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diff --git a/41271-0.txt b/41271-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4979dec --- /dev/null +++ b/41271-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9370 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41271 *** + +Transcriber's Notes + +Any corrections made are catalogued in a note at the end of this text. + +Italics are rendered using the '_' character as _italics_. Text printed +in a bold font is rendered using the '=' character as =bold=. All +small capital letters are printed as uppercase. + +The abbreviations "A.M." and "P.M." appear in normal uppercase as well +as in small capitals. They are also variably printed with intervening +spaces (e.g., "A. M."). They are rendered here as uppercase with the +spacing as found in the text. + +The text contained illustrations, which could not be included in this +version. They are indicated using [Illustration: <caption>]. Their +position in the text may have changed in order to re-join paragraphs +and/or to avoid interrupting the text. The page numbers in the list +of illustrations are, therefore, approximate. Please use the html +version from Project Gutenberg to view the illustrations. + + + + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE DELUGED CONEMAUGH DISTRICT.] + + + + + HISTORY + + OF + + THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD. + + INCLUDING + + ALL THE FEARFUL RECORD; THE BREAKING OF THE SOUTH FORK DAM; + THE SWEEPING OUT OF THE CONEMAUGH VALLEY; THE OVER-THROW + OF JOHNSTOWN; THE MASSING OF THE WRECK AT + THE RAILROAD BRIDGE; ESCAPES, RESCUES, SEARCHES + FOR SURVIVORS AND THE DEAD; RELIEF + ORGANIZATIONS, STUPENDOUS CHARITIES, + ETC., ETC. + + WITH FULL ACCOUNTS ALSO OF THE + + DESTRUCTION ON THE SUSQUEHANNA AND JUNIATA RIVERS, AND THE + BALD EAGLE CREEK. + + BY + + WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON. + + _ILLUSTRATED._ + + EDGEWOOD PUBLISHING CO., + 1889. + Copyright, 1889, by + WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The summer of 1889 will ever be memorable for its appalling disasters by +flood and flame. In that period fell the heaviest blow of the nineteenth +century--a blow scarcely paralleled in the histories of civilized lands. +Central Pennsylvania, a centre of industry, thrift and comfort, was +desolated by floods unprecedented in the records of the great waters. On +both sides of the Alleghenies these ravages were felt in terrific power, +but on the western slope their terrors were infinitely multiplied by the +bursting of the South Fork Reservoir, letting out millions of tons of +water, which, rushing madly down the rapid descent of the Conemaugh +Valley, washed out all its busy villages and hurled itself in a deadly +torrent on the happy borough of Johnstown. The frightful aggravations +which followed the coming of this torrent have waked the deepest +sympathies of this nation and of the world, and the history is demanded +in permanent form, for those of the present day, and for the generation +to come. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + + The Conemaugh Valley in Springtime--Johnstown and its + Suburbs--Founded a Hundred Years ago--The Cambria Iron + Works--History of a Famous Industry--American Manufacturing + Enterprise Exemplified--Making Bessemer Steel--Social and + Educational Features--The Busiest City of its Size in the + State, 15 + + CHAPTER II. + + Conemaugh Lake--Remains of an Old-time Canal System--Used for + the Pleasure of Sportsmen--The Hunting and Fishing + Club--Popular Distrust Growing into Indifference--The Old + Cry of "Wolf!"--Building a Dam of Straw and Mud--Neglect + Ripening into Fitness for a Catastrophe, 31 + + CHAPTER III. + + Dawning of the Fatal Day--Darkness and Rain--Rumors of + Evil--The Warning Voice Unheeded--A Whirlwind of Watery + Death--Fate of a Faithful Telegrapher--What an Eye-Witness + Saw--A Solid Wall of Water Rushing Down the Valley, 42 + + CHAPTER IV. + + The Pathway of the Torrent--Human Beings Swept away like + Chaff--The Twilight of Terror--The Wreck of East + Conemaugh--Annihilation of Woodvale--Locomotives Tossed + about like Cockle-shells by the mighty Maelstrom, 51 + + CHAPTER V. + + "Johnstown is Annihilated"--Appearance of the Wreck--An Awful + Sabbath Spectacle--A Sea of Mud and Corpses--The City in a + Gigantic Whirlpool--Strange Tokens of the Fury of the + Flood--Scene from the Bridge--Sixty Acres of Débris--A + Carnival of Slaughter, 66 + + CHAPTER VI. + + Pictures of the Flood Drawn by Eye-witnesses--A Score of + Locomotives Swallowed up--Railroad Cars Swept + away--Engineers who would not Abandon their Posts--Awful + Scenes from a Car Window--A Race for Life--Victims of the + Flood, 81 + + CHAPTER VII. + + Some Heroes of the Flood--The Ride of Collins Graves at + Williamsburg Recalled--John G. Parke's Heroic + Warning--Gallant Self-Sacrifice of Daniel Peyton--Mrs. Ogle, + the Intrepid Telegraph Operator--Wholesale Life Saving by + Miss Nina Speck, 97 + + CHAPTER VIII. + + Stories of Suffering--A Family Swept away at a Stroke--Beside + a Sister's Corpse--A Bride Driven Mad--The Unidentified + Dead--Courage in the Face of Death--Thanking God his Child + had not Suffered--One Saved out of a Household of + Thirteen--Five Saved out of Fifty-Five, 108 + + CHAPTER IX. + + Stories of Railroad Men and Travelers who were in the Midst of + the Catastrophe--A Train's Race with the Wave--Houses + Crushed like Eggshells--Relics of the Dead in the Tree + tops--A Night of Horrors--Fire and Flood Commingled--Lives + Lost for the Sake of a Pair of Shoes, 119 + + CHAPTER X. + + Scenes in a House of Refuge--Stealing from the Dead--A + Thousand Bodies seen Passing over the Bridge--"Kill us or + Rescue us!"--Thrilling Escapes and Agonizing + Losses--Children Born amid the Flood--A Night in Alma + Hall--Saved through Fear, 137 + + CHAPTER XI. + + The Flight to the Mountains--Saving a Mother and her Babe--The + Hillsides Black with Refugees--An Engineer's Story--How the + Dam gave away--Great Trees Snapped off like Pipe-stems by + the Torrent, 147 + + CHAPTER XII. + + A Desperate Voyage--Scenes like those after a Great + Battle--Mother and Babe Dead together--Praying as they + Drifted to Destruction--Children Telling the Story of + Death--Significant Greetings between Friends--Prepared for + any News, 154 + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Salutations in the City of the Dead--Crowds at the + Morgues--Endless Trains of Wagons with Ghastly + Freight--Registering the Survivors--Minds Unsettled by the + Tragedy--Horrible Fragments of Humanity Scattered through + Piles of Rubbish, 161 + + CHAPTER XIV. + + Recognizing the Dead--Food and Clothing for Destitute + Survivors--Looking for the Lost--The Bereaved Burying their + Dead--Drowned Close by a Place of Safety--A Heroic + Editor--One who would not be Comforted, 171 + + CHAPTER XV. + + A Bird'seye View of the Ruined City--Conspicuous Features of + the Disaster--The Railroad Lines--Stones and Iron Tossed + about like Driftwood--An Army Officer's Valuable Services in + Restoring and Maintaining Order, 179 + + CHAPTER XVI. + + Clearing a Road up the Creek--Fantastic Forms of Ruin--An + Abandoned Locomotive with no Rail to Run on--Iron Beams Bent + like Willow Twigs--Night in the Valley--Scenes and Sounds of + an Inferno, 188 + + CHAPTER XVII. + + Sights that Greeted Visitors--Wreckage Along the Valley--Ruins + of the Cambria Iron Works--A Carnival of Drink--Violence and + Robbery--Camping on the Hillsides--Rich and Poor alike + Benefit, 198 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + The First Train Load of Anxious Seekers--Hoping against + Hope--Many Instances of Heroism--Victims Seen Drifting down + beyond the Reach of Help--Unavailing Efforts to Rescue the + Prey of the Flood, 207 + + CHAPTER XIX. + + Newspaper Correspondents Making their Way in--The Railroads + Helpless--Hiring a Special Train--Making Desperate + Speed--First faces of the Flood--Through to Johnstown at + Last, 216 + + CHAPTER XX. + + The Work of the Reporters--Strange Chronicles of Heroism and + of Woe--Deadly Work of the Telegraph Wires--A Baby's Strange + Voyage--Prayer wonderfully Answered--Steam against Torrent, + 228 + + CHAPTER XXI. + + Human Ghouls and Vampires on the Scene--A Short Shrift for + Marauders--Vigilance Committees Enforcing Order--Plunderers + of the Dead Relentlessly Dispatched--Outbursts of Righteous + Indignation, 238 + + CHAPTER XXII + + The Cry for Help and the Nation's Answer--President Harrison's + Eloquent and Effective Appeal--Governor Beaver's Message--A + Proclamation by the Governor of New York--Action of the + Commissioner of Pensions--Help from over the Sea, 249 + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + The American Heart and Purse Opened Wide--A Flood of Gold + against the Flood of Water--Contributions from every Part + of the Country, in Sums Large and Small, 265 + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + Benefactions of Philadelphia--Organization of Charity--Train + loads of Food and Clothing--Generous spirit of Convicts in + the Penitentiary--Contributions from over the Sea--Queen + Victoria's sympathy--Letter from Florence Nightingale, 281 + + CHAPTER XXV. + + Raising a Great Relief Fund in New York--Where the Money + came from--Churches, Theatres and Prisons join in the good + work--More than One Hundred Thousand Dollars a Day--A few + Names from the Great Roll of Honor, 292 + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + Breaking up the Ruins and Burying the Dead--Innumerable + Funerals--The Use of Dynamite--The Holocaust at the + Bridge--The Cambria Iron Works--Pulling out Trees with + Locomotives, 299 + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + Caring for the Sufferers--Noble Work of Miss Clara Barton + and the Red Cross Society--A Peep into a Hospital--Finding + Homes for the Orphans--Johnstown Generous in its Woe--A + Benevolent Eating House, 309 + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + Recovering from the Blow--The Voice of the Locomotive Heard + again--Scenes Day by Day amid the Ruins and at the + Morgue--Strange Salvage from the Flood--A Family of + Little Children, 319 + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + The City Filled with Life Again--Work and Bustle on Every + Hand--Railroad Trains Coming In--Pathetic Meetings of + Friends--Persistent Use of Dynamite to Break Up the + Masses of Wreckage--The Daily Record of Work Amid the + Dead, 341 + + CHAPTER XXX. + + Scenes at the Relief Stations--The Grand Army of the + Republic in Command--Imposing Scenes at the Railroad + Station--Cars Loaded with Goods for the Relief of the + Destitute, 353 + + CHAPTER XXXI. + + General Hastings' Headquarters--Duties of the Military + Staff--A Flood of Telegrams of Inquiry Pouring In--Getting + the Post-office to Work Again--Wholesale Embalming--The + Morgue in the Presbyterian Church--The Record of the + Unknown Dead--A Commemorative Newspaper Club, 358 + + CHAPTER XXXII. + + A Cross between a Military and a Mining Camp--Work of the + Army Engineers--Equipping Constables--Pressure on the + Telegraph Lines--Photographers not Encouraged--Sight-seers + Turned Away--Strange Uses for Coffins, 370 + + CHAPTER XXXIII. + + Sunday Amid the Ruins--Services in One Church and in the + Open Air--The Miracle at the Church of the Immaculate + Conception--Few Women and Children Seen--Disastrous + Work of Dynamite--A Happy Family in the Wreck, 378 + + CHAPTER XXXIV. + + Plans for the Future of Johnstown--The City to be Rebuilt + on a Finer Scale than Ever Before--A Real Estate Boom + Looked For--Enlarging the Conemaugh--Views of + Capitalists, 387 + + CHAPTER XXXV. + + Well-known People who Narrowly Escaped the Flood--Mrs. + Halford's Experience--Mrs. Childs Storm bound--Tales + Related by Travelers--A Theatrical Company's Plight, 393 + + CHAPTER XXXVI. + + The Ubiquitous Reporter Getting There--Desperate Traveling + through a Storm-swept Country--Special Trains and Special + Teams--Climbing Across the Mountains--Rest for the Weary + in a Hay Mow, 402 + + CHAPTER XXXVII. + + The Reporter's Life at Johnstown--Nothing to Eat, but Much + to Do--Kindly Remembrances of a Kindly Friend--Driven + from Bed by Rats--Three Hours of Sleep in Seventy-two--A + Picturesque Group, 410 + + CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + Williamsport's Great Losses--Flooded with Thirty-four Feet + of Water--Hundreds of Millions of Feet of Lumber Swept + Away--Loss of Life--Incidents of Rescue and of Death--The + Story of Garret Crouse and his Gray Horse, 421 + + CHAPTER XXXIX. + + The Juniata Valley Ravaged by the Storm--Losses at Tyrone, + Huntingdon and Lewistown--Destruction at Lock Haven--A + Baby's Voyage Down Stream--Romantic Story of a Wedding, 435 + + CHAPTER XL. + + The Floods along the Potomac--The National Capital + Submerged--A Terrible Record in Maryland--Gettysburg + a Sufferer--Tidings of Devastation from Many Points in + Several States, 444 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PAGE + + MAP OF THE DELUGED CONEMAUGH DISTRICT, 1 + + JOHNSTOWN AS LEFT BY THE FLOOD, 19 + + RUINS OF JOHNSTOWN VIEWED FROM PROSPECT HILL, 37 + + GENERAL VIEW OF THE RUINS, LOOKING UP STONY CREEK, 55 + + RUINS, SHOWING THE PATH OF THE FLOOD, 73 + + TYPICAL SCENE IN JOHNSTOWN, 91 + + JOHNSTOWN--VIEW CORNER OF MAIN AND CLINTON STREETS, 109 + + VIEW ON CLINTON STREET, JOHNSTOWN, 127 + + MAIN AND CLINTON STREETS, LOOKING SOUTHWEST, 145 + + RUINS, CORNER OF CLINTON AND MAIN STREETS, 163 + + RUINS, FROM SITE OF THE HULBURT HOUSE, 181 + + THE DÉBRIS ABOVE THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE, 199 + + RUINS OF THE CAMBRIA IRON WORKS, 217 + + RUINS OF THE CAMBRIA IRON COMPANY'S STORE, 235 + + THIRD STREET, WILLIAMSPORT, PA., DURING THE FLOOD, 253 + + WRECK OF THE IRON BRIDGE AT WILLIAMSPORT, PA., 271 + + WRECK OF THE LUMBER YARDS AT WILLIAMSPORT, PA., 289 + + 250,000,000 FEET OF LOGS AFLOAT IN THE SUSQUEHANNA, 307 + + LAST TRAINS IN AND OUT OF HARRISBURG, 325 + + COLUMBIA, PA., UNDER THE FLOOD, 343 + + PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AT SIXTH STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C., 361 + + SEVENTH STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C., IN THE FLOOD, 379 + + FOURTEENTH STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C., IN THE FLOOD, 397 + + THE FLOOD IN WASHINGTON, D. C., OPPOSITE HARRIS'S THEATRE, 415 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Springtime in the mountains. Graceful slopes and frowning precipices +robed in darkest green of hemlock and spruce. Open fields here and there +verdant with young grass and springing grain, or moist and brown beneath +the plow for the planting time. Hedgerow and underwood fragrant with +honeysuckle and wild blackberry bloom; violets and geraniums purpling +the forest floor. Conemaugh creek and Stony creek dash and plunge and +foam along their rocky channels to where they unite their waters and +form the Conemaugh river, hastening down to the Ohio, to the +Mississippi, to the Mexican Gulf. Trout and pickerel and bass flash +their bronze and silver armor in the sparkling shallows of the streams +and in the sombre and placid depths of the lake up yonder behind the old +mud dam. Along the valley of the Conemaugh are ranged villages, towns, +cities: Conemaugh, Johnstown, Cambria, Sang Hollow, Nineveh, and others, +happy and prosperous. Conemaugh nestles at the very foot of the +Alleghenies; all railroad trains eastward bound stop there to catch +their breath before beginning the long climb up to Altoona. Sang Hollow +nestles by the river amid almost tropical luxuriance of vegetation; yon +little wooded islet in mid-stream a favorite haunt of fishermen. Nineveh +is rich in bog iron and coal, and the whirr of the mill-wheel is heard. +Johnstown, between the two creeks at their junction, is the queen city +of the valley. On either side the creek, and beyond, the steep mountain +sides; behind, the narrow valley reaching twenty miles back to the lake; +before, the Conemaugh river just beginning its romantic course. Broken +hillsides streaked with torrents encompass it. Just a century ago was +Johnstown founded by one Joseph Johns, a German settler. Before then its +beauteous site was occupied by an Indian village, Kickenapawling. Below +this was the head of navigation on the Conemaugh. Hither came the +wagoners of the Alleghenies, with huge wains piled high with merchandise +from seaboard cities, and placed it on flat-bottomed boats and started +it down the river-way to the western markets. The merchandise came up +from Philadelphia and Baltimore by river, too; up the Susquehanna and +Juniata, to the eastern foot-hills, and there was a great portage from +the Juniata to the Conemaugh; the Kittanning Trail, then the Frankstown +Turnpike. Later came the great trunk railroad whose express trains now +go roaring down the valley. + +Johnstown is--nay, Johnstown was!--a busy and industrious place. The +people of the town were the employees of the Cambria Iron and Steel +Company, their families, and small storekeepers. There was not one rich +man in the town. Three-quarters of the 28,000 people lived in small +frame tenement houses on the flats by the river around the works of the +Cambria Company. The Cambria Company owns almost all the land, and the +business and professional men and the superintendents of the company +live on the hills away up from the creeks. The creeks become the +Conemaugh river right at the end of the town, near where the big stone +Pennsylvania Railroad bridge crosses the river. + +The borough of Johnstown was on the south bank of Conemaugh creek, and +the east bank of Stony creek, right in the fork. It had only about a +third of the population of the place. It had never been incorporated +with the surrounding villages, as the Cambria Company, which owned most +of the villages and only part of Johnstown, did not wish to have them +consolidated into one city. + +Conemaugh was the largest village on the creek between the lake and +Johnstown. It is often spoken of as part of Johnstown, though its +railroad station is two or three miles up the creek from the Johnstown +station. The streets of the two towns run into each other, and the space +between the two stations is well built up along the creek. Part of the +Cambria Iron and Steel Company's works are at Conemaugh, and five or six +thousand of the workingmen and their families lived there. The business +was done in Johnstown borough, where almost all the stores of Johnstown +city were. + +The works of the Cambria Company were strung along from here down into +Johnstown proper. They were slightly isolated to prevent a fire in one +spreading to the others, and because there was not much flat land to +build on. The Pennsylvania road runs along the river, and the works were +built beside it. + +[Illustration: JOHNSTOWN AS LEFT BY THE FLOOD.] + +Between Conemaugh and Johnstown borough was a string of tenements along +the river which was called Woodvale. Possibly 3000 workmen lived in +them. They were slightly built of wood, many of them without cellars or +stone foundations. There were some substantially built houses in the +borough at the fork. Here the flats widen out somewhat, and they had +been still further increased in extent by the Cambria Company, which +filled up part of the creek beds with refuse and the ashes from their +works. This narrowed the beds of the creeks. The made land was not +far above the water at ordinary times. Even during the ordinary spring +floods the waters rose so high that it flowed into the cellars of the +tenements, and at times into the works. The natural land was occupied by +the business part of the town, where the stores were and the +storekeepers had their residences. The borough had a population of about +9000. On the north bank of the river were a third as many more people +living in tenements built and owned by the Cambria Company. Further +down, below the junction of the two creeks, along both banks of the +Conemaugh river, were about 4000 employees of the Cambria Company and +their families. The place where they lived was called Cambria or Cambria +City. All these villages and boroughs made up what is known as the city +of Johnstown. + +The Cambria Company employed about 4000 men in its works and mines. +Besides these were some railroad shops, planing mills, flour mills, +several banks and newspapers. Only the men employed by the Cambria +Company and their families lived on the flats and made ground. The +Cambria Company owned all this land, and made it a rule not to sell it, +but to lease it. The company put rows of two-story frame tenements close +together, on their land close to the works, the cheaper class of +tenements in solid blocks, to cheapen their construction. The better +tenements were separate buildings, with two families to the house. The +tenements rented for from $5 to $15 a month, and cost possibly, on the +average, $500 to build. They were all of wood, many of them without +cellars, and were built as cheaply as possible. The timbers were mostly +pine, light and inflammable. It was not an uncommon thing for a fire to +break out and to burn one or two rows of tenements. But the different +rows were not closely bunched, but were sprinkled around in patches near +the separate works, and it was cheaper for the company to rebuild +occasionally than to put up brick houses. + +Besides owning the flats, the Cambria Company owned the surrounding +hills. In one of the hills is limestone, in another coal, and there is +iron ore not far away. The company has narrow-gauge roads running from +its mines down to the works. The city was at the foot of these three +hills, which meet in a double V shape. Conemaugh creek flowing down one +and Stony creek flowing down the other. The hills are not so far distant +that a man with a rifle on any one could not shoot to either of the +others. They are several hundred feet high and so steep that roads run +up them by a series of zigzag grades. Few people live on these hills +except on a small rise of ground across the river from Johnstown. In +some places the company has leased the land for dwelling houses, but it +retains the ownership of the land and of the coal, iron