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Newspaper
Pittsburgh Dispatch
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Jun 10, 1889
Page
2
Chicago committee chair W. J. Gnohan reports dire Johnstown conditions worse than feared and praises Pittsburg effort. Donations flow from Logansport and Lake City with oil and disinfectants sent. The Chicago group plans continued relief, while a conference in Johnstown will guide future steps.
The Relief Society headquarters remained open all day as the Ladies' Relief Committee cared for flood refugees at the Second Presbyterian Church. Three missing individuals were later confirmed alive in the city, while others traveled or awaited aid. Donations and clothing boxes continued to arrive, with much of Saturday’s influx helping Friday’s evacuees.
Searchers found and identified the remains of Miss Bryan of Philadelphia, traveling companion of Miss Jennie Paulson, who perished in the Johnstown flood. The recovery was performed by Mr. Freyw teben bo of Webster Avenue and the funeral undertaker D. Boyle.
The Executive Committee opens a relief home at 1121 Webster Avenue for Johnstown sufferers. Donations are to be sent to the committee office, with guidance for all classes to contribute.
President Roberts travels incognito to Johnstown aboard a luxury palace car as Superintendent Pitcairn mobilizes Ohio and Indiana contractors. The Pennsylvania Railroad faces weeks of reconstruction to restore the main line, with 15,000 workers already deployed and millions in advisory contracts and delayed wages for the Pittsburg division.
News notes trains halted to Johnstown with no eastbound service beyond Bolivar. Relief trains carried provisions on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Public turnout fell as workers focus on rebuilding and access passes shape travel.
Pittsburg undertakers report for duty to James J. Flannery and head to Kernville to establish a morgue while denying charges from Dr. Lee and Devore. Friction centers on leadership and expertise with Devore blamed by some as temporarily chair, others praising the group’s service amid the Johnstown relief effort.
After a four day blitz to clear a flood backed backlog Pittsburg post office workers rested briefly as a heavy mail surge from East and West forced nonstop labor. Clerks sorted sacks stacked high, with through mail rerouted from Pittsburg to points West and northwest.
Desolate riverfront scenes along the Allegheny show a stark contrast to last week as crowds dwindled from thousands to tens. Debris and wreckage from a Friday flood haunt the banks while health boats patrol the Allegheny and Ohio, with no return expected before tonight.
Rev J H Barnett delivered a sermon at Union Park Chapel Allegheny on The Valley of Death Impressions Facts and Lessons Gathered on the Spot He warned against heedless living noting even modern techs like electricity and telegraph failed to alert people to danger urging attention to eternal life and salvation.
A Johnstown refugee family rests with Mr. Davy Jones in North Braddock after the disaster. Among the survivors is a three week old infant named Wreck James to memorialize the catastrophe in the Conemaugh Valley on the last day of May.
Rev. George T. Purves preached on the Johnstown disaster titled Lessons from the Flood. He cited the Rev. Mesars and others, noting four lessons: life’s fragility, humanity’s nobility in sorrow, God as sovereign arbiter, and the indestructible inner life of a Christian beyond storms.
Rev Dr Felton spoke at Christ M E Church on Penn avenue about the philosophy and lessons of the Johnstown disaster using Psalm 29 to argue God governs natural laws. He contrasted views on God’s power with natural law and urged harmony with forces to prevent further calamity, noting progress in reducing deaths and ending with a call for Christian charity.
Rev. T. J. Leak of North Avenue M E Church Allegheny delivered a sermon titled The Great Calamity. He grounded the Johnstown disaster in natural law, rejecting moral causation or prophetic punishment and arguing that such events arise from nature’s laws in force since creation.
Rev. Dr. T. N. Boyle of Braddock’s Methodist Church spoke on the Johnstown disaster arguing Providence played no role. He blamed natural laws and dam overload for the flood and urged Congress to establish a national department of public safety to aid in future rescues. He cited the Pennsylvania Company as partly responsible for letting the dam contents remain after use.
At the First Hesresbyterian Church the Rev. W J Reid D D preached on Isaiah 26 20 urging the duty of God’s people to enter their chambers and hide themselves in a calamity. He explained the timely call to exercise faith and seek refuge in divine protection during disasters.
The discourse urged every person to fulfill duty to God and neighbors during public trials. It emphasized personal responsibility and the need for faith and civic duty when the church feels cold.
