. This number included all the morgues , the ono n't the Pennsylvania railroad station , the Fourth ward school , the Cambria City , Morrollvillo , ICernvlllo nnd Presby terian church , At the latter place n remarkable state of affairs ex ists. The first floor has been washed out completely , and the second , while submerged , was badly damaged but not ' ruinc'd. The lloors nnd pows were drenched and mud has collected on the matting nnd carpets an inch deep. Walking is attended with difficulty , and undertakers nnd attend ants with arms Dared slide about the slip pery surface at a tremendous rate. The chancel is filled with coffins , strips of mus lin , boards and all undertaking nccosor- ics ; lying across the tops of pows , are a dozen pine boxes , each contning a victim of the flood. Printed cards nro tacited on each. Upon them the sex and full description of the enclosed body Is written , with the name , if known. THE UNDEHTAKEIIS1 LUNCH. Ono of the most grizzly nnd nauseating sights to these unaccustomed to scenes of death is the lunching arrangement for the undertakers. These men uro working so hard nnd conscientiously they they hnvo no time for meals , und huce boilers of steaming colTce , loaves of bread , dried beef and preserves aro.carrled into the charncl houses and placed at the disposal of the workers. Along comes one of the weary tellers , his sleeves rolled up , apron in front and perspiring prolusely despite the damp weather. Ho has Just finished washine a clammy corpse , and has daubed it with cold water , manipulated It about on boards , and , in the Interval before the body of another poor wretch is brought in , gets a cup of coffee nnd a sandwich. With dripping hands he eats his lunch with relish , setting his cup occasionally beside the hideous face of a decomposing corpse , und totally obvious to his horrible surroundings. TIII : ciiANicr rienACHEn. At tbo Fourth ward school house , where most of the undertaking work is being done , there was some slight trouble over the ques tion of liquor. Kev. Mr. Heal , of the Presbyterian church , has charge of this morgue and objected to the undertaker drinking whisky. Inasmuch as n man with a cast iron constitution could not work at anything in this place without a stimulant of some kind the undertakers protested against Bcal's unreasonable prejudice , it Is said , und threatened to cease attending the bodies. This had the effect of modifying Bcal's temperance scruples. A OLOOMY OUTLOOK. As the days roll on and the heaps of debris are penetrated , it becomes more and more apparent that the death list will bo moro than llvo thousand , and the general Im pression Is that the victims will number between eight and ten thousand. The deeper the wreck drifts nro penetrated the greater the number discovered. On Franklin street thirteen were found in a cluster to-day , and a few minutes afterwards twelve moro wore found. Dr. Leo , of the Pennsylvania state board of health , was to-day naked what in his opinion wcro the prospects of an epi demic in the Conomaugh valley. Ho said : God only knows. No man living csn toll what will coma out of those piles of drift and wreckage. To-day wo started a portion of our corps of sanitary inspectors into the thick debris and in a little while the bodies of lifty dead animals , mostly horses , were ro- inovcu and hauled away for burial. If this percentage is kept up hero , there is u fearful amount of decomposing animal matter to bo removed or encountered. I have to-day ordered the surgeon general nt Wash ington to forward unlimited quantities of disinfectants to Johnstown. There is moro promised from up tbo mountain , nnd I hope to bo able to have the whole city fortified Inside of a few days , FITTY IN ONI : IIOOM , A house to house canvass was ordered by the sanitary authorities to-day , nnd its reve lations , so tar ns it went , were startling In the extreme. It was found that four und even six families are being crowded Into a Hinglo house ; that us high as fifty slept iu one room ; that the doors nnd windows were loft closed to shut out the Blench nnd the dampness , and that as n result , pneumonia ( the existence was first discovered by the Associated press correspondent ) , wns gain ing an alarming foothold. It in estimated there are nt least n hundred well defined cases of the disease in Johnstown to-day. A FALSE ItU.MOIi. Investigation shows there Is no truth In the report that nt Phllllpsburg