and limestone in +it. The flats having all been occupied, the company in recent years had +put up some tenements of a better class on the north bank of the river, +higher up than the flood reached. The business part of the town also was +higher up than the works and the tenements of the company. + +In normal times the river is but a few hundred feet wide. The bottom is +stony. The current is so fast that there is little deposit along the +bank. It is navigable at no time, though in the spring a good canoeist +might go down it if he could steer clear of the rocks. In the summer the +volume of water diminishes so much that a boy with a pair of rubber +boots on can wade across without getting his feet wet, and there have +been times when a good jumper could cross the river on the dry stones. +Below Johnstown, after Stony creek has joined the Conemaugh creek, the +volume of water increases, but the Conemaugh throughout its whole length +is nothing but a mountain stream, dry in the summer and roaring in the +spring. It runs down into the Kiskiminitas river and into the Allegheny +river, and then on to Pittsburgh. It is over 100 miles from Johnstown to +Pittsburgh following the windings of the river, twice as far as the +straight line. + +Johnstown was one of the busiest towns of its size in the State. Its +tonnage over the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio roads was larger +than the tonnage of many cities three times its size. The Iron and Steel +Company is one of the largest iron and steel corporations in the world. +It had its main rolling mills, Bessemer steel works, and wire works at +Johnstown, though it also has works in other places, and owns ore and +coal mines and leases in the South, in Michigan, and in Spain, besides +its Pennsylvania works. It had in Johnstown and the surrounding villages +4000 or 5000 men usually at work. In flush times it has employed more +than 6000. So important was the town from a railroad point of view that +the Baltimore and Ohio ran a branch from Rockwood, on its main line to +Pittsburgh, up to Johnstown, forty-five miles. It was one of the main +freight stations on the Pennsylvania road, though the passenger business +was so small in proportion that some express trains do not stop there. +The Pennsylvania road recently put up a large brick station, which was +one of the few brick buildings on the flats. Some of the Cambria +Company's offices were also of brick, and there was a brick lodging +house for young men in the employ of the company. The Pennsylvania road +had repair shops there, which employed a few hundred men, and the +Baltimore and Ohio branch had some smaller shops. Johnstown had several +Catholic and Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Lutheran churches. It +had several daily and weekly papers. The chief were the _Tribune_, the +_Democrat_, and the _Freie Presse_. + +The Cambria Iron Works, the great industry of Johnstown, originated in a +few widely separated charcoal furnaces built by pioneer iron workers in +the early years of the century. As early as 1803 General Arthur St. +Clair engaged in the iron business, and erected the Hermitage furnace +about sixteen miles from the present site of Johnstown. In 1809 the +working of ores was begun near Johnstown. These were primitive furnaces, +where charcoal was the only fuel employed, and the raw material and +product were transported entirely on wagons, but they marked the +beginning of the manufacture of iron in this country. + +The Cambria Iron Company was chartered under the general law in 1852, +for the operation of four old-fashioned charcoal furnaces in and near +Johnstown, which was then a village of 1300 inhabitants, to which the +Pennsylvania railroad had just been extended. In 1853 the construction +of four coke furnaces was begun, but it was two years before the first +was finished. England was then shipping rails into this country under a +low duty, and the iron industry here was struggling for existence. The +company at Johnstown was aided by a number of Philadelphia merchants, +but was unable to continue in business, and suspended in 1854. At a +meeting of the creditors in Philadelphia soon afterward a committee was +appointed, with Daniel J. Morrell as Chairman, to visit the works at +Johnstown and recommend the best means, if any, to save themselves from +loss. In his report, Mr. Morrell strongly urged the Philadelphia +creditors to invest more money and continue the business. They did so, +and Matthew Newkirk was made President of the company. The company again +failed in 1855, and Mr. Morrell then associated a number of gentlemen +with him, and formed the firm of Wood, Morrell & Co., leasing the works +for seven years. The year 1856 was one of great financial depression, +and 1857 was worse, and, as a further discouragement, the large furnace +was destroyed by fire in June, 1857. In one week, however, the works +were in operation again, and a brick building was soon constructed. When +the war came, and with it the Morrill tariff of 1861, a broader field +was opened up, and in 1862 the present company was formed. + +The years following the close of the war brought about an unprecedented +revival in railroad building. In 1864 there were but 33,908 miles of +railroad in the United States, while in 1874 there were 72,741 miles, or +more than double. There was a great demand for English steel rails, +which advanced to $170 per ton. Congress imposed a duty of $28 a ton on +foreign rails, and encouraged American manufacturers to go into the +business. The Cambria Company began the erection of Bessemer steel works +in 1869, and sold the first steel rails in 1871, at $104 a ton. + +The company had 700 dwelling-houses, rented to employees. The works and +rolling mills of the company were situated upon what was originally a +river flat, where the valley of the Conemaugh expanded somewhat, just +below Johnstown, and now part of Millville. The Johnstown furnaces, Nos. +1, 2, 3 and 4, formed one complete plant, with stacks 75 feet high and +16 feet in diameter at the base. Steam was generated in forty boilers +fired by furnace gas, for eight vertical, direct-acting blowing engines. +Nos. 5 and 6 blast furnaces formed together a second plant, with stacks +75 feet high and 19 feet in diameter. The Bessemer plant was the sixth +started in the United States (July, 1871). The main building was 102 +feet in width by 165 feet in length. The cupolas were six in number. +Blast was supplied from eight Baker rotary pressure blowers, driven by +engines 16 x 24 inches at 110 revolutions per minute. The Bessemer works +were supplied with steam by a battery of twenty-one tubular boilers. The +best average, although not the very highest work done in the Bessemer +department, was 103 heats of 8-1/2 tons each for each twenty-four +hours. The best weekly record reached 4847 tons of ingots, and the best +monthly record 20,304 tons. The best daily output was 900 tons of +ingots. All grades of steel were made in the converters, from the +softest wire and bridge stock to spring stock. The open-hearth building, +120 x 155 feet, containing three Pernot revolving hearth furnaces of +fifteen tons capacity each, supplied with natural gas. The rolling mill +was 100 feet in width by 1900 feet in length, and contained a 24-inch +train of two stands of three-high rolls, and a ten-ton traveling crane +for changing rolls. The product of the mill was 80,000 pounds per turn. +The bolt and nut works produced 1000 kegs of finished track bolts per +month, besides machine bolts. The capacity of the axle shop was 100 +finished steel axles per day. The "Gautier steel department" consisted +of a brick building 200 x 50 feet, where the wire was annealed, drawn +and finished; a brick warehouse 373 x 43 feet, many shops, offices, +etc.; the barb-wire mill, 50 x 250 feet, where the celebrated Cambria +link barb wire was made, and the main merchant mill, 725 x 250 feet. +These mills produced wire, shafting, springs, plough-shares, rake and +harrow teeth, and other kinds of agricultural implement steel. In 1887 +they produced 50,000 tons of this material, which was marketed mainly in +the Western States. Grouped with the principal mills thus described +were the foundries, pattern and other shops, draughting offices and time +offices, etc., all structures of a firm and substantial character. + +The company operated about thirty-five miles of railroad tracks, +employing in this service twenty-four locomotives, and owned 1500 cars. +To the large bodies of mountain land connected with the old charcoal +furnaces additions have been made of ores and coking coals, and the +company now owns in fee simple 54,423 acres of mineral lands. It has 600 +beehive coke ovens in the Connellsville district, and the coal producing +capacity of the mines in Pennsylvania owned by the company is 815,000 +tons per year. + +In continuation of the policy of Daniel J. Morrell, the Cambria Iron +Company has done a great deal for its employees. The Cambria Library was +erected by the Iron Company and presented to the town. The building was +43 x 68-1/2 feet, and contained a library of 6914 volumes. It contained +a large and valuable collection of reports of the United States and the +State, and it is feared that they have been greatly damaged. The Cambria +Mutual Benefit Association is composed of employees of the company, and +is supported by it. The employees receive benefits when sick or injured, +and in case of death their families are provided for. The Board of +Directors of this association also controls the Cambria Hospital, which +was erected by the Iron Company in 1866, on Prospect Hill, in the +northern part of the town. The company also maintained a club house, and +a store which was patronized by others, as well as by its employees. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Twenty miles up Conemaugh creek, beyond the workingmen's villages of +South Fork and Mineral Point, was Conemaugh lake. It was a part of the +old and long disused Pennsylvania Canal system. At the head of Conemaugh +creek, back among the hills, three hundred feet or more above the level +of Johnstown streets, was a small, natural lake. When the canal was +building, the engineers took this lake to supply the western division of +the canal which ran from there to Pittsburgh. The Eastern division ended +at Hollidaysburgh east of the summit of the Alleghanies, where there was +a similar reservoir. Between the two was the old Portage road, one of +the first railroads constructed in the State. The canal was abandoned +some years ago, as the Pennsylvania road destroyed its traffic. The +Pennsylvania Company got a grant of the canal from the State. Some years +after the canal was abandoned the Hollidaysburgh reservoir was torn +down, the water gradually escaping into the Frankstown branch of the +Juniata river. The people of the neighborhood objected to the existence +of the reservoir after the canal was abandoned, as little attention was +paid to the structure, and the farmers in the valley below feared that +the dam would break and drown them. The water was all let out of that +reservoir about three years ago. + +The dam above Johnstown greatly increased the small natural lake there. +It was a pleasant drive from Johnstown to the reservoir. Boating and +fishing parties often went out there. Near the reservoir is Cresson, a +summer resort owned by the Pennsylvania road. Excursion parties are made +up in the summer time by the Pennsylvania Company, and special trains +are run for them from various points to Cresson. A club called the South +Fork Fishing and Hunting Club was organized some years ago, and got the +use of the lake from the Pennsylvania Company. Most of the members of +the club live in Pittsburgh, and are prominent iron and coal men. +Besides them there are some of the officials of the Pennsylvania road +among the members. They increased the size of the dam until it was not +far from a hundred feet in height, and its entire length, from side to +side at the top, was not far from nine hundred feet. This increased the +size of the lake to three miles in length and a mile and a quarter in +width. It was an irregular oval in shape. The volume of water in it +depended on the time of the year. + +Some of the people of Johnstown had thought for years that the dam might +break, but they did not think that its breaking would do more than flood +the flats and damage the works of the Cambria Company. + +When the Hunting and Fishing Club bought the site of the old reservoir a +section of 150 feet had been washed out of the middle. This was rebuilt +at an expense of $17,000 and the work was thought to be very strong. At +the base it was 380 feet thick and gradually tapered until at the top it +was about 35 feet thick. It was considered amply secure, and such faith +had the members of the club in its stability that the top of the dam was +utilized as a driveway. It took two years to complete the work, men +being engaged from '79 to '81. While it was under process of +construction the residents of Johnstown expressed some fears as to the +solidity of the work, and requested that it be examined by experts. An +engineer of the Cambria Iron Works, secured through Mr. Morrell, of that +institution, one provided by Mr. Pitcairn, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, +and Nathan McDowell, chosen by the club itself, made a thorough +examination. They pronounced the structure perfectly safe, but suggested +some precautionary measures as to the stopping of leaks, that were +faithfully carried out. The members of the club themselves discovered +that the sewer that carried away the surplus or overflow from the lake +was not large enough in times of storm. So five feet of solid rock were +cut away in order to increase the mouth of the lake. Usually the surface +of the water was 15 feet below the top of the dam, and never in recent +years did it rise to more than eight feet. In 1881, when work was going +on, a sudden rise occurred, and then the water threatened to do what it +did on this occasion. The workmen hastened to the scene and piled débris +of all sorts on the top and thus prevented a washout. + +For more than a year there had been fears of a disaster. The foundations +of the dam at South Fork were considered shaky early in 1888, and many +increasing leakages were reported from time to time. + +"We were afraid of that lake," said a gentleman who had lived in +Johnstown for years; "We were afraid of that lake seven years ago. No +one could see the immense height to which that artificial dam had been +built without fearing the tremendous power of the water behind it. The +dam must have had a sheer height of 100 feet, thus forcing the water +that high above its natural bed, and making a lake at least three miles +long and a mile wide, out of what could scarcely be called a pond. I +doubt if there is a man or woman in Johnstown who at some time or other +had not feared and spoken of the terrible disaster that has now come. + +"People wondered, and asked why the dam was not strengthened, as it +certainly had become weak; but nothing was done, and by and by they +talked less and less about it, as nothing happened, though now and then +some would shake their heads as if conscious the fearful day would come +some time when their worst fears would be transcended by the horror of +the actual occurrence." + +There is not a shadow of doubt but that the citizens of Cambria County +frequently complained, and that at the time the dam was constructed a +vigorous effort was made to put a stop to the work. It is true that the +leader in this movement was not a citizen of Johnstown, but he was and +is a large mine owner in Cambria County. His mine adjoins the reservoir +property. He was frequently on the spot, and his own engineer inspected +the work. He says the embankment was principally of shale and clay, and +that straw was used to stop the leaking of water while the work was +going on. He called on the sheriff of Cambria County and told him it was +his duty to apply to the court for an injunction. The sheriff promised +to give the matter his attention, but, instead of going before court, +went to the Cambria Company for consultation. An employee was sent up +to make an inspection, and as his report was favorable to the reservoir +work the sheriff went no further. But the gentleman referred to said +that he had not failed to make public his protest at the time and to +renew it frequently. This recommendation for an injunction and protest +were spoken of by citizens of Altoona as a hackneyed subject. + +Confirmation has certainly been had at South Fork, Conemaugh, Millvale +and Johnstown. The rumor of an expected break was prevalent at these +places, but citizens remarked that the rumor was a familiar incident of +the annual freshets. It was the old classic story of "Wolf, wolf." They +gave up the first floors to the water and retired upstairs to wait until +the river should recede, as they had done often before, scouting the +oft-told story of the breaking of the reservoir. + +[Illustration: RUINS OF JOHNSTOWN, VIEWED FROM PROSPECT HILL.] + +An interesting story, involving the construction and history of the +Conemaugh lake dam, was related by J. B. Montgomery, who formerly lived +in Western Pennsylvania, and is now well known in the West as a railroad +contractor. "The dam," said he, "was built about thirty-five years ago +by the State of Pennsylvania, as a feeder for the western division of +the Pennsylvania Canal. The plans and specifications for the dam were +furnished by the Chief Engineer of the State. I am not sure, but it is +my impression, that Colonel William Milnor Roberts held the office at +the time. Colonel Roberts was one of the most famous engineers in the +country. He died several years ago in Chili. The contractors for the +construction of the dam were General J. K. Moorhead and Judge H. B. +Packer, of Williamsport, a brother of Governor Packer. General Moorhead +had built many dams before this on the rivers of Pennsylvania, and his +work was always known to be of the very best. In this case, however, all +that he had to do was to build the dam according to the specifications +furnished by the State. The dam was built of stone and wood throughout, +and was of particularly solid construction. There is no significance in +the discovery of straw and dirt among the ruins of the dam. Both are +freely used when dams are being built, to stop the numerous leaks. + +"The dam had three waste-gates at the bottom, so arranged that they +could be raised when there was too much water in the lake, and permit +the escape of the surplus. These gates were in big stone arches, through +which the water passed to the canal when the lake was used as a feeder. + +"In 1859 the Pennsylvania Railroad Company purchased the canal from the +State, and the dam and lake went into the possession of that company. +Shortly afterward the Pennsylvania Company abandoned the western +division of the canal, and the dam became useless as a feeder. For +twenty-five years the lake was used only as a fish-pond, and the dam +and the gates were forgotten. Five years ago the lake was leased to a +number of Pittsburgh men, who stocked it with bass, trout, and other +game fish. I have heard it said that the waste-gates had not been opened +for a great many years. If this is so, no wonder the dam broke. +Naturally the fishermen did not want to open the gates after the lake +was stocked, for the fish would have run out. A sluiceway should have +been built on the side of the dam, so that when the water reached a +certain height the surplus could escape. The dam was not built with the +intention that the water should flow over the top of it under any +circumstances, and if allowed to escape in that way the water was bound +to undermine it in a short time. With a dam the height of this the +pressure of a quantity of water great enough to overflow it must be +something tremendous. + +"If it is true that the waste-gates were never opened after the +Pittsburgh men had leased the lake, the explanation of the bursting of +the dam is to be found right there. It may be that the dam had not been +looked after and strengthened of late years, and it was undoubtedly +weakened in the period of twenty-five years during which the lake was +not used. After the construction of the dam the lake was called the +Western Reservoir. The south fork of the Conemaugh, which fed the lake, +is a little stream not over ten feet wide, but even when there were no +unusual storms it carried enough water to fill the lake full within a +year, showing how important it was that the gates should be opened +occasionally to run off the surplus." + +Mr. Montgomery was one of a party of engineers who inspected the dam +when it was leased by the Pennsylvania Company, five years ago. It then +needed repairs, but was in a perfectly safe condition if the water was +not allowed to flow over it. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Friday, May 31st, 1889. The day before had been a solemn holiday. In +every village veterans of the War for the Union had gathered; in every +cemetery flowers had been strewn upon the grave-mounds of the heroic +dead. Now the people were resuming the every-day toil. The weather was +rainy. It had been wet for some days. Stony Creek and Conemaugh were +turbid and noisy. The little South Fork, which ran into the upper end of +the lake, was swollen into a raging torrent. The lake was higher than +usual; higher than ever. But the valley below lay in fancied security, +and all the varied activities of life pursued their wonted round. + +Friday, May 31st, 1889. Record that awful date in characters of funereal +hue. It was a dark and stormy day, and amid the darkness and the storm +the angel of death spread his wings over the fated valley, unseen, +unknown. Midday comes. Disquieting rumors rush down the valley. There is +a roar of an approaching storm--approaching doom! The water swiftly +rises. A horseman thunders down the valley: "To the hills, for God's +sake! To the hills, for your lives!" They stare at him as at a madman, +and their hesitating feet linger in the valley of the shadow of death, +and the shadow swiftly darkens, and the everlasting hills veil their +faces with rain and mist before the scene that greets them. + +This is what happened:-- + +The heavy rainfall raised the lake until its water began to pour over +the top of the dam. The dam itself--wretchedly built of mud and +boulders--saturated through and through, began to leak copiously here +and there. Each watery sapper and miner burrowed on, followers swiftly +enlarging the murderous tunnels. The whole mass became honeycombed. And +still the rain poured down, and still the South Fork and a hundred minor +streams sent in their swelling floods, until, with a roar like that of +the opening gates of the Inferno belching forth the legions of the +damned, the wall gave way, and with the rush of a famished tiger into a +sheepfold, the whirlwind of water swept down the valley on its errand of +destruction-- + + "And like a horse unbroken, + When first he feels the rein, + The furious river struggled hard, + And tossed his tawny mane, + And burst the curb, and bounded, + Rejoicing to be free, + And, whirling down in mad career, + Battlement and plank and pier, + Rushed headlong to the sea!" + +According to the statements of people who lived in Johnstown and other +towns on the line of the river, ample time was given to the inhabitants +of Johnstown by the railroad officials and by other gentlemen of +standing and reputation. In hundreds of cases this warning was utterly +disregarded, and those who heeded it early in the day were looked upon +as cowards, and many jeers were uttered by lips that now are cold. The +people of Johnstown also had a special warning in the fact that the dam +in Stony Creek, just above the town, broke about noon, and thousands of +feet of lumber passed down the river. Yet they hesitated, and even when +the wall of water, almost forty feet high, was at their doors, one man +is said by a survivor to have told his family that the stream would not +rise very high. + +How sudden the calamity is illustrated by an incident which Mr. Bender, +the night chief operator of the Western Union in Pittsburgh, relates: +"At 3 o'clock that Friday afternoon," said he, "the girl operator at +Johnstown was cheerfully ticking away that she had to abandon the office +on the first floor, because the water was three feet deep there. She +said she was telegraphing from the second story and the water was +gaining steadily. She was frightened, and said many houses were flooded. +This was evidently before the dam broke, for our man here said something +encouraging to her, and she was talking back as only a cheerful girl +operator can, when the receiver's skilled ear caught a sound on the wire +made by no human hand, which told him that the wires had grounded, or +that the house had been swept away in the flood from the lake, no one +knows which now. At 3 o'clock the girl was there, and at 3.07 we might +as well have asked the grave to answer us." + +The water passed over the dam about a foot above its top, beginning at +about half-past 2. Whatever happened in the way of a cloud-burst took +place in the night. There had been little rain up to dark. When the +workmen woke in the morning the lake was full, and rising at the rate of +a foot an hour. It kept on rising until 2 P. M., when it began breaking +over the dam and undermining it. Men were sent three or four times +during the day to warn people below of their danger. When the final +break came at 3 o'clock, there was a sound like tremendous and continued +peals of thunder. Trees, rocks and earth shot up into mid-air in great +columns and then started down the ravine. A farmer who escaped said that +the water did not come down like a wave, but jumped on his house and +beat it to fragments in an instant. He was safe on the hillside, but his +wife and two children were killed. + +Herbert Webber, who was employed by the Sportsmen's Club at the lake, +tells that for three days previous to the final outburst, the water of +the lake forced itself out through the interstices of the masonry, so +that the front of the dam resembled a large watering pot. The force of +the water was so great that one of these jets squirted full thirty feet +horizontally from the stone wall. All this time, too, the feeders of the +lake, particularly three of them, more nearly resembled torrents than +mountain streams, and were supplying the dammed up body of water with +quite 3,000,000 gallons of water hourly. + +At 11 o'clock that Friday morning, Webber says he was attending to a +camp about a mile back from the dam, when he noticed that the surface of +the lake seemed to be lowering. He doubted his eyes, and made a mark on +the shore, and then found that his suspicions were undoubtedly well +founded. He ran across the country to the dam, and there saw, he +declares, the water of the lake welling out from beneath the foundation +stones of the dam. Absolutely helpless, he was compelled to stand there +and watch the gradual development of what was to be the most disastrous +flood of this continent. + +According to his reckoning it was 2.45 when the stones in the centre of +the dam began to sink because of the undermining, and within eight +minutes a gap of twenty feet was made in the lower half of the wall +face, through which the water poured as though forced by machinery of +stupendous power. By 3 o'clock the toppling masonry, which before had +partaken somewhat of the form of an arch, fell in, and then the +remainder of the wall opened outward like twin gates, and the great +storage lake was foaming and thundering down the valley of the +Conemaugh. + +Webber became so awestruck at the catastrophe that he declares he was +unable to leave the spot until the lake had fallen so low that it showed +bottom fifty feet below him. How long a time elapsed he says he does not +know before he recovered sufficient power of observation to notice this, +but he does not think that more than five minutes passed. Webber says +that had the dam been repaired after the spring freshet of 1888 the +disaster would not have occurred. Had it been given ordinary attention +in the spring of 1887 the probabilities are that thousands of lives +would have been saved. + +Imagine, if you can, a solid piece of ground, thirty-five feet wide and +over one hundred feet high, and then, again, that a space of two hundred +feet is cut out of it, through which is rushing over seven hundred +acres of water, and you can have only a faint conception of the terrible +force of the blow that came upon the people of this vicinity like a clap +of thunder out of a clear sky. It was irresistible in its power and +carried everything before it. After seeing the lake and the opening +through the dam it can be readily understood how that out-break came to +be so destructive in its character. + +The lake had been leaking, and a couple of Italians were at work just +over the point where the break occurred, and in an instant, without +warning, it gave way and they went down in the whirling mass of water, +and were swept into eternity. + +Mr. Crouse, proprietor of the South Fork Fishing Club Hotel, says: "When +the dam of Conemaugh lake broke the water seemed to leap, scarcely +touching the ground. It bounded down the valley, crashing and roaring, +carrying everything before it. For a mile its front seemed like a solid +wall twenty feet high." The only warning given to Johnstown was sent +from South Fork village by Freight Agent Dechert. _When the great wall +that held the body of water began to crumble at the top he sent a +message begging the people of Johnstown for God's sake to take to the +hills._ He reports no serious accidents at South Fork. + +Richard Davis ran to Prospect Hill when the water raised. As to Mr. +Dechert's message, he says just such have been sent down at each flood +since the lake was made. _The warning so often proved useless that +little attention was paid to it this time._ "I cannot describe the mad +rush," he said. "At first it looked like dust. That must have been the +spray. I could see houses going down before it like a child's play +blocks set on edge in a row. As it came nearer I could see houses totter +for a moment, then rise and the next moment be crushed like egg shells, +against each other." + +Mr. John G. Parke, of Philadelphia, a civil engineer, was at the dam +superintending some improvements in the drainage system at the lake. He +did all he could with the help of a gang of laborers to avert the +catastrophe and to warn those in danger. His story of the calamity is +this:-- + +"For several days prior to the breaking of the dam, storm after storm +swept over the mountains and flooded every creek and rivulet. The waters +from these varied sources flowed into the lake, which finally was not +able to stand the pressure forced upon it. Friday morning I realized the +danger that was threatened, and although from that time until three +o'clock every human effort was made to prevent a flood, they were of no +avail. When I at last found that the dam was bound to go, I started out +to tell the people, and by twelve o'clock everybody in the Conemaugh +region did or should have known of their danger. Three hours later my +gravest fears were more than realized. It is an erroneous idea, however, +that the dam burst. It simply moved away. The water gradually ate into +the embankment until there was nothing left but a frail bulwark of wood. +This finally split asunder and sent the waters howling down the +mountains." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The course of the torrent from the broken dam at the foot of the lake to +Johnstown is almost eighteen miles, and with the exception of one point, +the water passed through a narrow V-shaped valley. Four miles below the +dam lay the town of South Fork, where the South Fork itself empties into +the Conemaugh river. The town contained about 2000 inhabitants. About +four-fifths of it has been swept away. Four miles further down on the +Conemaugh river, which runs parallel with the main line of the +Pennsylvania Railroad, was the town of Mineral Point. It had 800 +inhabitants, 90 per cent. of the houses being on a flat and close to the +river. Terrible as it may seem, very few of them have escaped. Six miles +further down was the town of Conemaugh, and here alone there was a +topographical possibility--the spreading of the flood and the breaking +of its force. It contained 2500 inhabitants, and has been almost wholly +devastated. Woodvale, with 2000 people, lay a mile below Conemaugh in +the flat, and one mile further down were Johnstown and its +suburbs--Cambria City and Conemaugh borough, with a population of +30,000. On made ground, and stretched along right at the river's verge, +were the immense iron works of the Cambria Iron and Steel Company, who +have $5,000,000 invested in their plant. Besides this there are many +other large industrial establishments on the bank of the river. + +The stream of human beings that was swept before the angry floods was +something most pitiful to behold. Men, women and children were carried +along frantically shrieking for help, but their cries availed them +nothing. Rescue was impossible. Husbands were swept past their wives, +and children were borne along, at a terrible speed, to certain death, +before the eyes of their terrorized and frantic parents. Houses, +out-buildings, trees and barns were carried on the angry flood of waters +as so much chaff. Cattle standing in the fields were overwhelmed, and +their carcasses strewed the tide. The railroad tracks converging on the +town were washed out, and wires in all directions were prostrated. + +Down through the Packsaddle came the rushing waters. Clinging to +improvised rafts, constructed in the death battle from floating boards +and timbers, were agonized men, women and children, their heart-rending +shrieks for help striking horror to the breasts of the onlookers. Their +cries were of no avail. Carried along at a railway speed on the breast +of this rushing torrent, no human ingenuity could devise a means of +rescue. + +It is impossible to describe briefly the suddenness with which the +disaster came. A warning sound was heard at Conemaugh a few minutes +before the rush of water 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, a suspicion of danger began to force itself even upon +the bravest, which was increased to a certainty a few minutes later, +when, with a rush, the mighty stream spread out in width, and when there +was no time to do anything to save themselves. Many of the unfortunates +were whirled into the middle of the stream before they could turn +around; men, women and children were struggling in the streets, and it +is thought that many of them never reached Johnstown, only a mile or two +below. + +At Johnstown a similar scene was enacted, only on a much larger scale. +The population is greater and the sweeping whirlpool rushed into a +denser mass of humanity. The imagination of the reader can better depict +the spectacle than the pen of the writer can give it. It was a twilight +of terror, and the gathering shades of evening closed in on a panorama +of horrors that has few parallels in the history of casualties. + +When the great wave from Conemaugh lake, behind the dam, came down the +Conemaugh Valley, the first obstacle it struck was the great viaduct +over the South Fork. This viaduct was a State work, built to carry the +old Portage road across the Fork. The Pennsylvania Railroad parallels +the Portage road for a long distance, and runs over the Fork. Besides +sweeping the viaduct down, the bore, or smaller bores on its wings, +washed out the Portage road for miles. One of the small bores went down +the bed of a brook which comes into the Conemaugh at the village of +South Fork, which is some distance above the viaduct. The big bore +backed the river above the village. The small bore was thus checked in +its course and flowed into the village. + +[Illustration: GENERAL VIEW OF THE RUINS, LOOKING UP STONY CREEK.] + +The obstruction below being removed, the backed-up water swept the +village of South Fork away. The flood came down. It moved steadily, but +with a velocity never yet attained by an engine moved by power +controllable by man. It accommodated itself to the character of the +breaks in the hill. It filled every one, whether narrow or broad. Its +thrust was sideways and downward as well as forward. By side thrusts it +scoured every cave and bend in the line of the mountains, lessening +its direct force to exert power laterally, but at the same time moving +its centre straight on Johnstown. It is well to state that the Conemaugh +river is tortuous, like most streams of its kind. Wherever the mountains +retreat, flats make out from them to the channel of the stream. It was +on such flats that South Fork and Mineral Point villages and the +boroughs of Conemaugh, Franklin, Woodvale, East Conemaugh and Johnstown +were built. + +After emerging from the South Fork, with the ruins of the great viaduct +in its maw, it swept down a narrow valley until just above the village +of Mineral Point. There it widened, and, thrusting its right wing into +the hollow where the village nestled, it swept away every house on the +flat. These were soon welded into a compact mass, with trees and logs +and general drift stuff. This mass followed the bore. What the bore +could not budge, its follower took up and carried. + +The first great feat at carrying and lifting was done at East Conemaugh. +It tore up every building in the yard of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It +took locomotives and carried them down and dug holes for their burials. +It has been said that the flood had a downward thrust. There was proof +of this on the banks of the river, where there was a sort of breakwater +of concreted cinders, slag, and other things, making a combination +harder than stone. Unable to get a grip directly on these banks, the +flood jumped over them, threw the whole weight of the mass of logs and +broken buildings down on the sand behind them, scooped this sand out, +and then, by backward blows, knocked the concrete to pieces. In this it +displayed almost the uttermost skill of human malice. + +After crossing the flat of East Conemaugh and scooping out of their +situations sixty-five houses in two streets, as well as tearing +passenger trains to pieces, drowning an unknown number of persons, and +picking up others to dash against whatever obstacles it encountered, it +sent a force to the left, which cut across the flat of Franklin borough, +ripped thirty-two houses to pieces, and cut a second channel for the +Conemaugh river, leaving an island to mark the place of division of the +forces of the flood. The strength of the eastern wing can be estimated +from the fact that the iron bars piled in heaps in the stock yard of the +Cambria Iron Company were swept away, and that some of them may be found +all along the river as far as Johnstown. + +After this came the utter wiping out of the borough of Woodvale, on the +flat to the northeast of Johnstown and diagonally opposite it. Woodvale +had a population of nearly 3000 people. It requires a large number of +houses to shelter so many. Estimating 10 to a family, which is a big +estimate, there were 300 houses in Woodvale. There were also a woolen +mill, a flour mill, the Gautier Barb Wire Mills of the Cambria Iron +Company, and the tannery of W. H. Rosenthal & Co. Only the flour mill +and the middle section of the bridge remain. The flat is bare otherwise. +The stables of the Woodvale Horse Railroad Company went out with the +water; every horse and car in them went also. + +The change was wrought in five minutes. Robert Miller, who lost two of +his children and his mother-in-law, thus describes the scene: "I was +standing near the Woodvale Bridge, between Maple avenue and Portage +street, in Johnstown. The river was high, and David Lucas and I were +speculating about the bridges, whether they would go down or not. Lucas +said, 'I guess this bridge will stand; it does not seem to be weakened.' +Just then we saw a dark object up the river. Over it was a white mist. +It was high and somehow dreadful, though we could not make it out. Dark +smoke seemed to form a background for the mist. We did not wait for +more. By instinct we knew the big dam had burst and its water was coming +upon us. Lucas jumped on a car horse, rode across the bridge, and went +yelling into Johnstown. The flood overtook him, and he had to abandon +his horse and climb a high hill. + +"I went straight to my house in Woodvale, warning everybody as I ran. My +wife and mother-in-law were ready to move, with my five children, so we +went for the hillside, but we were not speedy enough. The water had come +over the flat at its base and cut us off. I and my wife climbed into a +coal car with one of the children, to get out of the water. I put two +more children into the car and looked around for my other children and +my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law was a stout woman, weighing about two +hundred and twelve pounds. She could not climb into a car. The train was +too long for her to go around it, so she tried to crawl under, leading +the children. + +"The train was suddenly pushed forward by the flood, and she was knocked +down and crushed, so were my children, by the same shock. My wife and +children in the car were thrown down and covered with coal. I was taken +off by the water, but I swam to the car and pulled them from under a lot +of coal. A second blow to the train threw our car against the hillside +and us out of it to firm earth. I never saw my two children and +mother-in-law after the flood first struck the train of coal cars. I +have often heard it said that the dam might break, but I never paid any +attention to it before. It was common talk whenever there was a freshet +or a big pack of ice." + +The principal street of Woodvale was Maple avenue. The Conemaugh river +now rushes through it from one side of the flat to the other. Its +pavement is beautifully clean. It is doubtful that it will ever be +cleared by mortal agency again. + +Breaking down the barbed steel wire mill and the tannery at the bridge, +the flood went across the regular channel of the river and struck the +Gautier Steel Works, made up of numerous stanch brick buildings and one +immense structure of iron, filled with enormous boilers, fly wheels, and +machinery generally. The buildings are strewn through Johnstown. Near +their sites are some bricks, twisted iron beams, boilers, wheels, and +engine bodies, bound together with logs, driftwood, tree branches, and +various other things, woven in and out of one another marvelously. These +aggregations are of enormous size and weight. They were not too strong +for the immense power of the destroying agent, for a twenty-ton +locomotive, taken from the Gautier Works, now lies in Main street, +three-quarters of a mile away. It did not simply take a good grip upon +them; it was spreading out its line for a force by its left wing, and +hit simultaneously upon Johnstown flat, its people and houses, while its +right wing did whatever it could in the way of helping the destructive +work. The left wing scoured the flat to the base of the mountain. With a +portion of the centre it then rushed across Stony creek. The remainder +of the central force cleared several paths in diverging directions +through the town. + +While the left and centre were tearing houses to pieces and drowning +untold lives, the right had been hurrying along the base of the northern +hills, in the channel of the Conemaugh river, carrying down the houses, +bridges, human beings and other drift that had been picked up on the way +from South Fork. + +Thus far the destruction at Johnstown had not been one-quarter what it +is now. But the bed of the Conemaugh beyond Johnstown is between high +hills that come close together. The cut is bridged by a viaduct. The +right wing, with its plunder, was stopped by the bridge and the bend. +The left and centre came tearing down Stony creek. There was a collision +of forces. The men, women, children, horses, other domestic animals, +houses, bridges, railroad cars, logs and tree branches were jammed +together in a solid mass, which only dynamite can break up. The outlet +of Stony creek was