Rev. J T McCrory of the Third United Presbyterian Church preached on Genuine Christianity and its Spirit amid the recent disaster and on The Voice of Warning Unheeded and the Consequences. He urged preparedness and warned against neglect, noting about 300 dollars raised for Johnstown relief.
A staff correspondent reports fierce competition among benevolent societies to place Johnstown orphans. Nine children were sent to Philadelphia to the Northern Home for the Friendless, while local groups emphasize keeping siblings together and providing care until families reunite. Red Cross and Children's Aid Society personnel visit Scranton and Pittsburgh to aid and locate more children.
report from Johnstown says a major dispute among local physicians centered on Dickson and J Guy Mc Candress guiding visiting doctors and students, snubbing experienced city doctors, leaving the town without attending physicians until outside specialists arrived. A Pittsburg physician warned the city would suffer without nonlocal doctors, and a scene occurred at Union depot when volunteers were refused.
Chief of Police Hart arrested hotel keeper Myers for selling Mynor. Myers was jailed overnight and released as no law covers his offense. Saloon Watkins forced to close. liquor sale occurs covertly, with limited drunkenness and shipping hurdles to private individuals.
Mr W M Ferguson reports from South Fork that all railroad tracks from South Fork to the viaduct are swept away the old viaduct is gone and the Deep Cut is half filled with earth and sand. A mile and a half of tracks from a Point to the cut is lost. A trestlework rises where the Deep Cut bridge stood. From the viaduct to South Fork covers six miles. Road likely closed for three weeks with months needed for full restoration.
Chief Hart spotted four men acting as workers in the ruins and caught them in the act of robbing a store. They were jailed briefly then driven from town with a warning not to return. Suspects hailed from Philadelphia Pittsburg and two from Johnstown. Names were not recorded. John J. Burke of the General Relief Committee is said to be very ill after long, exhausting work.
The body of Silas Schick, a prominent traveling man, was found among the ruins of the Rares Bones on June 8 in Jonrstowys. The incident is reported as a sudden death connected to a company, with immediate action taken by authorities.
City officials discussed paying relief workers who stayed on duty after the Johnstown flood. Pittsburgh officers raided two speak easy operations on Manor street, arresting the proprietors and eight patrons, with later releases on forfeits.
Jousstown reports Mr. James McKean oversees 250 Masons after flood losses. initial tally suggested 100 dead but census will show fewer than half. Brothers have donated money to restart livelihoods and rebuild. Building Inspector Frank notes many structures are wrecked and may need torn down or moved to new foundations.
Dr George L Garrison of the West Virginia State Board of Health and a council committee inspected drift piles in the Ohio River about two miles above Wheeling. Debris from Johnstown and nearby towns formed several large masses near Wheeling Island Burling Beach and Brooke County sites. Some piles were burned on the return trip to destroy the accumulations under orders from the Ohio and Pennsylvania State Boards of Health.
Pennsylvania Railroad trains will run via A V R to Driftwood and via Philadelphia and Erie lines to Harrisburg Philadelphia New York Baltimore Washington. trains depart Union Station at 8 AM and 7:15 PM. Allegheny Valley shipments to New York Boston and other points. Freight and passenger accommodations noted with limited service changes.
A stitched collage of 19th century classified style items: gold paper at 10 cents a yard with ARTHUR SCHONDELMYER & Co. in Allegheny. elegant cabinet photos at $1.50 per dozen. large panel pictures from POPULAR GALLERY. Havana cigars sold at 3 for 25 cents. remnant sales on Friday. flood height photographs at 48 Fifth Avenue. English cloaks and wide wool goods advertised. silk gloves reduced to 50 cents. many other local merchants including Rosenbaum & Co. and Sea Houses & Hacke.
Shoppers praise the value of syrup and dress goods as a store touts its large purchases of Printed India Silks. The cheerful display and low prices draw good crowds and positive remarks on product quality.
Dr. Carrington of the United States Marines and Dr. C. C. Probst secretary of the Ohio State Board of Health arrived in Johnstown to lay plans and inspect with Governor Beaver. They offered to assist Dr. Groff in his sanitary labor.
A force of seven men cleaned out three baker shops in the ruins this afternoon. Bakers will be sent from Pittsburg to bake bread once ovens are cleaned. Flour is plentiful and bread will be sold.
Branon l of the Irish Land League and others donate to flood sufferers. Local churches and banks contribute thousands to the relief fund while G A R representatives report plans for Johnstown aid. Remains moved to vault for interment as funeral services are held for flood victims.
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