yesterday there had been great loss of llfo , and that 213 bodies were recovered. AMIUtlCANS AIUtOAI ) ACTING. Subscriptions JIniicloel In JTty Trav elers nnel Chnrltnblo Foreigner * * , { Copyright J8S3 tni Jamc * ( loitlnn JJcniKtM LONDON , Juno 5. fNow York Herald Cable Special to THE Bic. : | The London editor of the Herald has received the fol lowing contributions for the relief of the sufferers by the floods : Duke of Newcastle , 15 ; L. S. D. , 1 ; and Montague Maries , 2. Nothing official has1 yet been done by the American legation to help the sufferers , in Pennsylvania , over which sorrow has just now thrown Its sombre shadow ; nevertheless the Americans are showing their practical sympathy with the unhappy people whoto homes and lives have been ruined so end- denly , Minister Lincoln received tbo follow ing subscriptions , yesterday : Frank Wil liam Jones , 100 ; Anson Phelps Stokes , 100 ; Charles H. Marshall , 50. These sums have been deposited with Messrs. K. S. Morgan & Co. , and will bo forwarded to Philadelphia. A number of o tier subscriptions have ulso been received 'rom Americans temporarily resident in Lon don , towards relief fund raised for sufferers > y the recent flood In Conomaugh Valloy. Mr. Boll , general manager of the Lion fire Insurance company , yesterday , sent the 'ollowlng cablegram to the president of the Jnltcd State * : "Tho directors of the Lion Flro Insurance- company , limited , desire to contribute $1,000 to the roltof fund for the sufferers by the flood. " The members of the London stock ex change , hearing thnt Tom NIcKolls had cabled 1,000 to Now York , In aid of the sufferers , Immediately opened n subscription nnd already 1,600 have boon collected , which will en able Mr. NlckolU to send a further sum of C500. A long cable was , to-day , received from the mayor of New York , thanking tile subscribers for their kindness nnd gene rosity. the Sail Intelligence. \CopyrlaM \ tSS3 l > u Jama Gordon Hemittt.1 QUEBNSTOWN , Ire. , Juno fi. [ Now York Herald Cable Special to Tun Br.n. | The : ntnau line steamer City of Now York ar rived at Quecnstown this evening. She had on board 630 American passengers , many of whom came from Pittsburg , A most affecting scone was witnessed when they read the newspapers containing accounts of the awful disaster in Pennsyl vania. The papers were purchased at the rate of n shilling each. The American Colony in Paris. ICopi/rfnM 1SSS by Jitnrei Qonlon Hemicit.1 PAUIS , Juno fi. [ Now York Herald Cable Special to THE BEB. | A meeting was called by the United States minister , yester day afternoon , to tune steps toward express ing the sympathy of the Americans in Paris with the sufferers by the calamity in Penn sylvania. It was very lareoly attended , by nearly nil the prominent members of the American colony , as 'well as many tempo rarily In the capital. Whltolaw Held was called on to preside , and explained the objects of the meeting In feeling terms. Resolutions were presented by Andrew Carnegie , which were unanimously adopted. They not only expressed dec ] ) sympathy with the sufferers , promising to send money immediately for the pressing needs of these who have lost their all. Among them was the following : "Hesolved , That , ns American citizens , wo congratulate them upon , and thank them for the numerous acts of heroism displayed under circumstances calculated * to unnerve the bravest. Especially do wo , admire them for the capacity shown for local self-government upon which the stability of republican insti tutions depends ; the military organization sent from distant points to pre serve order during the chaos that supervened having been returned to their homes as no longer required within forty- eight hours of the calamity. In these few hours the civil power recreated and asserted itself and resumed sway without the aid of counsel from distant authorities , but safely by and from the inherent power which ro- malns in the people of Johnstown them selves. " Speeches were made by General Alex R. Lawton , ex-minister of the United States to Austria ; General Meredith Reed , and ex- Mayor Hewitt , of Now York. Nnto Salis bury , In a few words , in the name of Colonel Cody , offered to give nn exhioltion of the Wild West , the entire proceeds to go to tlio fund raised iu Paris for the Johnstown sufferers. This generous offer was received with hearty npplausa : , A s'pocial committee was appointed to act with