almost completely closed and the channel of the +Conemaugh was also choked. The water in both surged back. In Stony creek +it went along the curve of the base of the hill in front of which +Kernville is built. Dividing its strength, one part of the flood went up +Stony creek a short distance and moved around again into Johnstown. It +swept before it many more houses than before and carried them around in +a circle, until they met and crashed against other houses, torn from the +point of Johnstown flat by a similar wave moving in a circle from the +Conemaugh. + +The two waves and their burdens went around and around in +slowly-diminishing circles, until most of the houses had been ground to +pieces. There are living men, women and children who circled in these +frightful vortices for an hour. Lawyer Rose, his wife, his two brothers +and his two sisters are among those. They were drawn out of their house +by the suction of the retreating water, and thus were started on a +frightful journey. Three times they went from the Kernville side of the +creek to the centre of the Johnstown flat and past their own dwelling. +They were dropped at last on the Kernville shore. Mr. Rose had his +collar bone broken, but the others were hurt only by fright, wetting and +some bruises. + +Some of the back water went up the creek and did damage at Grubtown and +Hornerstown. More of it, following the line of the mountain, rushed in +at the back of Kernville. It cut a clear path for itself from the lower +end of the village to the upper end, diagonally opposite, passing +through the centre. It sent little streams to topple homes over in side +places and went on a round trip into the higher part of Johnstown, +between the creek and the hill. It carried houses from Kernville to the +Johnstown bank of the creek, and left them there. Then it coursed down +the bank, overturning trains of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and +also houses, and keeping on until it had made the journey several times. + +How so marvelous a force was exerted is illustrated in the following +statement from Jacob Reese, of Pittsburg, the inventor of the basic +process for manufacturing steel. Mr. Reese says:-- + +"When the South Fork dam gave way, 16,000,000 tons of water rushed down +the mountain side, carrying thousands of tons of rocks, logs and trees +with it. When the flood reached the Conemaugh Valley it struck the +Pennsylvania Railroad at a point where they make up the trains for +ascending the Allegheny Mountains. Several trains with their locomotives +and loaded cars were swept down the valley before the flood wave, which +is said to have been fifty feet high. Cars loaded with iron, cattle, and +freight of all kinds, with those mighty locomotives, weighing from +seventy to one hundred tons each, were pushed ahead of the flood, trucks +and engines rolling over and over like mere toys. + +"Sixteen million tons of water gathering fences, barns, houses, mills +and shops into its maw. Down the valley for three miles or more rushed +this mighty avalanche of death, sweeping everything before it, and +leaving nothing but death and destruction behind it. When it struck the +railroad bridge at Johnstown, and not being able to force its way +through that stone structure, the débris was gorged and the water dammed +up fifty feet in ten minutes. + +"This avalanche was composed of more than 100,000 tons of rocks, +locomotives, freight cars, car trucks, iron, logs, trees and other +material pushed forward by 16,000,000 tons of water falling 500 feet, +and it was this that, sliding over the ground, mowed down the houses, +mills and factories as a mowing machine does a field of grain. It swept +down with a roaring, crushing sound, at the rate of a mile a minute, and +hurled 10,000 people into the jaws of death in less than half an hour. +And so the people called it the avalanche of death." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +"Johnstown is annihilated," telegraphed Superintendent Pitcairn to +Pittsburg on Friday night. "He came," says one who visited the place on +Sunday, "very close to the facts of the case. Nothing like it was ever +seen in this country. Where long rows of dwelling-houses and business +blocks stood forty-eight hours ago, ruin and desolation now reign +supreme. Probably 1500 houses have been swept from the face of the earth +as completely as if they had never been erected. Main street, from end +to end, is piled fifteen and twenty feet high with débris, and in some +instances it is as high as the roofs of the houses. This great mass of +wreckage fills the street from curb to curb, and frequently has crushed +the buildings in and filled the space with reminders of the terrible +calamity. There is not a man in the place who can give any reliable +estimate of the number of houses that have been swept away. City +Solicitor Kuehn, who should be very good authority in this matter, +places the number at 1500. From the woolen mill above the island to the +bridge, a distance of probably two miles, a strip of territory nearly a +half mile in width has been swept clean, not a stick of timber or one +brick on top of another being left to tell the story. It is the most +complete wreck that imagination could portray. + +"All day long men, women, and children were plodding about the desolate +waste looking in vain to locate the boundaries of their former homes. +Nothing but a wide expanse of mud, ornamented here and there with heaps +of driftwood, remained, however, for their contemplation. It is +perfectly safe to say that every house in the city that was not located +well up on the hillside was either swept completely away or wrecked so +badly that rebuilding will be absolutely necessary. These losses, +however, are nothing compared to the frightful sacrifice of precious +human lives to be seen on every hand. + +"During all this solemn Sunday Johnstown has been drenched with the +tears of stricken mortals, and the air is filled with sobs and sighs +that come from breaking hearts. There are scenes enacted here every hour +and every minute that affect all beholders profoundly. When homes are +thus torn asunder in an instant, and the loved ones hurled from the arms +of loving and devoted mothers, there is an element of sadness in the +tragedy that overwhelms every heart. + +"A slide, a series of frightful tosses from side to side, a run, and you +have crossed the narrow rope bridge which spanned the chasm dug by the +waters between the stone bridge and Johnstown. Crossing the bridge is an +exciting task, yet many women accomplished it rather than remain in +Johnstown. The bridge pitched like a ship in a storm. Within two inches +of your feet rushed the muddy waters of the Conemaugh. There were no +ropes to easily guide, and creeping was more convenient than walking. +One had to cross the Conemaugh at a second point in order to reach +Johnstown proper. This was accomplished by a skiff ferry. The ferryman +clung to a rope and pulled the boat over. + +"After landing one walks across a desolate sea of mud, in which there +are interred many human bodies. It was once the handsome portion of the +town. The cellars are filled up with mud, so that a person who has never +seen the city can hardly imagine that houses ever stood where they did. +Four streets solidly built up with houses have been swept away. Nothing +but a small, two-story frame house remains. It was near the edge of the +wave and thus escaped, although one side was torn off. The walk up to +wrecks of houses was interrupted in many places by small branch streams. +Occasionally across the flats could be seen the remains of a victim. +The stench arising from the mud is sickening. Along the route were +strewn tin utensils, pieces of machinery, iron pipes, and wares of every +conceivable kind. In the midst of the wreck a clothing store dummy, with +a hand in the position of beckoning to a person, stands erect and +uninjured. + +"It is impossible to describe the appearance of Main street. Whole +houses have been swept down this one street and become lodged. The wreck +is piled as high as the second-story windows. The reporter could step +from the wreck into the auditorium of the opera house. The ruins consist +of parts of houses, trees, saw logs and reels from the wire factory. +Many houses have their side walls and roofs torn up, and one can walk +directly into what had been second-story bed-rooms, or go in by way of +the top. Further up town a raft of logs lodged in the street, and did +great damage. At the beginning of the wreckage, which is at the opening +of the valley of the Conemaugh, one can look up the valley for miles and +not see a house. Nothing stands but an old woolen mill. + +"Charles Luther is the name of the boy who stood on an adjacent +elevation and saw the whole flood. He said he heard a grinding noise far +up the valley, and looking up he could see a dark line moving slowly +toward him. He saw that it was houses. On they came, like the hand of a +giant clearing off his table. High in the air would be tossed a log or +beam, which fell back with a crash. Down the valley it moved and across +the little mountain city. For ten minutes nothing but moving houses were +seen, and then the waters came with a roar and a rush. This lasted for +two hours, and then it began to flow more steadily." + +Seen from the high hill across the river from Johnstown, the Conemaugh +Valley gives an easy explanation of the terrible destruction which it +has suffered. This valley, stretching back almost in a straight line for +miles, suddenly narrows near Johnstown. The wall of water which came +tearing down toward the town, picking up all the houses and mills in the +villages along its way, suddenly rose in height as it came to the narrow +pass. It swept over the nearest part of the town and met the waters of +Stony creek, swollen by rains, rushing along with the speed of a +torrent. The two forces coming together, each turned aside and started +away again in a half-circle, seeking an outlet in the lower Conemaugh +Valley. The massive stone bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, +at the lower base of the triangle, was almost instantly choked up with +the great mass of wreckage dashed against it, and became a dam that +could not be swept away, and proved to be the ruin of the town and the +villages above. The waters checked here, formed a vast whirlpool, which +destroyed everything within its circle. It backed up on the other side +of the triangle, and devastated the village of Kernville, across the +river from Johnstown. + +The force of the current was truly appalling. The best evidence of its +force is exhibited in the mass of débris south of the Pennsylvania +bridge. Persons on the hillsides declare that houses, solid from their +foundation stones, were rushed on to destruction at the rate of thirty +miles an hour. On one house forty persons were counted; their cries for +help were heard far above the roaring waters. At the railroad bridge the +house parted in the middle, and the cries of the unfortunate people were +smothered in the engulfing waters. + +At the Cambria Iron Works a huge hickory struck the south brick wall of +the rolling mill at an angle, went through it and the west wall, where +it remains. A still more extraordinary incident is seen at the +foot-bridge of the Pennsylvania station, on the freight track built for +the Cambria Iron Works. The sunken track and bridge are built in a +curve. In clearing out the track the Cambria workmen discovered two huge +bridge trusses intact, the larger one 30 feet long and 10 feet high. It +lay close to the top of the bridge and had been driven into the cut at +least fifty feet. + +It was with an impulse to the right side of the mountain that the great +mass of water came down the Conemaugh river. It was a mass of water with +a front forty feet high, and an eighth of a mile wide. Its velocity was +so great that its first sweep did little damage on either side. It had +no time to spread. Where it burst from the gap it swept south until it +struck the bridge, and, although it was ten feet or more deep over the +top of the bridge, the obstruction of the mass of masonry was so great +that the head of the rush of water was turned back along the +Pennsylvania Railroad bluff on the left, and, sweeping up to where it +met the first stream again, licked up the portion of the town on the +left side of the triangular plain. A great eddy was thus formed. Through +the Stony Creek Gap to the right there was a rush of surplus water. In +two minutes after the current first burst through, forty feet deep, with +a solid mass of water whirling around with a current of tremendous +velocity, it was a whirlpool vastly greater than that of ten Niagaras. +The only outlet was under and over the railroad bridge, and the +continuing rush of the waters into the valley from the gap was greater +for some time than the means of escape at the bridge. + +[Illustration: RUINS SHOWING THE PATH OF THE FLOOD.] + +"Standing now at the bridge," says a visitor on Monday, "where this vast +whirlpool struggled for exit, the air is heavy with smoke and foul with +nameless odors from a mass of wreckage. The area of the triangular +space where the awful whirlpool revolved is said to be about four square +miles. The area of the space covered by this smoking mass is sixty +acres. The surface of this mass is now fifteen feet below the top of the +bridge and about thirty below the point on the bluff where the surface +of the whirlpool lashed the banks. One ragged mass some distance above +the bridge rises several feet above the general level, but with that +exception the surface of the débris is level. It has burned off until it +reached the water, and is smouldering on as the water gradually lowers. +On the right bank, at about where was the highest water level, a +detachment of the Pittsburg Fire Department is throwing two fitful +streams of water down into the smoke, with the idea of gradually +extinguishing the fire. In the immensity of the disaster with which they +combat their feeble efforts seem like those of boys with squirt guns +dampening a bonfire. About the sixty acres of burning débris, and to the +left of it from where it begins to narrow toward Stony Creek Gap, there +is a large area of level mud, with muddy streams wandering about in it. +This tract of mud comprises all of the triangle except a thin fringe of +buildings along the bluff on the Pennsylvania Railroad. A considerable +number of houses stand on the high ground on the lower face of the +central mountain and off to the right into Stony Creek Gap. The fringe +along the Pennsylvania Railroad is mostly of stores and other large +brick buildings that are completely wrecked, though not swept away. The +houses on the higher ground are unharmed; but down toward the edge they +fade away by degrees of completeness in their wreckage into the yellow +level of the huge tract over which the mighty whirlpool swept. Off out +of sight, in Stony Creek Gap, are fringes of houses on either side of +the muddy flat. + +"This flat is a peculiar thing. It is level and uninteresting as a piece +of waste ground. Too poor to grow grass, there is nothing to indicate +that it had ever been anything else than what it is. It is as clean of +débris and wreckage as though there had never been a building on it. In +reality it was the central and busiest part of Johnstown. Buildings, +both dwellings and stores, covered it thickly. Its streets were paved, +and its sidewalks of substantial stone. It had street-car lines, gas and +electric lights, and all the other improvements of a substantial city of +15,000 or 20,000 inhabitants. Iron bridges spanned the streams, and the +buildings were of substantial character. Not a brick remains, not a +stone nor a stick of timber in all this territory. There are not even +hummocks and mounds to show where wreckage might be covered with a layer +of mud. They are not there, they are gone--every building, every +street, every sidewalk and pavement, the street railways, and everything +else that covered the surface of the earth has vanished as utterly as +though it had never been there. The ground was swept as clean as though +some mighty scraper had been dragged over it again and again. Not even +the lines of the streets can be remotely traced. + +"'I have visited Johnstown a dozen times a year for a long time,' said a +business man to-day, 'and I know it thoroughly, but I haven't the least +idea now of what part of it this is. I can't even tell the direction the +streets used to run.' + +"His bewilderment is hardly greater than that of the citizens +themselves. They wander about in the mud for hours trying to find the +spot where the house of some friend or relative used to stand. It takes +a whole family to locate the site of their friend's house with any +reasonable certainty. + +"Wandering over this muddy plain one can realize something of what must +have been the gigantic force of that vast whirlpool. It pressed upon the +town like some huge millstone, weighing tens of thousands of tons and +revolving with awful velocity, pounding to powder everything beneath. +But the conception of the power of that horrible eddy of the flood must +remain feeble until that sixty acres of burning débris is inspected. It +seems from a little distance like any other mass of wreckage, though +vastly longer than any ever before seen in this country. It must have +been many times more tremendous when it was heaped up twenty feet higher +over its whole area and before the fire leveled it off. But neither then +nor now can the full terror of the flood that piled it there be +adequately realized until a trip across parts where the fire has been +extinguished shows the manner in which the stuff composing it is packed +together. It is not a heap of broken timbers lying loosely thrown +together in all directions. It is a solid mass. The boards and timbers +which made up the frame buildings are laid together as closely as sticks +of wood in a pile--more closely, for they are welded into one another +until each stick is as solidly fixed in place as though all were one. A +curious thing is that wherever there are a few boards together they are +edge up, and never standing on end or flat. The terrible force of the +whirlpool that ground four square miles of buildings into this sixty +acres of wreckage left no opportunity for gaps or holes between pieces +in the river. Everything was packed together as solidly as though by +sledge-hammer blows. + +"But the boards and timber of four square miles of buildings are not all +that is in that sixty-acre mass. An immense amount of débris from +further up the valley lies there. Twenty-seven locomotives, several +Pullman cars and probably a hundred other cars, or all that is left of +them, are in that mass. Fragments of iron bridges can be seen sticking +out occasionally above the wreckage. They are about the only things the +fire has not leveled, except the curious hillock spoken of, which is an +eighth of a mile back from the bridge, where the flames apparently raged +less fiercely. Scattered over the area, also, are many blackened logs +that were too big to be entirely burned, and that stick up now like spar +buoys in a sea of ruin. Little jets of flame, almost unseen by daylight, +but appearing as evening falls, are scattered thickly over the surface +of the wreckage. + +"Of the rest of Johnstown, and the collection of towns within sight of +the bridge, not much is to be said. They are, to a greater or less +extent, gone, as Johnstown is gone. Far up the gap through which came +the flood a large brick building remains standing, but ruined. It is all +that is left of one of the biggest wire mills and steel works in the +country. Turning around below the bridge are the works of the Cambria +Iron Company. The buildings are still standing, but they are pretty well +ruined, and the machinery with which they were filled is either totally +destroyed or damaged almost beyond repair. High up on the hill at the +left and scattered up on other hills in sight are many dwellings, neat, +well kept, and attractive places apparently, and looking as bright and +fresh now as before the awful torrent wiped out of existence everything +in the valley below. + +"This is Johnstown and its immediate vicinity as nearly as words can +paint it. It is a single feature, one section out of fifteen miles of +horror that stretches through this once lovely valley of the Allegheny. +What is true of Johnstown is true of every town for miles up and down. +The desolation of one town may differ from the desolation in others as +one death may differ from another; but it is desolation and death +everywhere--desolation so complete, so relentless, so dreadful that it +is absolutely beyond the power of language fairly to tell the tale." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Mr. William Henry Smith, General Manager of the Associated Press, was a +passenger on a railroad train which reached the Conemaugh Valley on the +very day of the disaster. He writes as follows of what he saw: + +"The fast line trains that leave Chicago at quarter past three and +Cincinnati at seven P.M. constitute the day-express eastward from +Pittsburg, which runs in two sections. This train left Pittsburg on time +Friday morning, but was stopped for an hour at Johnstown by reports of a +wash-out ahead. It had been raining hard for over sixteen hours, and the +sides of the mountains were covered with water descending into the +valleys. The Conemaugh River, whose bank is followed by the Pennsylvania +Railroad for many miles, looked an angry flood nearly bankfull. +Passengers were interested in seeing hundreds of saw-logs and an +enormous amount of driftwood shoot rapidly by, and the train pursued its +way eastward. At Johnstown there was a long wait, as before stated. The +lower stories of many houses were submerged by the slack-water, and the +inhabitants were looking out of the second-story windows. Horses were +standing up to their knees in water in the streets; a side-track of the +railroad had been washed out; loaded cars were on the bridge to keep it +steady, and the huge poles of the Western Union Telegraph Company, +carrying fifteen wires, swayed badly, and several soon went down. The +two sections ran to Conemaugh, about two miles eastward of Johnstown, +and lay there about three hours, when they were moved on to the highest +ground and placed side by side. The mail train was placed in the rear of +the first section, and a freight train was run onto a side track on the +bank of the Conemaugh. The report was that a bridge had been washed out, +carrying away one track and that the other track was unsafe. There was a +rumor also that the reservoir at South Fork might break. This made most +of the passengers uneasy, and they kept a pretty good look-out for +information. The porters of the Pullman cars remained at their posts, +and comforted the passengers with the assurance that the Pennsylvania +Railroad Company always took care of its patrons. A few gentlemen and +some ladies and children quietly seated themselves, apparently +contented. One gentleman, who was ill, had his berth made up and +retired, although advised not to do so. + +"Soon the cry came that the water in the reservoir had broken down the +barrier and was sweeping down the valley. Instantly there was a panic +and a rush for the mountain side. Children were carried and women +assisted by a few who kept cool heads. It was a race for life. There was +seen the black head of the flood, now the monster Destruction, whose +crest was high raised in the air, and with this in view even the weak +found wings for their feet. No words can adequately describe the terror +that filled every breast, or the awful power manifested by the flood. +The round-house had stalls for twenty-three locomotives. There were +eighteen or twenty of these standing there at this time. There was an +ominous crash, and the round-house and locomotives disappeared. +Everything in the main track of the flood was first lifted in air and +then swallowed up by the waters. A hundred houses were swept away in a +few minutes. These included the hotel, stores, and saloons on the front +street and residences adjacent. The locomotive of one of the trains was +struck by a house and demolished. The side of another house stopped in +front of another locomotive and served as a shield. The rear car of the +mail train swung around in the rear of the second section of the +express and turned over on its side. Three men were observed standing +upon it as it floated. The coupling broke, and the car moved out upon +the bosom of the waters. As it would roll the men would shift their +position. The situation was desperate, and they were given up for lost. +Two or three hardy men seized ropes and ran along the mountain side to +give them aid. Later it was reported that the men escaped over some +driftwood as their car was carried near a bank. It is believed there +were several women and children inside the car. Of course they were +drowned. As the fugitives on the mountain side witnessed the awful +devastation they were moved as never before in their lives. They were +powerless to help those seized upon by the waters; the despair of those +who had lost everything in life and the wailing of those whose relatives +or friends were missing filled their breasts with unutterable sorrow. + +"The rain continued to fall steadily, but shelter was not thought of. +Few passengers saved anything from the train, so sudden was the cry 'Run +for your lives, the reservoir has broken!' + +"Many were without hats, and as their baggage was left on the trains, +they were without the means of relieving their unhappy condition. The +occupants of the houses still standing on the high ground threw them +open to those who had lost all, and to the passengers of the train. + +"During the height of the flood, the spectators were startled by the +sound of two locomotive whistles from the very midst of the waters. Two +engineers, with characteristic courage, had remained at their posts, and +while there was destruction on every hand, and apparently no escape for +them, they sounded their whistles. This they repeated at intervals, the +last time with triumphant vigor, as the waters were receding from the +sides of their locomotives. By half-past five the force of the reservoir +water had been spent on the village of Conemaugh, and the Pullman cars +and locomotive of the second section remained unmoved. This was because, +being on the highest and hardest ground, the destructive current of the +reservoir flood had passed between that and the mountain, while the +current of the river did not eat it away. But the other trains had been +destroyed. A solitary locomotive was seen embedded in the mud where the +round-house had stood. + +"As the greatest danger had passed, the people of Conemaugh gave their +thoughts to their neighbors of the city of Johnstown. Here was centred +the great steel and iron industries, the pride of Western Pennsylvania, +the Cambria Iron Works being known everywhere. Here were churches, +daily newspapers, banks, dry-goods houses, warehouses, and the +comfortable and well-built homes of twelve thousand people. In the +contemplation of the irresistible force of that awful flood, gathering +additional momentum as it swept on toward the Gulf, it became clear that +the city must be destroyed, and that unless the inhabitants had +telegraphic notice of the breaking of the reservoir they must perish. A +cry of horror went up from the hundreds on the mountain-side, and a few +instinctively turned their steps toward Johnstown. The city was +destroyed. All the mills, furnaces, manufactories, the many and varied +industries, the banks, the residences, all, all were swallowed up before +the shadows of night had settled down upon the earth. Those who came +back by daybreak said that from five thousand to eight thousand had been +drowned. Our hope is that this is an exaggeration, and when the roll is +called most will respond. In the light of this calamity, the destruction +at Conemaugh sinks into insignificance." + +Mr. George Johnston, a lumber merchant of Pittsburg, was another +witness. "I had gone to Johnstown," he says, "to place a couple of +orders. I had scarcely reached the town, about three o'clock in the +afternoon, when I saw a bulletin posted up in front of the telegraph +office, around which quite a crowd of men had congregated. I pushed my +way up, and read that the waters were so high in the Conemaugh that it +was feared the three-mile dam, as it was called, would give way. I know +enough about Johnstown to feel that my life was not worth a snap once +that dam gave way. Although the Johnstown people did not seem to pay +much attention to the warning, I was nervous and apprehensive. I had +several parties to see, but concluded to let all but one go until some +later day. So I hurried through with my most urgent transactions and +started for the depot. The Conemaugh had then gotten so high that the +residents of the low-lying districts had moved into upper stories. I +noticed a number of wagons filled with furniture hurrying through the +streets. A few families, either apprehensive of the impending calamity +or driven from their houses by the rising waters, had started for the +surrounding hills. Johnstown, you know, lies in a narrow valley, and +lies principally on the V-shaped point between the converging river and +Stony Creek. + +"I was just walking up the steps to the depot when I heard a fearful +roar up the valley. It sounded at first like a heavy train of cars, but +soon became too loud and terrible for that. I boarded a train, and as I +sat at the car window a sight broke before my view that I will remember +to my dying day. Away up the Conemaugh came a yellow wall, whose crest +was white and frothy. I rushed for the platform of the car, not knowing +what I did, and just then the train began to move. Terrified as I was, I +remember feeling that I was in the safest place and I sank back in a +seat. When I looked out again what had been the busy mill yards of the +Cambria Iron Company was a yellow, turbulent sea, on whose churned +currents houses and barns were riding like ships in a brook. The water +rushing in upon the molten metal in the mills had caused deafening +explosions, which, coupled with the roar and grinding of the flood, made +a terrifying din. Turning to the other side and looking on down the +valley, I saw the muddy water rushing through the main streets of the +town. I could see men and horses floundering about almost within call. +House-tops were being filled with white-faced people who clung to each +other and looked terror-stricken upon the rising flood. + +"It had all come so quickly that none of them seemed to realize what had +happened. The conductor of my train had been pulling frantically at the +bell-rope, and the train went spinning across the bridge. I sat in my +seat transfixed with horror. Houses were spinning through beneath the +bridge, and I did not know at what moment the structure would melt away +under the train. The conductor kept tugging at the bell-rope and the +train shot ahead again. We seemed to fairly leap over the yellow +torrents, and I wondered for an instant whether we had not left the +rails and were flying through the air. My heart gave a bound of relief +when we dashed into the forest on the hillside opposite the doomed town. +As the train sped along at a rate of speed that made me think the +engineer had gone mad, I took one look back upon the valley. What a +sight it was! The populous valley for miles either way was a seething, +roaring cauldron, through whose boiling surface roofs of houses and the +stand-pipes of mills protruded. The water was fairly piling up in a well +farther up, and I saw the worst had not yet come. Then I turned my eyes +away from the awful sight and tried not to even think until Pittsburg +was reached. + +"I cannot see how it is possible for less than five thousand lives to +have been sacrificed in Johnstown alone. At least two-thirds of the town +was swept away. The water came so quickly that escape from the low +districts was impossible. People retreated to the upper floors of their +residences and stores until the water had gotten too deep to allow their +escape. When the big flood came the houses were picked up like +pasteboard boxes or collapsed like egg-shells. The advance of the flood +was black with houses, logs, and other debris, so that it struck +Johnstown with the solid force of a battering-ram. None but +eye-witnesses of the flood can comprehend its size and awfulness as it +came tumbling, roaring down upon the unprotected town." + +[Illustration: TYPICAL SCENE IN JOHNSTOWN.] + +The appearance of the flood at Sang Hollow, some miles below Johnstown, +is thus pictured by C. W. Linthicum, of Baltimore: + +"My train left Pittsburg on Friday morning for Johnstown. The train was +due at Sang Hollow at two minutes after four, but was five minutes late. +At Sang Hollow, just as we were about to pull out, we heard that the +flood was coming. Looking ahead, up the valley, we saw an immense wall +of water thirty feet high, raging, roaring, rushing toward us. The +engineer reversed his engine and rushed back to the hills at full speed, +and we barely escaped the waters. We ran back three hundred yards, and +the flood swept by, tearing up track, telegraph poles, trees, and +houses. Superintendent Pitcairn was on the train. We all got out and +tried to save the floating people. Taking the bell cord we formed a line +and threw the rope out, thus saving seven persons. We could have saved +more, but many were afraid to let go of the debris. It was an awful +sight. The immense volume of water was roaring along, whirling over huge +rocks, dashing against the banks and leaping high into the air, and this +seething flood was strewn with timber, trunks of trees, parts of houses, +and hundreds of human beings, cattle, and almost every living animal. +The fearful peril of the living was not more awful than the horrors of +hundreds of distorted, bleeding corpses whirling along the avalanche of +death. We counted one hundred and seven people floating by and dead +without number. A section of roof came by on which were sitting a woman +and girl. A man named C. W. Heppenstall, of Pittsburg, waded and swam to +the roof. He brought the girl in first and then the woman. They told us +they were not relatives. The woman had lost her husband and four +children, and the girl her father and mother, and entire family. A +little boy came by with his mother. Both were as calm as could be, and +the boy was apparently trying to comfort the mother. They passed +unheeding our proffered help, and striking the bridge below, went down +into the vortex like lead. + +"One beautiful girl came by with her hands raised in prayer, and, +although we shouted to her and ran along the bank, she paid no +attention. We could have saved her if she had caught the rope. An old +man and his wife whom we saved said that eleven persons started from +Cambria City on the roof with him, but that the others had dropped off. + +"At about eight P. M. we started for New Florence. All along the river +we saw corpses without number caught in the branches of trees and +wedged in corners in the banks. A large sycamore tree in the river +between Sang Hollow and New Florence seemed to draw into it nearly all +who floated down, and they went under the surface at its roots like +lead. When the waters subsided two hundred and nine bodies were found at +the root of this tree. All night the living and the dead floated by New +Florence. At Pittsburg seventy-eight bodies were found on Saturday, and +as many more were seen floating by. Hundreds of people from ill-fated +Johnstown are wandering homeless and starving on the mountain-side. Very +few saved anything, and I saw numbers going down the stream naked. The +suffering within the next few days will be fearful unless prompt relief +is extended." + +H. M. Bennett and S. W. Keltz, engineer and conductor of engine No. +1,165, an extra freight, which happened to be lying at South Fork when +the dam broke, tell a graphic story of their wonderful flight and escape +on the locomotive before the advancing flood. At the time mentioned +Bennett and Keltz were in the signal tower at that point awaiting +orders. The fireman and flagman were on the engine, and two brakemen +were asleep in the caboose. Suddenly the men in the tower heard a loud +booming roar in the valley above them. They looked in the direction of +the sound, and were almost transfixed with horror to see two miles +above them a huge black wall of water, at least one hundred and fifty +feet in height, rushing down the valley upon them. + +One look the fear-stricken men gave the awful sight, and then they made +a rush for the locomotive, at the same time giving the alarm to the +sleeping brakemen in the caboose with loud cries, but with no avail. It +was impossible to aid them further, however, so they cut the engine +loose from the train, and the engineer, with one wild wrench, threw the +lever wide open, and they were away on a mad race for life. For a moment +it seemed that they would not receive momentum enough to keep ahead of +the flood, and they cast one despairing glance back. Then they could see +the awful deluge approaching in its might. On it came, rolling and +roaring like some Titanic monster, tossing and tearing houses, sheds, +and trees in its awful speed as if they were mere toys. As they looked +they saw the two brakemen rush out of the cab, but they had not time to +gather the slightest idea of the cause of their doom before they, the +car, and signal tower were tossed high in the air, to disappear forever +in engulfing water. + +Then with a shudder, as if at last it comprehended its peril, the engine +leaped forward like a thing of life, and speeded down the valley. But +fast as it went, the flood gained upon them. Hope, however, was in the +ascendant, for if they could but get across the bridge below the track +would lean toward the hillside in such a manner that they would be +comparatively safe. In a few breathless moments the shrieking locomotive +whizzed around the curve and they were in sight of the bridge. Horror +upon horrors! Ahead of them was a freight train, with the rear end +almost on the bridge, and to get across was simply impossible! Engineer +Bennett then reversed the lever and succeeded in checking the engine as +they glided across the bridge, and then they jumped and ran for their +lives up the hillside, as the bridge and tender of the locomotive they +had been on were swept away like a bundle of matches in the torrent. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +There have been many famous rides in history. Longfellow has celebrated +that of Paul Revere. Read has sung of Sheridan's. John Boyle O'Reilly +has commemorated in graceful verse the splendid achievement of Collins +Graves, who, when the Williamsburg dam in Massachusetts broke, dashed +down the valley on horseback in the van of the flood, warning the people +and saving countless lives: + + "He draws no rein, but he shakes the street + With a shout and a ring of the galloping feet, + And this the cry that he flings to the wind: + 'To the hills for your lives! The flood is behind!' + + "In front of the roaring flood is heard + The galloping horse and the warning word. + Thank God! The brave man's life is spared! + From Williamsburg town he nobly dared + To race with the flood and take the road + In front of the terrible swath it mowed. + For miles it thundered and crashed behind, + But he looked ahead with a steadfast mind: + 'They must be warned,' was all he said, + As away on his terrible ride he sped." + +There were two such heroes in the Conemaugh Valley. Let their deeds be +told and their names held in everlasting honor. One was John G. Parke, a +young civil engineer of Philadelphia, a nephew of the General John G. +Parke who commanded a corps of the Union Army. He was the first to +discover the impending break in the South Fork dam, and jumping into the +saddle he started at breakneck speed down the valley shouting: "The dam; +the dam is breaking; run for your lives!" Hundreds of people were saved +by this timely warning. Reaching South Fork Station, young Parke +telegraphed tidings of the coming inundation to Johnstown, ten miles +below, fully an hour before the flood came in "a solid wall of water +thirty feet high" to drown the mountain-bound town. + +Some heeded the note of alarm at Johnstown; others had heard it before, +doubted, and waited until death overtook them. Young Parke climbed up +into the mountains when the water was almost at his horse's heels, and +saw the deluge pass. + +Less fortunate was Daniel Peyton, a rich young man of Johnstown. He +heard at Conemaugh the message sent down from South Fork by the gallant +Parke. In a moment he sprang into the saddle. Mounted on a grand, big, +bay horse, he came riding down the pike which passes through Conemaugh +to Johnstown, like some angel of wrath of old, shouting his warning: + +"Run for your lives to the hills! Run to the hills!" + +The people crowded out of their houses along the thickly settled streets +awe-struck and wondering. No one knew the man, and some thought he was a +maniac and laughed. On and on, at a deadly pace, he rode, and shrilly +rang out his awful cry. In a few moments, however, there came a cloud of +ruin down the broad streets, down the narrow alleys, grinding, twisting, +hurling, over-turning, crashing--annihilating the weak and the strong. +It was the charge of the flood, wearing its coronet of ruin and +devastation, which grew at every instant of its progress. Forty feet +high, some say, thirty according to others, was this sea, and it +travelled with a swiftness like that which lay in the heels of Mercury. + +On and on raced the rider, on and on rushed the wave. Dozens of people +took heed of the warning and ran up to the hills. + +Poor, faithful rider! It was an unequal contest. Just as he turned to +cross the railroad bridge the mighty wall fell upon him, and horse, +rider, and bridge all went out into chaos together. + +A few feet further on several cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad train +from Pittsburg were caught up and hurried into the cauldron, and the +heart of the town was reached. + +The hero had turned neither to the right nor left for himself, but rode +on to death for his townsmen. When found Peyton was lying face upward +beneath the remnants of massive oaks, while hard by lay the gallant +horse that had so nobly done all in his power for humanity before he +started to seek a place of safety for himself. + +Mrs. Ogle, the manager of the Western Union telegraph office, who died +at her post, will go down in history as a heroine of the highest order. +Notwithstanding the repeated notifications which she received to get out +of reach of the approaching danger, she stood by the instruments with +unflinching loyalty and undaunted courage, sending words of warning to +those in danger in the valley below. When every station in the path of +the coming torrent had been warned, she wired her companion at South +Fork: "This is my last message," and as such it shall always be +remembered as her last words on earth, for at that very moment the +torrent engulfed her and bore her from her post on earth to her post of +honor in the great beyond. + +Miss Nina Speck, daughter of the Rev. David Speck, pastor of the First +United Brethren Church, of Chambersburg, was in Johnstown visiting her +brother and narrowly escaped death in the flood. She arrived home clad +in nondescript clothing, which had been furnished by an old colored +washerwoman, and told the following story of the flood: + +"Our house was in Kernsville, a part of Johnstown through which Stony +Creek ran. Although we were a square from the creek, the back-water from +the stream had flooded the streets in the morning and was up to our +front porch. At four o'clock on Friday afternoon we were sitting on the +front porch watching the flood, when we heard a roar as of a tornado or +mighty conflagration. + +"We rushed up-stairs and got out upon the bay-window. There an awful +sight met our eyes. Down the Conemaugh Valley was advancing a mighty +wall of water and mist with a terrible roar. Before it were rolling +houses and buildings of all kinds, tossing over and over. We thought