DISTRESSING DETAILS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4559, 7 June 1889, Page 2

DISTRESSING DETAILS.

(Pbr Elkotbio Tbleqbaph — OopymaiiT.) (Per Pkbss Association.) (Eeceivcd 1.30 p.m., Juno Cth.) Washington, June 5. Pour thousand corpses have beon recovered from the scene of the catastrophe m Oonnemaugh Valley, and a regiment of soldiers is now engaged m burying them by hundreds at a time. It is estimated that fully forty-five thousand porsona resided on the area flooded m and around Johnstown, and up to the present the registry offices for survivors have recorded only nine thousand names. Out of one family of twenty-seven there h only one survivor. Another has buried fourteen relatives. Manyfamilies are known to be extinct. A procession, engaged m carrying coffinß extended two miles. One of those who escaped floated twenty- three milea astride of a telegraph polo. Tho debris piled against Johnstown bridgo will have to be buined by the aid of petroleum, or destroyed by dynamite. The air for miles round the town is tainted by tho eflluvium from the corpses, and Pittsburg and Alleghany oity aro suffering from poisoned water. Johnstown Squaro and the streets surrounding it have been swept ao baro by the rushing wator that not a single brick is left. Some of the locomotives on tho railway lines wcro hurled along ton miles by tho forco of the flood. Belief trains aro now arriving on tho stieno daily, and money is being subscribed m all American cities and m London m aid of tho stricken district. Many hundreds of lives have boon lost m other places eJYectod by tho floods. Floating debris carried away a bridge over the Susquobannn at Williams' Point, and drowned fifty Bpeotators who were watching the flood.