Mr. Salisbury and his associates to prepare the details of this bcnetlt. The chairman also appointed committee , consisting of J. II. Hayes , John Sollgman Evans and Nate Salisbury , to take charge of all moneys raised by subscription and for ward the same promptly to Pennsylvania. The resolutions were cabled to the mayors of Johnstown nnd Philadelphia , to show the sufferers that the Americans in Paris are not unmindful , in the midst of pleasures , of the duty of sympathy with. such distressing cir cumstances. Meantime a subscription has been opened , and ox-Mayor Hewitt started it with a largo sum , others quickly followed his example , and in n very few minutes a largo amount was subscribed. The Paris municipal coun cil , Friday , voted 5,000 francs to aid the suf ferers. _ Ianmq ; Greater Tlmn Itnpnrtctl. HUNTINOTON , Pn. , Juno 5. Late news from the suburban districts of this county , Just received , show the destruction to prop erty by the flood ns infinitely gfcater than at first reported. The waters are receding , nnd couriers have arrived bearing news of the unprecedented flood from Bedford to Huntington - ington , on the Roystown branch , and on to Lewistown , on the Juiilata river. The devastation Is greatest in central tral Pennsylvania , except , of course , Johnstown. Not a house Is loft that stood within reach ol the swollen stream. The damage to property will reach (000,000 , while other towns iu the county have Buffered considerably. At Mupleton the immense tannery of L. A. Houorts was damaged to the extent of ? 200,000 , nnd the loss to other property will reach S100.UOO moro. The Powell furnace nt Saxton sustained a loss of ? ; jX,000 ( ) , and at that place both the railroad bridges wcro swept away , leaving railroad comunlcatlon with Bedford cut off , For a distance of miles below hero the Pennsylvania trucks nro de stroyed. with the brideos gone nt Manayunk und Lewistown. the latter having gone down during the lieavy storm last night. Growing crops in the low lands were destroyed und in Smith's valley , this county , farming lands , comprising an area of twelve by two miles have bccrr stripped of every Vestige of soil. So far us known UOO houses have been destroyed in this county. Three families , comprising sixteen persons , living on the Hoystown branch , are missing und it is feared have been swept away with their homes. An Appeal to CincAno , Juno 5. The following was sent out by Grand Master J. C. Smith , of the Free Masons of Illinois , to-day : To the Masonic Fraternity : Remember ing with heurtfolt gratitude the generous bounty of our Pennsylvania brethren when Chicago lay in ashes , the Free Masons of Illinois are now 'called upon tc aid the afflicted craftsmen in the Conomaugh valley of that state. As the destruction of tlio imperial city ol Chicago was a national 'calamity and the greatest disaster by fire { hut lius ever befal len the Anglo-Saxon rnce. so Is the flood In fair Conemuugh valley of Pennsylvania the greatest of its kind that has over befallen our people. Your grand .master has just returned - turned from Pittsburg , , where ho was nt the tluio of this terrible flood , nnd knows personally of the great loss of prop erty and greater loss of llfu. Ho can tnero < fore moro intelligently appeal to you on behalf < half of the brothers of Johiibtown and vicinity. You ur6 requested w con tribute according to your means ol the generous county un All-Wise Providence hau voflchsafcd you that our brethren may be afforded some relief from their Bufferings by hunger or the Inclemency of the weather. Make your contributions In money and send by draft , express or money order to Wlloy M , Kgan. grand treasurer , chamber of com merce , Chicago. Dead In n Cabin , WILLIAMSPOUT , Pa. , Juno 5. At Little Trout Run , on I3lg Pine creek , six men had been employed peeling bark. Since the wutct subsided search was made for the men , and all were found In their cabin drowned. The city continues In darkness. This oycnine on Kecviul l'uv \ JOHN II OBERU RESIGNS , The Indian Oommlsslonor Will Stop Down July 1. THE OMAHA POSTOFFICE SITE. It Will Ito Sottlcif Some Tlmo Tills Week Kx-ConjrrosBinnn Xliomas Mentioned For Imnel Com missioner. WASHINGTON BDIIBAU , Tim OMAHA. URB , ) 513 FoUUTKENTnSTtBr.T , > WASHINGTON , U. C. . Juno 6.1 The secretory of the Interior has accepted the resignation of John H , Obcrly , commis sioner of Indian affairs , to take effect July 