it +was a cyclone, the roar sounding like a tempest among forest trees. We +started down-stairs and out through the rear of the house to escape to +the hillside near by. But before we could get there the water was up to +our necks and we could make no progress. We turned back and were +literally dashed by the current into the house, which began to move off +as soon as [we] were in it again. From the second-story window I saw a +young man drifting toward us. I broke the glass from the frames with my +hands and helped him in, and in a few minutes more I pulled in an old +man, a neighbor, who had been sick. + +"Our house moved rapidly down the stream and fortunately lodged against +a strong building. The water forced us out of the second-story up into +the attic. Then we heard a lot of people on our roof begging us for +God's sake to let them in. I broke through the roof with a bed-slat and +pulled them in. Soon we had thirteen in all crouched in the attic. + +"Our house was rocking, and every now and then a building would crash +against us. Every moment we thought we would go down. The roofs of all +the houses drifting by us were covered with people, nearly all praying +and some singing hymns, and now and then a house would break apart and +all would go down. On Saturday at noon we were rescued, making our way +from one building to the next by crawling on narrow planks. I counted +hundreds of bodies lying in the debris, most of them covered over with +earth and showing only the outlines of the form." + +Opposite the northern wall of the Methodist Church the flood struck the +new Queen Anne house of John Fronheiser, a superintendent in the Cambria +Works. He was at home, as most men were that day, trying to calm the +fears of the women and children of the family during the earlier flood. +Down went the front of the new Queen Anne house, and into the wreck of +it fell the Superintendent, two elder children, a girl and a boy. As the +flood passed he heard the boy cry: "Don't let me drown, papa; break my +arms first!" and the girl: "Cut off my legs, but don't let me drown!" + +And as he heard them, came a wilder cry from his wife drifting down with +the current, to "Save the baby." But neither wife nor baby could be +saved, and boy and girl stayed in the wreck until the water went down +and they were extricated. + +Horror piled on horror is the story from Johnstown down to the viaduct. +Horror shot through with intense lights of heroism, and here and there +pervaded with gleams of humor. It is known that one girl sang as she was +whirled through the flood, "Jesus, lover of my soul," until the water +stopped her singing forever. It is known that Elvie Duncan, daughter of +the Superintendent of the Street Car Company, when her family was +separated and she was swept away with her baby sister, kept the little +thing alive by chewing bread and feeding it to her. It is known that +John Dibart, banker, died as helplessly in his splendid house as did +that solitary prisoner in his cell; that the pleasant park, with the +chain fence about it, was so completely annihilated that not even one +root of the many shade trees within its boundaries remains. It is known +also that to a leaden-footed messenger boy, who was ambling along Main +Street, fear lent wings to lift him into the _Tribune_ office in the +second story of the Post Office, and that the Rosensteels, general +storekeepers of Woodvale, were swept into the windows of their friends, +the Cohens, retail storekeepers of Main Street, Johnstown, two miles +from where they started. It is known that the Episcopal Church, at +Locust and Market Streets, went down like a house of cards, or as the +German Lutheran had gone, in the path of the flood, and that Rector +Diller, his wife and child, and adopted daughter went with it, while of +their next-door neighbors, Frank Daly, of the Cambria Company, and his +mother, the son was drowned and the mother, not so badly hurt in body as +in spirit, died three nights after in the Mercy Hospital, Pittsburg. + +But while the flood was driving people to silent death down the valley, +there was a sound of lamentation on the hills. Hundreds who had climbed +there to be out of reach during the morning's freshet saw the city in +the valley disappearing, and their cries rose high above the crash and +the roar. Little time had eyes to watch or lips to cry. O'Brien, the +disabled Millville storekeeper, was one of the crowd in the park. He saw +a town before him, then a mountain of timber approaching; then a dizzy +swirl of men at the viaduct, a breaking of the embankment to the east of +it, the forming of a whirlpool there that ate up homes and those that +dwelt in them, as a cauldron of molten iron eats up the metal scraps +that are thrown in to cool it, and then a silence and a subsidence. + +It was a quarter of four o'clock. At half-past three there had been a +Johnstown. Now there was none. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Volumes might be written of the sufferings endured and valor exhibited +by the survivors of the flood, or of the heart-rending grief with which +so many were stricken. At Johnstown an utterly wretched woman named Mrs. +Fenn stood by a muddy pool of water trying to find some trace of a once +happy home. She was half crazed with grief, and her eyes were red and +swollen. As a correspondent stepped to her side she raised her pale, +haggard face and remarked: + +"They are all gone. O God! be merciful to them! My husband and my seven +dear little children have been swept down with the flood, and I am left +alone. We were driven by the awful flood into the garret, but the water +followed us there. Inch by inch it kept rising, until our heads were +crushing against the roof. It was death to remain. So I raised a window, +and one by one, placed my darlings on some driftwood, trusting to the +great Creator. As I liberated the last one, my sweet little boy, he +looked at me and said: 'Mamma, you always told me that the Lord would +care for me; will He look after me now?' I saw him drift away with his +loving face turned toward me, and, with a prayer on my lips for his +deliverance, he passed from sight forever. The next moment the roof +crashed in, and I floated outside, to be rescued fifteen hours later +from the roof of a house in Kernsville. If I could only find one of my +darlings I could bow to the will of God, but they are all gone. I have +lost everything on earth now but my life, and I will return to my old +Virginia home and lay me down for my last great sleep." + +A handsome woman, with hair as black as a raven's wing, walked through +the depot where a dozen or more bodies were awaiting burial. Passing +from one to another, she finally lifted the paper covering from the face +of a woman, young, and with traces of beauty showing through the stains +of muddy water, and with a cry of anguish she reeled backward to be +caught by a rugged man who chanced to be passing. In a moment or so she +had calmed herself sufficiently to take one more look at the features of +her dead. She stood gazing at the corpse as if dumb. Finally, turning +away with another wild burst of grief, she said: "And her beautiful hair +all matted and her sweet face so bruised and stained with mud and +water!" The dead woman was the sister of the mourner. The body was +placed in a coffin a few minutes later and sent away to its narrow +house. + +A woman was seen to smile, one morning just after the catastrophe, as +she came down the steps of Prospect Hill, at Johnstown. She ran down +lightly, turning up toward the stone bridge. She passed the little +railroad station where the undertakers were at work embalming the dead, +and walked slowly until she got opposite the station. Then she stopped +and danced a few steps. There was but a small crowd there. The woman +raised her hands above her head and sang. She became quiet and then +suddenly burst into a frenzied fit of weeping and beat her forehead with +her hands. She tore her dress, which was already in rags. + +"I shall go crazy," she screamed, "if they do not find his body." + +The poor woman could not go crazy, as her mind had been already +shattered. + +"He was a good man," she went on, while the onlookers listened +pityingly. "I loved him and he loved me." + +"Where is he?" she screamed. "I must find him." + +And she started at the top of her speed down the track toward the river. +Some men caught her. She struggled desperately for a few moments, and +then fainted. + +Her name was Eliza Adams, and she was a bride of but two months. Her +husband was a foreman at the Cambria Iron Works and was drowned. + +[Illustration: JOHNSTOWN--VIEW COR. MAIN AND CLINTON STS.] + +The body of a beautiful young girl of twenty was found wedged in a mass +of ruins just below the Cambria Iron Works. She was taken out and laid +on the damp grass. She was tall, slender, of well-rounded form, clad in +a long red wrapper, with lace at her throat and wrists. Her feet were +encased in pretty embroidered slippers. Her face was a study for an +artist. Features clear cut as though chiseled from Parian marble; and, +strangely enough, they bore not the slightest disfigurement, and had not +the swelled and puffed appearance that was present in nearly all the +other drowned victims. A smile rested on her lips. Her hair, which had +evidently been golden, was matted with mud and fell in heavy masses to +her waist. + +"Does any one know her?" was asked of the silent group that had gathered +around. + +No one did, and she was carried to the improvised morgue in the +school-house, and now fills a grave as one of the "unidentified dead." + +Miss Rose Clark was fastened in the debris at the railroad bridge, at +Johnstown. The force of the water had torn all of her garments off and +pinned her left leg below the water between two beams. She was more +calm than the men who were trying to rescue her. The flames were coming +nearer, and the intense heat scorching her bare skin. She begged the men +to cut off the imprisoned leg. Finally half of the men turned and fought +the fire, while the rest endeavored to rescue Miss Clark. After six +hours of hard work, and untold suffering by the brave little lady she +was taken from the ruins in a dead faint. She was one mass of bruises, +from her breast to her knees, and her left arm and leg were broken. + +Just below Johnstown, on the Conemaugh, three women were working on the +ruins of what had been their home. An old arm-chair was taken from the +ruins by the men. When one of the women saw the chair, it brought back a +wealth of memory, probably the first since the flood occurred, and +throwing herself on her knees on the wreck she gave way to a flood of +tears. + +"Where in the name of God," she sobbed, "did you get that chair? It was +mine--no, I don't want it. Keep it and find for me, if you can, my +album. In it are the faces of my husband and little girl." + +Patrick Downs was a worker in one of the mills of the Cambria Iron +Works. He had a wife and a fourteen-year-old daughter, Jessie Downs, who +was a great favorite with the sturdy, hard-handed fellow-workmen of her +father. + +She was of rare beauty and sweetness. Her waving, golden-yellow hair, +brushed away from a face of wondrous whiteness, was confined by a ribbon +at the neck. Lustrous Irish blue eyes lighted up the lovely face and +ripe, red lips parted in smiles for the workmen in the mills, every one +of whom was her lover. + +Jessie was in the mill when the flood struck the town, and had not been +seen since till the work of cleaning up the Cambria plant was begun in +earnest. Then, in the cellar of the building a workman spied a little +shoe protruding from a closely packed bed of sandy mud. In a few moments +the body of Jessie Downs was uncovered. + +The workmen who had been in such scenes as this for six days stood about +with uncovered heads and sobbed like babies. The body had not been +bruised nor hurt in any way, the features being composed as if in sleep. + +The men gathered up the body of their little sweetheart and were +carrying it through the town on a stretcher when they met poor Patrick +Downs. He gazed upon the form of his baby, but never a tear was in his +eye, and he only thanked God that she had not suffered in contest with +the angry waves. + +He had but a moment before identified the body of his wife among the +dead recovered, and the mother and child were laid away together in one +grave on Grove Hill, and the father resumed work with the others. + +Dr. Lowman is one of the most prominent physicians of Western +Pennsylvania. His residence in Johnstown was protected partially from +the avalanche of water by the Methodist Church, which is a large stone +structure. Glancing up-stream, the Doctor saw advancing what seemed to +be a huge mountain. Grasping the situation, he ran in and told the +family to get to the top floors as quickly as possible. They had +scarcely reached the second floor when the water was pouring into the +windows. They went higher up, and the water followed them, but it soon +reached its extreme height. + +While the family were huddled in the third story the Doctor looked out +and saw a young girl floating toward the window on a door. He smashed +the glass, and, at the great risk of his own life, succeeded in hauling +the door toward him and lifting the girl through the window. She had not +been there long when one corner of the building gave way and she became +frightened. She insisted on taking a shutter and floating down-stream. +In vain did the Doctor try to persuade her to forego such a suicidal +attempt. She said that she was a good swimmer, and that, once out in the +water, she had no fears for her ultimate safety. Resisting all +entreaties and taking a shutter from the window, she plunged out into +the surging waters, and has not since been heard from. + +When the girl deserted the house, Dr. Lowman and his family made their +way to the roof. While up there another corner of the house gave way. +After waiting for several hours, the intervening space between the bank +building and the dwelling became filled with drift. The Doctor gathered +his family around him, and after a perilous walk they all reached the +objective point in safety. Dr. Lowman's aged father was one of the +party. When his family was safe Dr. Lowman started to rescue other +unfortunates. All day Saturday he worked like a beaver in water to his +neck, and he saved the lives of many. + +No man returns from the valley of death with more horrible remembrance +of the flood than Dr. Henry H. Phillips, of Pittsburg. He is the only +one known to be saved out of a household of thirteen, among whom was his +feeble old mother and other near and dear friends. His own life was +saved by his happening to step out upon the portico of the house just as +the deluge came. Dr. Phillips had gone to Johnstown to bring his mother, +who was an invalid, to his home in the East End. They had intended +starting for Pittsburg Friday morning, but Mrs. Phillips did not feel +able to make the journey, and it was postponed until the next day. In +the meantime the flood began to come, and during the afternoon of Friday +the family retired to the upper floors of the house for safety. There +were thirteen in the house, including little Susan McWilliams, the +twelve-year-old daughter of Mr. W. H. McWilliams, of Pittsburg, who was +visiting her aunt, Mrs. Phillips; Dr. L. T. Beam, son-in-law of Mrs. +Phillips; another niece, and Mrs. Dowling, a neighbor. The latter had +come there with her children because the Phillips house was a brick +structure while her own was frame. Its destruction proved to be the more +sudden and complete on account of the material. + +The water was a foot deep on the first floor, and the family were +congratulating themselves that they were so comfortably situated in the +upper story, when Dr. Phillips heard a roaring up toward the Cambria +Iron Works. Without a thought of the awful truth, he stepped out upon +the portico of the house to see what it meant. A wall of water and +wreckage loomed up before him like a roaring cloud. Before he could turn +back or cry out he saw a house, that rode the flood like a chip, come +between him and his vision of the window. Then all was dark, and the +cold water seemed to wrap him up and toss him to a house-top three +hundred yards from where that of his mother had stood. Gathering his +shattered wits together the Doctor saw he was floating about in the +midst of a black pool. Dark objects were moving all about him, and +although there was some light, he could not recognize any of the +surroundings. For seventeen hours he drifted about upon the wreckage +where fate had tossed him. Then rescuers came, and he was taken to safe +quarters. A long search has so far failed to elicit any tidings of the +twelve persons in the Phillips' house. + +Mr. G. B. Hartley, of Philadelphia, was one of the five out of +fifty-five guests of the Hurlburt House who survived. + +"The experience I passed through at Johnstown on that dreadful Friday +night," said Mr. Hartley to a correspondent, "is like a horrible +nightmare in a picture before me. When the great rush of water came I +was sitting in the parlors of the Hurlburt House. Suddenly we were +startled to hear several loud shouts on the streets. These cries were +accompanied by a loud, crashing noise. At the first sound we all rushed +from the room panic-stricken. There was a crash and I found myself +pinned down by broken boards and debris of different kinds. The next +moment I felt the water surging in. I knew it went higher than my head +because I felt it. The water must have passed like a flash or I would +not have come out alive. After the shock I could see that the entire +roof of the hotel had been carried off. Catching hold of something I +manged to pull myself up on to the roof. The roof had slid off and lay +across the street. On the roof I had a chance to observe my +surroundings. Down on the extreme edge of the roof I espied the +proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Benford. He was nearly exhausted, and it +required every effort for him to hold to the roof. Cautiously advancing, +I managed to creep down to where he was holding. I tried to pull him up, +but found I was utterly powerless. Mr. Benford was nearly as weak as +myself, and could do very little toward helping himself. We did not give +up, however, and in a few minutes, by dint of struggling and putting +forth every bit of strength, Mr. Benford managed to crawl upon the roof. +Crouching and shivering on another part of the roof were two girls, one +a chamber-maid of the hotel, and the other a clerk in a store that was +next to it. The latter was in a pitiable plight. Her arm had been torn +from its socket. I took off my overcoat and gave it to her. Mr. Benford +did the same thing for the other, for it was quite chilly. A young man +was nursing his mother, who had had her scalp completely torn off. He +asked me to hold her head until he could make a bandage. He tore a thick +strip of cloth and placed it round her head. The blood saturated it +before it was well on. Soon after this I was rescued more dead than +alive." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Many of the most thrilling sights and experiences were those of railroad +employees and passengers. Mr. Henry, the engineer of the second section +of express train No. 8, which runs between Pittsburg and Altoona, was at +Conemaugh when the great flood came sweeping down the valley. He was +able to escape to a place of safety. His was the only train that was not +injured, even though it was in the midst of the great wave. The story as +related by Mr. Henry is most graphic. + +"It was an awful sight," he said. "I have often seen pictures of flood +scenes and I thought they were exaggerations, but what I witnessed last +Friday changes my former belief. To see that immense volume of water, +fully fifty feet high, rushing madly down the valley, sweeping +everything before it, was a thrilling sight. It is engraved indelibly on +my memory. Even now I can see that mad torrent carrying death and +destruction before it. + +"The second section of No. 8, on which I was, was due at Johnstown +about quarter past ten in the morning. We arrived there safely and were +told to follow the first section. When we arrived at Conemaugh the first +section and the mail were there. Washouts further up the mountain +prevented our going on, so we could do nothing but sit around and +discuss the situation. The creek at Conemaugh was swollen high, almost +overflowing. The heavens were pouring rain, but this did not prevent +nearly all the inhabitants of the town from gathering along its banks. +They watched the waters go dashing by and wondered whether the creek +would get much higher. But a few inches more and it would overflow its +banks. There seemed to be a feeling of uneasiness among the people. They +seemed to fear that something awful was going to happen. Their +suspicions were strengthened by the fact that warning had come down the +valley for the people to be on the lookout. The rains had swollen +everything to the bursting point. The day passed slowly, however. Noon +came and went, and still nothing happened. We could not proceed, nor +could we go back, as the tracks about a mile below Conemaugh had been +washed away, so there was nothing for us to do but to wait and see what +would come next. + +"Some time after three o'clock Friday afternoon I went into the train +dispatcher's office to learn the latest news. I had not been there long +when I heard a fierce whistling from an engine away up the mountain. +Rushing out I found dozens of men standing around. Fear had blanched +every cheek. The loud and continued whistling had made every one feel +that something serious was going to happen. In a few moments I could +hear a train rattling down the mountain. About five hundred yards above +Conemaugh the tracks make a slight curve and we could not see beyond +this. The suspense was something awful. We did not know what was coming, +but no one could get rid of the thought that something was wrong at the +dam. + +"Our suspense was not very long, however. Nearer and nearer the train +came, the thundering sound still accompanying it. There seemed to be +something behind the train, as there was a dull, rumbling sound which I +knew did not come from the train. Nearer and nearer it came; a moment +more and it would reach the curve. The next instant there burst upon our +eyes a sight that made every heart stand still. Rushing around the +curve, snorting and tearing, came an engine and several gravel cars. The +train appeared to be putting forth every effort to go faster. Nearer it +came, belching forth smoke and whistling long and loud. But the most +terrible sight was to follow. Twenty feet behind came surging along a +mad rush of water fully fifty feet high. Like the train, it seemed to +be putting forth every effort to push along faster. Such an awful race +we never before witnessed. For an instant the people seemed paralyzed +with horror. They knew not what to do, but in a moment they realized +that a second's delay meant death to them. With one accord they rushed +to the high lands a few hundred feet away. Most of them succeeded in +reaching that place and were safe. + +"I thought of the passengers in my train. The second section of No. 8 +had three sleepers. In these three cars were about thirty people, who +rushed through the train crying to the others 'Save yourselves!' Then +came a scene of the wildest confusion. Ladies and children shrieked and +the men seemed terror-stricken. I succeeded in helping some ladies and +children off the train and up to the high lands. Running back, I caught +up two children and ran for my life to a higher place. Thank God, I was +quicker than the flood! I deposited my load in safety on the high land +just as it swept past us. + +"For nearly an hour we stood watching the mad flood go rushing by. The +water was full of debris. When the flood caught Conemaugh it dashed +against the little town with a mighty crash. The water did not lift the +houses up and carry them off, but crushed them up one against the other +and broke them up like so many egg-shells. Before the flood came there +was a pretty little town. When the waters passed on there was nothing +but a few broken boards to mark the central portion of the city. It was +swept as clean as a newly-brushed floor. When the flood passed onward +down the valley I went over to my train. It had been moved back about +twenty yards, but it was not damaged. About fifteen persons had remained +in the train and they were safe. Of the three trains ours was the +luckiest. The engines of both the others had been swept off the track, +and one or two cars in each train had met the same fate. What saved our +train was the fact that just at the curve which I mentioned the valley +spread out. The valley is six or seven hundred yards broad where our +train was standing. This, of course, let the floods pass out. It was +only about twenty feet high when it struck our train, which was about in +the middle of the valley. This fact, together with the elevation of the +track, was all that saved us. We stayed that night in the houses in +Conemaugh that had not been destroyed. The next morning I started down +the valley and by four o'clock in the afternoon had reached Conemaugh +furnace, eight miles west of Johnstown. Then I got a team and came home. + +"In my tramp down the valley I saw some awful sights. On the tree +branches hung shreds of clothing torn from the unfortunates as they +were whirled along in the terrible rush of the torrent. Dead bodies were +lying by scores along the banks of the creeks. One woman I helped drag +from the mud had tightly clutched in her hand a paper. We tore it out of +her hand and found it to be a badly water-soaked photograph. It was +probably a picture of the drowned woman." + +Pemberton Smith is a civil engineer employed by the Pennsylvania +Railroad. On Friday, when the disaster occurred, he was at Johnstown, +stopping at the Merchants' Hotel. What happened he described as follows: + +"In the afternoon, with four associates, I spent the time playing +checkers in the hotel, the streets being flooded during the day. At +half-past four we were startled by shrill whistles. Thinking a fire was +the cause, we looked out of the window. Great masses of people were +rushing through the water in the street, which had been there all day, +and still we thought the alarm was fire. All of a sudden the roar of the +water burst upon our ears, and in an instant more the streets were +filled with debris. Great houses and business blocks began to topple and +crash into each other and go down as if they were toy-block houses. +People in the streets were drowning on all sides. One of our company +started down-stairs and was drowned. The other four, including myself, +started up-stairs, for the water was fast rising. When we got on the +roof we could see whole blocks swept away as if by magic. Hundreds of +people were floating by, clinging to roofs of houses, rafts, timbers, or +anything they could get a hold of. The hotel began to tremble, and we +made our way to an adjoining roof. Soon afterward part of the hotel went +down. The brick structures seemed to fare worse than frame buildings, as +the latter would float, while the brick would crash and tumble into one +great mass of ruins. We finally climbed into a room of the last building +in reach and stayed there all night, in company with one hundred and +sixteen other people, among the number being a crazy man. His wife and +family had all been drowned only a few hours before, and he was a raving +maniac. And what a night! Sleep! Yes, I did a little, but every now and +then a building near by would crash against us, and we would all jump, +fearing that at last our time had come. + +"Finally morning dawned. In company with one of my associates we climbed +across the tops of houses and floating debris, built a raft, and poled +ourselves ashore to the hillside. I don't know how the others escaped. +This was seven o'clock on Saturday morning. We started on foot for South +Fork, arriving there at three P. M. Here we found that all communication +by telegraph and railroad was cut off by the flood, and we had naught +to do but retrace our steps. Tired and footsore! Well, I should say so. +My gum-boots had chafed my feet so I could hardly walk at all. The +distance we covered on foot was over fifty miles. On Sunday we got a +train to Altoona. Here we found the railroad connections all cut off, so +we came back to Johnstown again on Monday. And what a desolate place! I +had to obtain a pass to go over into the city. Here it is: + + "Pass Pemberton Smith through all the streets. + "ALEC. HART, Chief of Police. + "A. J. MAXHAM, Acting Mayor." + +"The tragic pen-pictures of the scenes in the press dispatches have not +been exaggerated. They cannot be. The worse sight of all was to see the +great fire at the railroad-bridge. It makes my blood fairly curdle to +think of it. I could see the lurid flames shoot heavenward all night +Friday, and at the same time hundreds of people were floating right +toward them on top of houses, etc., and to meet a worse death than +drowning. To look at a sight like this and not be able to render a +particle of assistance seemed awful to bear. I had a narrow escape, +truly. In my mind I can hear the shrieks of men, women, and children, +the maniac's ravings, and the wild roar of a sea of water sweeping +everything before it." + +[Illustration: VIEW ON CLINTON ST., JOHNSTOWN.] + +Among the lost was Miss Jennie Paulson, a passenger on a railroad +train, whose fate is thus described by one of her comrades: + +"We had been making but slow progress all the day. Our train lay at +Johnstown nearly the whole day of Friday. We then proceeded as far as +Conemaugh, and had stopped from some cause or other, probably on account +of the flood. Miss Paulson and a Miss Bryan were seated in front of me. +Miss Paulson had on a plaid dress, with shirred waist of red cloth +goods. Her companion was dressed in black. Both had lovely corsage +bouquets of roses. I had heard that they had been attending a wedding +before they left Pittsburg. The Pittsburg lady was reading a novel +entitled _Miss Lou_. Miss Bryan was looking out of the window. When the +alarm came we all sprang toward the door, leaving everything behind us. +I had just reached the door when poor Miss Paulson and her friend, who +were behind me, decided to return for their rubbers, which they did. I +sprang from the car into a ditch next the hillside, in which the water +was already a foot and a-half deep, and, with the others, climbed up the +mountain side for our very lives. We had to do so, as the water glided +up after us like a huge serpent. Any one ten feet behind us would have +been lost beyond a doubt. I glanced back at the train when I had reached +a place of safety, but the water already covered it, and the Pullman +car in which the ladies were was already rolling down the valley in the +grasp of the angry waters." + +Mr. William Scheerer, the teller of the State Banking Company, of +Newark, N. J., was among the passengers on the ill-fated day express on +the Pennsylvania Railroad that left Pittsburg at eight o'clock A. M., on +the now historic Friday, bound for New York. + +There was some delays incidental to the floods in the Conemaugh Valley +before the train reached Johnstown, and a further delay at that point, +and the train was considerably behind time when it left Johnstown. Said +Mr. Scheerer: "The parlor car was fully occupied when I went aboard the +train, and a seat was accordingly given me in the sleeper at the rear +end of the train. There were several passengers in this car, how many I +cannot say exactly, among them some ladies. It was raining hard all the +time and we were not a very excited nor a happy crowd, but were whiling +away the time in reading and in looking at the swollen torrent of the +river. Very few of the people were apprehensive of any danger in the +situation, even after we had been held up at Conemaugh for nearly five +hours. + +"The railroad tracks where our train stopped were full fourteen feet +above the level of the river, and there was a large number of freight +and passenger cars and locomotives standing on the tracks near us and +strung along up the road for a considerable distance. Between the road +and the hill that lay at our left there was a ditch, through which the +water that came down from the hill was running like a mill-race. It was +a monotonous wait to all of us, and after a time many inquiries were +made as to why we did not go ahead. Some of the passengers who made the +inquiry were answered laconically--'Wash-out,' and with this they had to +be satisfied. I had been over the road several times before, and knew of +the existence of the dangerous and threatening dam up in the South Fork +gorge, and could not help connecting it in my mind with the cause of our +delay. But neither was I apprehensive of danger, for the possibility of +the dam giving away had been often discussed by passengers in my +presence, and everybody supposed that the utmost damage it would do when +it broke, as everybody believed it sometime would, would be to swell a +little higher the current that tore down through the Conemaugh Valley. + +"Such a possibility as the carrying away of a train of cars on the great +Pennsylvania road was never seriously entertained by anybody. We had +stood stationary until about four o'clock, when two colored porters went +through the car within a short time of each other, looking and acting +rather excited. I asked the first one what the matter was, and he +replied that he did not know. I inferred from his reply that if there +was any thing serious up, the passengers would be informed, and so I +went on reading. When the next man came along I asked him if the +reservoir had given way, and he said he thought it had. + +"I put down my book and stepped out quickly to the rear platform, and +was horrified at the sight that met my gaze up the valley. It seemed as +if a forest was coming down upon us. There was a great wall of water +roaring and grinding swiftly along, so thickly studded with the trees +from along the mountain sides that it looked like a gigantic avalanche +of trees. Of course I lingered but an instant, for the mortal danger we +all were in flashed upon me at the first sight of that terrible +on-coming torrent. But in that instant I saw an engine lifted bodily off +the track and thrown over backward into the whirlpool, where it +disappeared, and houses crushed and broken up in the flash of an eye. + +"The noise was like incessant thunder. I turned back into the car and +shouted to the ladies, three of whom alone were in the car at the +moment, to fly for their lives. I helped them out of the car on the side +toward the hill, and urged them to jump across the ditch and run for +their lives. Two of them did so, but the third, a rather heavy lady, a +missionary, who was on her way to a foreign station, hesitated for an +instant, doubtful if she could make the jump. That instant cost her her +life. While I was holding out my hand to her and urging her to jump, the +rush of waters came down and swept her, like a doll, down into the +torrent. In the same instant an engine was thrown from the track into +the ditch at my feet. The water was about my knees as I turned and +scrambled up the hill, and when I looked back, ten seconds later, it was +surging and grinding ten feet deep over the track I had just left. + +"The rush of waters lasted three-quarters of an hour, while we stood +rapt and spell-bound in the rain, looking at the ruin no human agency +could avert. The scene was beyond the power of language to describe. You +would see a building standing in apparent security above the swollen +banks of the river, the people rushing about the doors, some seeming to +think that safety lay indoors, while others rushed toward higher ground, +stumbling and falling in the muddy streets, and then the flood rolled +over them, crushing in the house with a crash like thunder, and burying +house and people out of sight entirely. That, of course, was the scene +of only an instant, for our range of vision was only over a small +portion of the city. + +"We sought shelter from the rain in the home of a farmer who lived high +up on the side-hill, and the next morning walked down to Johnstown and +viewed the ruins. It seemed as if the city was utterly destroyed. The +water was deep over all the city and few people were visible. We +returned to Conemaugh and were driven over the mountains to Ebensburg, +where we took the train for Altoona, but finding we could get no further +in that direction we turned back to Ebensburg, and from there went by +wagon to Johnstown, where we found a train that took us to Pittsburg. I +got home by the New York Central." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Edward H. Jackson, who worked in the Cambria Iron Works, told the +following story: + +"When we were going to work Friday morning at seven o'clock, May 31st, +the water in the river was about six inches below the top of the banks, +the rains during the night having swollen it. We were used to floods +about this time of the year, the water always washing the streets and +running into the cellars, so we did not pay much attention to this +fact. It continued rising, and about nine o'clock we left work in order +to go back to our homes and take our furniture and carpets to the upper +floors, as we had formerly done on similar occasions. At noon the water +was on our first floors, and kept rising until there was five feet of +water in our homes. It was still raining hard. We were all in the upper +stories about half-past four, when the first intimation we had of +anything unusual was a frightful crash, and the same moment our house +toppled over. Jumping to the windows, we saw the water rushing down the +streets in immense volumes, carrying with it houses, barns, and, worst +of all, screaming, terrified men, women, and children. In my house were +Colonel A. N. Hart, who is my uncle, his wife, sister, and two children. +They watched their chance, and when a slowly moving house passed by they +jumped to the roof and by careful manoeuvring managed to reach Dr. S. +M. Swan's house, a three-story brick building, where there were about +two hundred other people. I jumped on to a tender of an engine as it +floated down and reached the same house. All the women and children were +hysterical, most of the men were paralyzed by terror, and to describe +the scene is simply impossible. From the windows of this house we threw +ropes to persons who floated by on the roofs of houses, and in this way +we saved several. + +"Our condition in the house was none of the pleasantest. There was +nothing to eat; it was impossible to sleep, even had any one desired to +do so; when thirsty we were compelled to catch the rain-water as it fell +from the roof and drink it. Other people had gone for safety in the same +manner as we had to two other brick houses, H. Y. Hawse's residence and +Alma Hall's, and they went through precisely the same experience as we +did. Many of our people were badly injured and cut, and they were +tended bravely and well by Dr. W. E. Matthews, although he himself was +badly injured. During the evening we saved by ropes W. Forrest Rose, his +wife, daughter, and four boys. Mr. Rose's collar-bone and one rib were +broken. After a fearful night we found, when day broke, that the water +had subsided, and I and some others of the men crawled out upon the +rubbish and debris to search for food, for our people were starving. All +we could find were water-soaked crackers and some bananas, and these +were eagerly eaten by the famished sufferers. + +"Then, during the morning, began the thieving. I saw men bursting open +trunks, putting valuables in their pockets, and then looking for more. I +did not know these people, but I am sure they must have lived in the +town, for surely no others could have got there at this time. A meeting +was held, Colonel Hart was made Chief of Police, and he at once gave +orders that any one caught stealing should be shot without warning. +Notwithstanding this we afterward found scores of bodies, the fingers of +which were cut off, the fiends not wishing to waste time to take off the +rings. Many corpses of women were seen from which the ears had been cut, +in order to secure the diamond earrings. + +"Then, to add to our horrors, the debris piled up against the bridge +caught fire, and as the streets were full of oil, it was feared that the +flames would extend backwards, but happily for us this was not the case. +It was pitiful to hear the cries of those who had been caught in the +rubbish, and, after having been half drowned, had to face death as +inevitable as though bound to a stake. The bodies of those burned to +death will never be recognized, and of those drowned many were so badly +disfigured by being battered against the floating houses that they also +will be unrecognizable. It is said that Charles Butler, the assistant +treasurer of the Cambria Iron Works, who was in the Hurlburt House, +convinced that he could not escape and wishing his body to be +recognized, pinned his photograph and a letter to the lapel of his coat, +where they were found when his body was recovered. I have lost +everything I owned in the world," said Mr. Jackson, in conclusion, "and +hundreds of others are in the same condition. The money in the banks is +all right, however, for it was stowed away in the vaults." + +Frank McDonald, a railroad conductor, says: + +"I certainly think I saw one thousand bodies go over the bridge. The +first house that came down struck the bridge and at once took fire, and +as fast as the others came down they were consumed. I believe I am safe +in saying I saw one thousand bodies burn. It reminded me of a lot of +flies on fly-paper struggling to get away, with no hope and no chance +to save them. I have no idea that had the bridge been blown up the loss +of life would have been any less. They would have floated a little +further with the same certain death. Then, again, it was impossible for +any one to have reached the bridge in order to blow it up, for the +waters came so fast that no one could have done it." + +Michael Renesen tells a wonderful story of his escape. He says he was +walking down Main Street when he heard a rumbling noise, and, looking +around, he imagined it was cloud, but in a minute the water was upon +him. He floated with the tide for some time, when he was struck with +some floating timber and borne underneath the water. When he came up he +was struck again, and at last he was caught by a lightning rod and held +there for over two hours, when he was finally rescued. + +Mrs. Anne Williams was sitting sewing when the flood came on. She heard +some people crying and jumped out of the window and succeeded in getting +on the roof of an adjoining house. Under the roof she heard the cries of +men and women, and saw two men and a woman with their heads just above +the water, crying "For God's sake, either kill us outright or rescue +us!" + +Mrs. Williams cried for help for the drowning people, but none came, +and she saw them give up one by one. + +James F. McCanagher had a thrilling experience in the water. He saw his +wife was safe on land, and thought his only daughter, a girl aged about +twenty-one, was also saved, but just as he was making for the shore he +saw her and went to rescue her. He succeeded in getting within about ten +feet of land, when the girl said, "Good-bye, father," and expired in his +arms before he reached the shore. + +James M. Walters, an attorney, spent Friday night in Alma Hall, and +relates a thrilling story. One of the most curious occurrences of the +whole disaster was how Mr. Walters got to the hall. He has his office on +the second floor. His home is at No. 135 Walnut Street. He says he was +in the house with his family when the waters struck it. All was carried +away. Mr. Walters' family drifted on a roof in another direction; he +passed down several streets and alleys until he came to the hall. His +dwelling struck that edifice and he was thrown into his own office. +About three hundred persons had taken refuge in the hall and were on the +second, third, and fourth stories. The men held a meeting and drew up +some rules which all were bound to