1. Supervising Architect Wlndrlm said to TUG BBC correspondent this afternoon : "I intend to lay the report of Assist- out Secretaries Batchollor nnd Tlchenor and myself , nnd lso of Clerk Avery , on the Omaha pablio building site before Secretary Wlndom on Thursday or Friday of this week , and I have no doubt ho will pass upon It without delay. Clerk A very is in Washing ton now. Ho has Just returned from Omaha. No further Information Is necessary to en able Secretary Wlndom to take final notion. " Mr. Avery Is now at work upon his report , which Is based upon Information ho obtained on his recent visit to Omaha , nnd It is under stood n verdict has been ranched , and that It only lacks the official signature of Win Jam to make It finnl and ofllulnl. OLAHKSON CLEANING HOUSE. The carpets xvero taken up in the private ofllco of First Assistant Postmaster-General Clarkson , to-day , and it cost several hundred appointments to fourth class postmasters. There was n suspension of the appointments at ho time , and a great crowd congregated around the hallways Impatiently viewing the work of the carput beaters. Postmasters who want extra allowance for clerk hire nnd for extra duties should make their applica tions immediately , so that they can bo con sidered in time to come in at the end of this month , which finishes the present fiscal year. I'lKH'S Al'l'EAL. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Chand ler has rendered n decision in the appeal of of Lobridgo M. Pike , from the decision of the general land ofllco , March 20 , 1SSS , in the contest of Pike vs Sidney S. Bradley , can celling Pike's timber culture entry No.118 , Sioux City scries , for the north } < / of the southeast } of section 23 , township DO north , range 42 west , DCS Moincs land district .ami reinstating Brudloy's timber culture entry No. 2.V1 , for the described tract. In Septem ber , 1SS3 , Bradley brought suit against John H. Brokaiio to recover rents for the use and occupancy of the tract described , and while the suit was pending Pike intervened nnd on trial in the circuit court of O'Brien county , la. . Pike's testimony , and that of Brokano and other witnesses was taken iu Pike's behalf - half , and upon this testimony the Jury de cided in favor of Bradley. The assistant secretary Is satisfied that Bradley has been imposed upon. THE Al'l'EAL CASK OF THE 0. n. & Q. In the appeal case of the Chicago , Burling ton & Quincy Railroad company from the decision of the commissioner of the general land ofllco , Secretary of the Interior Noble to-day ordered thai the company's applica tions should bo allowed and the list should ho submitted' for approval as soon as practicable. The commissioner of the general land office , by'letter of July 28 , 1S8S , transmitted the testimony taken at the hearing had , in pur suance of the directions in the departmental decision of March 'JO , 18SS , for certification of the southwest ! f of the southeast X of section 7 , township 71 , north ranzo 23 west , und the northeast ft of the southwest % of section tl , township 70 , north range ! ! 0 west , DCS Moincs , la. , land district. These tracts were offered forsalo m 1850 , nnd on Novem ber 23 , 1851 , Jeremiah Shcphnrd ( lied a pre emption , declaratory statement for thosouth- wcst lunrter of the southeast quarter of sec tion 0 , township 71 north , range twenty-eight west , together with othnr lands. On Octo ber 4 , 1854 , Daniel Strickland filed a pre emption declaratory statement for the north- cast quarter of the southwest quarter of sec tion 11 , township 73 north , ranco 80. Final proof bus never been offered in either of these filings , but they both remain uncan- celled on record. The Culcaeo , Burlington & Quincy Railroad company , us successors to the Burlington & Missouri Railroad com pany , claims thcso tracts under the grant of May 15 , 1856 , to the state of Iowa , and on December 17 , 1878 , applied to have them certified. These lands fall within the grant limits of said roads , as shown by a map of dcllnito location , April 7 , 1S57. The com- misslouer of the general land ofllco. In n letter of July SI , 1884 , held that the company must prove that these pre emption claims were abandoned prior to the dellnito location of its road , before the tracts could bo approved for UH benefit , they being within the six-mile limit of its grant. The company furnishes affidavits to meet thcso requirements. On March H. 1SSO , the gen eral land ofllco decided that those tracts could not , under the rule of that office , bo convoyed to the company , notwithstanding the ovidcnco rurnlshcd of abandonment by the parties making the HHngs , prior to the railroad grant. The tracts involved wore , at the dates of the respective pro-cmption filing , subject to private entry , and proof in support of such filings should , under the law , have boon submitted within twelve months nttcr settlement. This period had long expired before the definite location of the road. The secretary of the Interior holds that under thcso circumstances the company was , under the practice then existing , required as' a conditional precedent to the passing of title , to.show that no pre-emption ritilit to said tracts existed at the date of the definite loca tion of Its rond. This has been done to the satisfaction of the office. AI'PCAI.S I'llOM DECISIONS. The lund case of Curl Clark against J. F. Ilawllnu's , on appeal from the latter from the decision of the commissioner of the gen eral land'ofllco of May 23. IbSS , holding for cancclatlon the homestead entry of Raw- lings for the northeast quarter of section 1J ! , township east 3 north , ranco 2U west , Mc- Coou , Nob. , land district ; the secretary of the interior to-day bunded down a decision , in which ho afllrmod the decision of tlio gen eral land office. Rawllng.1 mndo a home stead entry for the tract In dispute on March 22 , 18S4 , and on September It ) , 1SS1 , made a commution proof before the local ollleers , but ho did not offer to pay for the land , and his proof was not acted upon , but simply hold by the local ofllcors. On Juno 17 , 1SS5 , he filed an affidavit in the local of fice , stating that he had not until that time been nole to get the money , and asking that his said proofs bo then considered nnd accepted , In order to suvo him the expanse of roadvertising In making new proof. This the local officers declined to do , but on the sumo day forwarded tlio proof to the general laud office. The commissioner refused to render a decision on the fuels presented , and demanded additional Information , Rawllnga answered that ho had not abandoned the laud as his homo , und hud been absent no more than his employment ns engineer on u railroad necessitated. Before the decision was rendered Clark instituted a contest nllcg < Ing abandonment und failure to reside upon the lands us required by law. The local land officers decided in favor of the contestants , nnd on appeal the general lund ofllco af firmed the decision , The bubstanco of the specifications of error urged In the appeal from the decision of the commissioner is that the same is contrary to and not supported by the evidence. Secretary Noble reviews the case at length. DANIEL ouiiHNfcin's CASK. First Assistant Secretary of the Interior Chandler , to-day , affirmed the decision of thu general land ofllco iu holding for cancella tion the homestead entry of Daniel Guern sey , for north half of northeast quarter , and north half of northwest quarter of section 11 , township S north , range 1)7 ) west , McCook , Nob. , laud district , Guernsey mudo home stead entry on March 20 , 1SS4 , and Juno 4 , 18SU. A f pccial agent of the general laud -4 = ! - office reported that ho had mndo personal examination , nnd found no Improvements upon the tract , except n very small board shanty , cheap and uninhabitable , having ono window , from which the glass was nearly all jrokcn out , nnd nothing at all in the shanty. Upon this report the entry wns hold for can cellation. Plaintiff's council insisted that nnsmuch as the ontryman Is a citizen of this "glorious republic. " nnd "among the llrst to : > rlng into civilization that small portion of the great American desert , " thnt this tract should bo nwnrdcd to him , Asslslnnt Sec retary Chandler replies to this appeal for sympathy by saying : "While great credit is duo the zeal manifested by the pioneer of civilization , and duo consideration should bo given to the toll , privations nnd hardships which ho has undergone and endured , yet it will not do to lose sight of , or ignore , the net under which the ontrymnn is seeking to avail himself of the boncllt of the bounty of the government. The law Is a Jealous and con servative mistress , blind to every other con sideration than the observance of its mandate , " THOMAS roil THE LANO rricn. Ex-Congressman John R. Tlwnas , of Illinois , Is being talked of very freely now Tor the commlsslonershlp of the general land ofllcc. Ho has boon offered the assistant commlsMonshin , but declined It , , nnd it Is now said that he Is slated for commissioner. MiscniHNious. : Washington I. Wcrrlck , of Iowa , wns to day appointed a special timber agent of the Interior department with a salary of $1,300 a year and traveling expenses. AIIMY MATTKRS. With the approval of the secretary of war leave of abscnco for live months , to tuko ef fect on or about Juuo 15 , Is granted Captain Daniel Robinson , Seventh Infantry. Sergeant Thomat Casey , company I , Eighth Infnntry , now with his company at Fort Robinson , is transferred to company B , First infantry , ns a private , and will bo sent to the station of that company at 'Fort Gaston , Cal. Lieutenant Boucstool , of the Twenty-first infantry , left for New York this afternoon to witness the marriage of his sister. TCIISONAL. J. , T. Barker , of Nebraska , called upon President Harrison today.Puniix Puniix S. HEATH. WESTBUN PACKING 1NTKUKSTS. The ninrlcctincr of HOJIS Knirly Ijlu- oral the I'nst Week. CINCINNATI , Juno u. [ Special Tolcgram to THE Bci ; . ] To-morrow's Pnco-Currcnt will say : The marketing of hogs in the west has been fairly llberal the past week , some what exceeding the preceding week nnd con siderably ir. excess of the corresponding titno last year. Packing returns show 255,000 , handled for the week , against 2-10,000 the preceding week and 210,000 last year from March I. The total Is 2,715,000 , against 2tSO,000 : a year ngo. The Chief Too Conservative For the CHICAGO , Juno n. This evening's Journal says : There is trouble in the ranks of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Chlof Arthur is a candidate for re-election and as such has been making a quiet canvass of the various lodges of the brotherhood. Last week a secret meeting for this purpose was held in this city , There were upwards of 200 members present , representing lodges In Illinois. Michigan , Indiana , Iowa and Wisconsin ; and with their defeat by the "Q , " a momentarily expected reduction 01 wages on the Santa Fo and the recent discharge of a large num ber of brotherhood men by the Alton frcsli la their minds they wore not at all satisfied with the chief's optimistic : speech. A mem ber of the general grievance committee , ad' dressing Chief Arthur , said : "A reJuction of waucs is expected to be made before long on a number of western roads. Such action wo do not propose to ac cept , because wo do not , believe It Justified. Wo therefore desire to know whether in the event of a reduction bamR ordered despite our opposition , you would sanction a strike I" Chief Arthur did not like-the question , but saw there was no help for it , and answered : "Undor no condition of circumstances ol which I can conceive shall I ever sanction another strike. " "But , sir , " broke in the questioner , "sup pose a reduction of wages should occur on the Union Pacific system , where the brother' hood Is so thoroughly equipped as to obtain the granting of everything they ask , would you authorize a strike to resist it ? " Without a moment's hesitation the chief replied : "No , air : I would not. 1 trust 1 buliovo that no reduction of wugcs is to be made , but should there bo , and they follow my advice , they will accept the reduction , I shall never sanction another strike. " Chl'jl ' Arthur stopped and the meeting adjourned. Murmurs of discontent have been hcarc ever since. It was known that the chief had a strong dislike for strikes , but that his con sorvatisin wi.s so extreme as his speed showed It to bo it was never dreamed. OllOMN'S FOUlSBOmXGS. Several WltneascN Testify to Ills Fein of Alexander Sullivan. CHICAGO , June 5. Just before the Inqucs over Dr. Cronln was ended for the day , tin books of the Traders' bank , of Chicago , wen brought Into the court room by order o Judge Shepard. Byron Q. Smith , receive ] of the bank , was present to explain thch bearing on the caso. By cheeks on file ami ledger entries It was shown that In the sum mer of 18SU Alexander had altogethot-iSlOO.OOi in the bank. Of this money $10,000 anil more was an Individual account The rest was credited to "Alexander Sulll- vnn , agent. " By September , 1SS2 , this mono : had been drawn out on checks mudo pnyubh to J. T. Lester & Co. , brokers. It Is the intention of the coroner to sum mon a member of the firm to probe tin matter further. Patrick McGarry , Michael Barry , Maurici Morris and Joseph O'Byrne , members of tin Clun-na-Guel , nnd friends of Dr. Cronln gave testimony to the general of feet that Dr. Cronln had said te them ut different times that hi expected Alexander Sullivan to Instignti some one to kill him. All were asked 1 they had over heard of threats against tin doctor's llfo by Mr. Sullivan , and each re plied In the negative. Thomas J. Conway , n Clan-na-Gaol man says he had come west under orders frou the executive committee of the Clan-na-Gaol At a meeting of Camp 24'Conwuy ' continued resolutions regretting Cronln's death wen opposed because , perhaps the executive coin mittca had proof to show that Cronln was i British spy , . Alexander Sullivan's attention was callci to the testimony of Receiver Smith this af tcrnoon nt the inquest. Mr , Sullivan suit there was nothing whatever In the Trade bank account which could not and would no be satisfactorily explained whenever an ; proper Judicial proceeding required it , A any time during thu past six years ho couli have obtained and destroyed the checks if Use so desired , hut us there was nothing to con ceal anybody having any right to an explan ation could.havo It , and ho will explain n the proper time. OlirlmluiiH LONPOX , Juno 5 , Missionary loltorsjio th anti-Slavery society say that the Mahdlst have made western Abyssinia u desert Whole flocks and herds have been destroyec Thousands of eliriatlans have been tlinnyi Into slavery , thousands of others have bee butchered , and hundreds of the noblest In habitants have been taken to Mecca n slaves iu violation of truutius. IN THE RAILROAD SWIM , Annual Mootluff of the Chicago & Hook Island. J SURE WAR IN FREIGHT RATES , i 4 Tlio Burlington & Northern Throws Down the anuntlot The Altnii Kluklnirem Ijlvo Stoolc Trnlllu GoliiR For the U. P. Nearly a Million Itohlnel. CmcAdo , Juno 5. [ Special Telegram to Tin : Bii.l : The anntml meeting of the stookholdors of the Chicago & Kock Island , oad was hold to-day. In splto of predictions .0 the contrary the meeting was entirely har monious. R B. Cooley , of Hartford , Conn. , who was expected to do some violent kicking on the management of the road , expressed ilmsolf as well satislln.l. Of the 41(1,000 ( , shares Issued , iCit.lOO wure voted. Of thcso , Mr. Cooley cast 18,012 for Henry If. Mor gan , of Hartford , for a sent in the director ate. The old board of directors wns reelected - elected , however , John DoICoven , of Chicago cage , taking the plnco of Francis H. Lowe , deceased. The re-elected board mot at the close of the stockholders' mooting , and unan imously ro-eloctod the old officers of tho' rend as follows : H. H. Cable , president ; David Dews and W. G. Purely , vice presi dents ; W. G. Purely , treasurer nnel secretary. The following execu tive committee wns also elected : Hugh Kiddle , K. K. Cable , David Dews , , H. K. Bishop and Benjamin Browstcr. Thu annual report shows a dollclt of $974,2:14.23 : as follows : gross i penses i S3"m , & ' river , gross earnings , $4,721,470.00 ; operat ing expenses nnd taxes , $1,033,078.42 ; not earnings , ? OS'i,403.18 ; total net earnings , S4i'JlVI2'J.20 ; ; net Increase , ? 0Oo7,259.GS ; the Interest on the bonded deltl ) rentals , divi dends at fljf per cent and premiums amounted to $31,403.110 , leaving a dotlclt for the year ' ending March ill , of $074,231.22. The statement - mont for the lines west of the Missouri is from Juno 1 , 1SS7 , to March ill , 18S9. As compared with the above , thu last annual re port showed gross earnings of $13,50'J , < 27.17 , and net earnings of ? 4,707,007.31. This Slonnq Wnr. CiHCAno , Juno 5. [ Special Telegram to Tun Brif.J Ono of the stormiest freight meetings over held In Chicago was that of to-day , held by the St. Paul lines to discuss the 40 per cunt reduction of rates. H ended by the Chicago , Burlington & Northern throwing down the gauntlet , by the an nouncement of another slack In rates , this time to moot the lake and rail , Lake Superior linos' rate of 70 ccuts , New York to St. Paul. This is a cut from the 31-cont Chicago-St. Paul rate to 23 coats. The row started from the beginning of the meeting when the com mittees reported that nothing favorable tea a settlement had boon received from the lalco and rail lines. 'Within llvo minutes every road present was jumping on the St. Paul , all charging1 that road with starting the slush in rates by- cuttlng the original 50-cent rate to 33 cents , via Grand Haven. The St. Paul official * at tempted to defend their action , but were falny overcome by the force of numbers. ' Excited language , that would not look well in print , was freely used and the St. Paul was charged nn all sides with catting and manipulating rates as it saw fit. The Chicago cage , Burllugtun & Northern expressed per fect willingness to restore rates , provided other lines would do so und then produced confusion , worse than worse confounded , by the anncuncomcnt that , beginning Juno 10. it would meet the Duluth lake and rail rate of 79 cents , an additional cut of 0 cents below the 84-cent basis , Chicago to St. Paul. There wns no possible hone of agreement , but. before - fore the meeting broke up In confusion a committee of six was appointed to mcot the lake und rail lines in St. Paul next Saturday to discuss the situation. The Chicago , Bur lington & Northern wants it distinctly under stood that it Is perfectly willing to settle , but only when rates to St. Paul , via Dulutli and Chicago , are made the same. Moro Itows Imminent. CHICAGO , Juno 5. [ Special Telegram to Tun Bnn. ] The general managers of lines interested in Omaha and Kansas City live ' stock traffic mot to-day to consider the de mand of the Alton for a division of this traffic. The hearing was before Chairman Walker and Midgloy , of the executive board of the Inter-Stnto Commerce Railway asso ciation. The St. Paul , having the longest line , has been taking almost all the trafllo formerly carried by the Alton. Under the rules of the association a division of tha traflle can bo demanded where ono line it * carrying moro than its duo proportion. The case was argued in full , General Manager Chappcll , of the Alton , lead- < ng the discussion. Ho did not hesitate to call a spade a spade , and rend the riot net to the St. Paul , in u way the latter despised. I\Ir. Chnppeil openly charged the St , Paul with cutting rates and manipulating in underhand ways to gain the traffic. Ho said ho hud affidavits of nil he charged , and. dared the St.'Paul to demand their produc tion. In plain words ho demanded that tha alleged illegal trafllo of the St. Paul bu cur tailed , In cusu this wns not done he gave fair notice that the Alton would adopt meas- \irse.s for its own protection. Ho did not say so , In so many words , but every official pres ent understood him to mean that the alterna tive would bo the withdrawal of the Alton from the Presidents' association. No de cision will bo rendered by the executive board for ten days , Exactly a corrosnoudinif cane comes up , to-morrow , when the Rock Island and Burlington will demand u division of the Union Pacific bullion traffic. ilailroael Consolidation in Utah. &ALT LAKI ; CITV , Juno 5. | Special Tele gram to THE BKH.I Adircetors' meeting 1ms been called for July 11. In this city , to con sider the consolidation of the Utah Central , the Utah Northern , the Oregon Short Hup , the Salt Lake & Western , the Utah & No- vudu , the Ogdcn & Syracuse , the Idaho Cen tral und the Nevada Pacific Into ono corpora tion. It Is confidently predicted here that tlio consolidation will take place , nnd that Salt Luke will bo the headquarters of tlio entire system , NortliwiiHtorii AKHoolntcel Prnsw. CHICAGO , Juno 5. The Northwestern As sociated press mot this afternoon In annual meeting , at which the following ofllcorb wcro elected t Protident , D , N. Richardson , Day onport Democrat ; vlro-prcsidont , George D , Perkins , Sioux City Journal ; secretary , H. W. Clendonnin , Sprlngllold Journal ; treas urer , A , Stone , Pcoriu Transcript ; executive committee , W. II. Honricksoii , Qulney Her ald ; Spencer Smith , Council Bluffs Nonpar eil , and 1C , Rosowntur. OMAHA Bui : . The sumo gentlemen constitute thu board of di rectors. Itoutino matters In the way of now contracts und other business wcro har moniously transacted , ailnni'H I. OHO Their OKAS * VALLUV , Cal , , Juno C. The Idaho mine , in which lire broke out Monday night , was shut down yestenlav to smother llm flumes. Besides Krank Curler , who wua killed while trying to reach Thomas Uunstim and John Kulph , two Imprisoned men , thq latter two ulbO lost their lives. A luiulilicin | CONTOIIK , N. H. , Juno G , In Joint session , to-day u ballet was taken for governor , thoru i ; huvlng heeii no choice by the people. Davlel | Uoode.-n , republican , was declared elected ,