respect. + +Mr. Walters was chosen president, and Rev. Mr. Beale was put in charge +of the first floor, A. M. Hart of the second floor, Dr. Matthews of the +fourth floor. No lights were allowed, and the whole night was spent in +darkness. The sick were cared for, the weaker women and children had the +best accommodation that could be had, while the others had to wait. The +scenes were most agonizing. Heartrending shrieks, sobs, and moans +pierced the gloomy darkness. The crying of children mingled with the +suppressed sobs of the women. Under the guardianship of the men all took +more hope. No one slept during all the long, dark night. Many knelt for +hours in prayer, their supplications mingling with the roar of the +waters and the shrieks of the dying in the surrounding houses. + +In all this misery two women gave premature birth to children, Dr. +Matthews is a hero--several of his ribs were crushed by a falling +timber, and his pains were most severe. Yet through all he attended the +sick. When two women in a house across the street shouted for help, he, +with two other brave young men, climbed across the drift and ministered +to their wants. No one died during the night, but a woman and children +surrendered their lives on the succeeding day as a result of terror and +fatigue. Miss Rose Young, one of the young ladies in the hall, was +frightfully cut and bruised. Mrs. Young had a leg broken. All of Mr. +Walters' family were saved. + +Mrs. J. F. Moore, wife of a Western Union Telegraph employee in +Pittsburg, escaped with her two children from the devastated city just +one hour before the flood had covered their dwelling-place. Mr. Moore +had arranged to have his family move Thursday from Johnstown and join +him in Pittsburg. Their household goods were shipped on Thursday and +Friday. The little party caught the last train which made the trip +between Johnstown and Pittsburg. + +Mrs. Moore told her story. "Oh! it was terrible," she said. "The +reservoir had not yet burst when we left, but the boom had broken, and +before we got out of the house the water filled the cellar. On the way +to the depot the water was high up on the carriage wheels. Our train +left at quarter to two P. M., and at that time the flood had begun to +rise with terrible rapidity. Houses and sheds were carried away and two +men were drowned almost before our eyes. People gathered on the roofs to +take refuge from the water, which poured into the lower rooms of their +dwellings, and many families took flight and became scattered. Just as +the train pulled out I saw a woman crying bitterly. Her house had been +flooded and she had escaped, leaving her husband behind, and her fears +for his safety made her almost crazy. Our house was in the lower part of +the town, and it makes me shudder to think what would have happened had +we remained in it an hour longer. So far as I know, we were the only +passengers from Johnstown on the train." + +Mrs. Moore's little son told the reporter that he had seen the rats +driven out of their holes by the flood and running along the tops of the +fences. + +One old man named Parsons, with his wife and children, as soon as the +water struck their house, took to the roof and were carried down to the +stone bridge, where the back wash of the Stony Creek took them back up +along the banks and out of harm's way, but not before a daughter-in-law +became a prey to the torrent. He has lived here for thirty-five years, +and had acquired a nice, comfortable home. To-day all is gone, and as he +told the story he pointed to a rather seedy-looking coat he had on. "I +had to ask a man for it. It's hard, but I am ruined, and I am too old to +begin over again." + +Mr. Lewis was a well-to-do young man, and owned a good property where +now is a barren waste. When the flood came the entire family of eight +took to the roof, and were carried along on the water. Before they +reached the stone bridge, a family of four that had floated down from +Woodvale, two and a half miles distant, on a raft, got off to the roof +of the Lewis House, where the entire twelve persons were pushed to the +bank of the river above the bridge, and all were saved. When Mr. Lewis +was telling his story he seemed grateful to the Almighty for his safety +while thousands were lost to him. + +Another young man who had also taken to a friendly roof, became +paralyzed with fear, and stripping himself of his clothes flung himself +from the housetop into the stream and tried to swim. The force of the +water rushed him over to the west bank of the river, where he was picked +up soon after. + +A baby's cradle was fished out of a ruin and the neatly tucked-in sheets +and clothes, although soiled with mud, gave evidence of luxury. The +entire family was lost, and no one is here to lay claim to baby's crib. +In the ruin of the Penn House the library that occupied the extension +was entirely gone, while the brick front was taken out and laid bare the +parlor floor, in which the piano, turned upside down, was noticeable, +while several chandeliers were scattered on top. + +[Illustration: MAIN AND CLINTON STREETS, LOOKING SOUTHWEST.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The first survivors of the Johnstown wreck who arrived at Pittsburg were +Joseph and Henry Lauffer and Lew Dalmeyer. They endured considerable +hardship and had several narrow escapes with their lives. Their story of +the disaster can best be told in their own language. Joe, the youngest +of the Lauffer brothers, said: + +"My brother and I left on Thursday for Johnstown. The night we arrived +there it rained continually, and on Friday morning it began to flood. I +started for the Cambria store at a quarter-past eight on Friday, and in +fifteen minutes afterward I had to get out of the store in a wagon, the +water was running so rapidly. We then arrived at the station and took +the day express and went as far as Conemaugh, where we had to stop. The +limited, however, got through, and just as we were about to start the +bridge at South Fork gave way with a terrific crash, and we had to stay +there. We then went to Johnstown. This was at a quarter to ten in the +morning, when the flood was just beginning. The whole city of Johnstown +was inundated and the people all moved up to the second floor. + +"Now this is where the trouble occurred. These poor unfortunates did not +know the reservoir would burst, and there are no skiffs in Johnstown to +escape in. When the South Fork basin gave way mountains of water twenty +feet high came rushing down the Conemaugh River, carrying before them +death and destruction. I shall never forget the harrowing scene. Just +think of it! thousands of people, men, and women, and children, +struggling and weeping and wailing as they were being carried suddenly +away in the raging current. Houses were picked up as if they were but a +feather, and their inmates were all carried away with them, while cries +of 'God help me!' 'Save me!' 'I am drowning!' 'My child!' and the like +were heard on all sides. Those who were lucky enough to escape went to +the mountains, and there they beheld the poor unfortunates being crushed +to death among the debris without any chance of being rescued. Here and +there a body was seen to make a wild leap into the air and then sink to +the bottom. + +"At the stone bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad people were dashed to +death against the piers. When the fire started there hundreds of bodies +were burned. Many lookers-on up on the mountains, especially the woman, +fainted." + +Mr. Lauffer's brother, Harry, then told his part of the tale, which was +not less interesting. He said: "We had a series of narrow escapes, and I +tell you we don't want to be around when anything of that kind occurs +again. + +"The scenes at Johnstown have not in the least been exaggerated, and, +indeed, the worst is to be heard. When we got to Conemaugh and just as +we were about to start the bridge gave way. This left the day express, +the accommodation, a special train, and a freight train at the station. +Above was the South Fork water basin, and all of the trains were well +filled. We were discussing the situation when suddenly, without any +warning, the whistles of every engine began to shriek, and in the noise +could be heard the warning of the first engineer, 'Fly for your lives! +Rush to the mountains, the reservoir has burst.' Then with a thundering +peal came the mad rush of waters. No sooner had the cry been heard than +those who could rushed from the train with a wild leap and up the +mountains. To tell this story takes some time, but the moments in which +the horrible scene was enacted were few. Then came the avalanche of +water, leaping and rushing with tremendous force. The waves had angry +crests of white, and their roar was something deafening. In one +terrible swath they caught the four trains and lifted three of them +right off the track, as if they were only a cork. There they floated in +the river. Think of it, three large locomotives and finely finished +Pullmans floating around, and above all the hundreds of poor +unfortunates who were unable to escape from the car swiftly drifting +toward death. Just as we were about to leap from the car I saw a mother, +with a smiling, blue-eyed baby in her arms. I snatched it from her and +leaped from the train just as it was lifted off the track. The mother +and child were saved, but if one more minute had elapsed we all would +have perished. + +"During all of this time the waters kept rushing down the Conemaugh and +through the beautiful town of Johnstown, picking up everything and +sparing nothing. + +"The mountains by this time were black with people, and the moans and +sighs from those below brought tears to the eyes of the most +stony-hearted. There in that terrible rampage were brothers, sisters, +wives and husbands, and from the mountain could be seen the +panic-stricken marks in the faces of those who were struggling between +life and death. I really am unable to do justice to the scene, and its +details are almost beyond my power to relate. Then came the burning of +the debris near the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. The scene was too +sickening to endure. We left the spot and journeyed across country and +delivered many notes, letters, etc., that were intrusted to us." + +The gallant young engineer, John G. Parke, whose ride of warning has +already been described, relates the following: + +"On Thursday night I noticed that the dam was in good order and the +water was nearly seven feet from the top. When the water is at this +height the lake is then nearly three miles in length. It rained hard on +Thursday night and I rode up to the end of the lake on the eventful day +and saw that the woods around there was teeming with a seething cauldron +of water. Colonel Unger, the president of the fishing club that owns the +property, put twenty-five Italians to work to fix the dam. A farmer in +the vicinity also lent a willing hand. To strengthen the dam a plow was +run along the top of it, and earth was then thrown into the furrows. On +the west side a channel was dug and a sluice was constructed. We cut +through about four feet of shale rock, when we came to solid rock which +was impossible to cut without blasting. Once we got the channel open the +water leaped down to the bed-rock, and a stream fully twenty feet wide +and three feet deep rushed out on that end of the dam, while great +quantities of water were coming in by the pier at the other end. And +then in the face of this great escape of water from the dam, it kept +rising at the rate of ten inches an hour. + +"At noon I fully believed that it was practically impossible to save the +dam, and I got on a horse and galloped down to South Fork, and gave the +alarm, telling the people at the same time of their danger, and advising +them to get to a place of safety. I also sent a couple of men to the +telegraph tower, two miles away, to send messages to Johnstown and +Cambria and to the other points on the way. The young girl at the +instrument fainted when the news reached her, and was carried away. +Then, by the timely warning given, the people at South Fork had an +opportunity to move their household goods and betake themselves to a +place of safety. Only one person was drowned in that place, and he was +trying to save an old washtub that was floating down-stream. + +"It was noon when the messages were sent out, so that the people of +Johnstown had just three hours to fly to a place of safety. Why they did +not heed the warning will never be told. I then remounted my horse and +rode to the dam, expecting at every moment to meet the lake rushing down +the mountain-side, but when I reached there I found the dam still +intact, although the water had then reached the top of it. At one P. M. +I walked over the dam, and then the water was about three inches on it, +and was gradually gnawing away its face. As the stream leaped down the +outer face, the water was rapidly wearing down the edge of the +embankment, and I knew that it was a question of but a few hours. From +my knowledge I should say there was fully ten million tons of water in +the lake at one o'clock, while the pressure was largely increased by the +swollen streams that flowed into it, but even then the dam could have +stood it if the level of the water had been kept below the top. But, +coupled with this, there was the constantly trickling of the water over +the sides, which was slowly but surely wearing the banks away. + +"The big break took place at just three o'clock, and it was about ten +feet wide at first and shallow; but when the opening was made the +fearful rushing waters opened the gap with such increasing rapidity that +soon after the entire lake leaped out and started on its fearful march +of death down the Valley of the Conemaugh. It took but forty minutes to +drain that three miles of water, and the downpour of millions of tons of +water was irresistible. The big boulders and great rafters and logs that +were in the bed of the river were picked up, like so much chaff, and +carried down the torrent for miles. Trees that stood fully seventy-five +feet in height and four feet through were snapped off like pipe-stems." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +One of the most thrilling incidents of the disaster was the performance +of A. J. Leonard, whose family reside in Morrellville. He was at work, +and hearing that his house had been swept away, determined at all +hazards to ascertain the fate of his family. The bridges having been +carried away, he constructed a temporary raft, and clinging to it as +close as a cat to the side of a fence, he pushed his frail craft out in +the raging torrent and started on a chase which, to all who were +watching, seemed to mean an embrace in death. + +Heedless of cries "For God's sake, go back, you will be drowned," and +"Don't attempt it," he persevered. As the raft struck the current he +threw off his coat and in his shirt sleeves braved the stream. Down +plunged the boards and down went Leonard, but as it rose he was seen +still clinging. A mighty shout arose from the throats of the hundreds on +the banks, who were now deeply interested, earnestly hoping he would +successfully ford the stream. + +Down again went his bark, but nothing, it seemed, could shake Leonard +off. The craft shot up in the air apparently ten or twelve feet, and +Leonard stuck to it tenaciously. Slowly but surely he worked his boat to +the other side of the stream, and after what seemed an awful suspense he +finally landed, amid ringing cheers of men, women, and children. + +The scenes at Heanemyer's planing-mill at Nineveh, where the dead bodies +are lying, are never to be forgotten. The torn, bruised, and mutilated +bodies of the victims are lying in a row on the floor of the +planing-mill, which looks more like the field of Bull Run after that +disastrous battle than a workshop. The majority of the bodies are nude, +their clothing having been torn off. All along the river bits of +clothing--a tiny shoe, a baby dress, a mother's evening wrapper, a +father's coat--and, in fact, every article of wearing apparel +imaginable, may be seen hanging to stumps of trees and scattered on the +bank. + +One of the most pitiful sights of this terrible disaster came to notice +when the body of a young lady was taken out of the Conemaugh River. The +woman was apparently quite young, though her features were terribly +disfigured. Nearly all the clothing excepting the shoes was torn off +the body. The corpse was that of a mother, for, although cold in death, +she clasped a young male babe, apparently not more than a year old, +tightly in her arms. The little one was huddled close up to the face of +the mother, who, when she realized their terrible fate, had evidently +raised it to her lips to imprint upon its lips the last kiss it was to +receive in this world. The sight forced many a stout heart to shed +tears. The limp bodies, with matted hair, some with holes in their +heads, eyes knocked out, and all bespattered with blood were a ghastly +spectacle. + +Mr. J. M. Fronheiser, one of the Superintendents in the Cambria Iron +Works, lived on Main Street. His house was one of the first to go, and +he himself, his wife, two daughters, son, and baby were thrown into the +raging torrent. His wife and eldest daughter were lost. He, with the +baby, reached a place of safety, and his ten-year-old boy and +twelve-year-old girl floated near enough to be reached. He caught the +little girl, but she cried: + +"Let me go, papa, and save brother; my leg is broken and my foot is +caught below." + +When he told her he was determined to rescue her, she exclaimed: + +"Then, papa, get a sharp knife and cut my leg off. I can stand it." + +The little fellow cried to his father: "You can't save me, papa. Both +my feet are caught fast, and I can't hold out any longer. Please get a +pistol and shoot me." + +Captain Gageby, of the army, and some neighbors helped to rescue both +children. The girl displayed Spartan fortitude and pluck. All night long +she lay in a bed without a mattress or medical attention in a garret, +the water reaching to the floor below, without a murmur or a whimper. In +the morning she was carried down-stairs, her leg dangling under her, but +when she saw her father at the foot of the stairs, she whispered to +Captain Gageby: + +"Poor papa; he is so sad." Then, turning to her father, she threw a kiss +with her hands and laughingly said, "Good morning, papa; I'm all right." + +The Pennsylvania Railroad Company's operators at Switch Corner, "S. Q.," +which is near Sang Hollow, tell thrilling stories of the scenes +witnessed by them on Friday afternoon and evening. Said one of them: + +"In order to give you an idea of how the tidal wave rose and fell, let +me say that I kept a measure and timed the rise and fall of the water, +and in forty-eight minutes it fell four and a half feet. + +"I believe that when the water goes down about seventy-five children and +fifty grown persons will be found among the weeds and bushes in the +bend of the river just below the tower. + +"There the current was very strong, and we saw dozens of people swept +under the trees, and I don't believe that more than one in twenty came +out on the other side." + +"They found a little girl in white just now," said one of the other +operators. + +"O God!" said the chief operator. "She isn't dead, is she?" + +"Yes; they found her in a clump of willow bushes, kneeling on a board, +just about the way we saw her when she went down the river." Turning to +me he said: + +"That was the saddest thing we saw all day yesterday. Two men came down +on a little raft, with a little girl kneeling between them, and her +hands raised and praying. She came so close to us we could see her face +and that she was crying. She had on a white dress and looked like a +little angel. She went under that cursed shoot in the willow bushes at +the bend like all the rest, but we did hope she would get through +alive." + +"And so she was still kneeling?" he said to his companion, who had +brought the unwelcome news. + +"She sat there," was the reply, "as if she was still praying, and there +was a smile on her poor little face, though her mouth was full of mud." + +Driving through the mountains a correspondent picked up a ragged little +chap not much more than big enough to walk. From his clothing he was +evidently a refugee. + +"Where are your folks?" he was asked. + +"We're living at Aunty's now." + +"Did you all get out?" + +"Oh! we're all right--that is, all except two of sister's babies. Mother +and little sister wasn't home, and they got out all right." + +"Where were you?" + +"Oh! I was at sister's house. We was all in the water and fire. Sister's +man--her husband, you know--took us up-stairs, and he punched a hole +through the roof, and we all climbed out and got saved." + +"How about the babies?" + +"Oh! sister was carrying two of them in her arms, and the bureau hit her +and knocked them out, so they went down." + +The child had unconsciously caught one of the oddest and most +significant tricks of speech that have arisen from the calamity. Nobody +here speaks of a person's having been drowned, or killed, or lost, or +uses any other of the general expressions for sudden death. They have +simply "gone down." Everybody here seems to avoid harsh words in +referring to the possible affliction of another. Euphonistic phrases are +substituted for plain questions. Two old friends met for the first time +since the disaster. + +"I'm glad to see you," exclaimed the first. "Are you all right?" + +"Yes, I'm doing first rate," was the reply. + +The first friend looked awkwardly about a moment, and then asked with +suppressed eagerness: + +"And--and your family--are they all--well?" + +There was a world of significance in the hesitation before the last +word. + +"Yes. Thank God! not one of them went down." + +A man who looked like a prosperous banker, and who had evidently come +from a distance drove through the mountains toward South Fork. On the +way he met a handsome young man in a silk hat, mounted on a mule. The +two shook hands eagerly. + +"Have you anything?" + +"Nothing. What have you?" + +"Nothing." + +The younger man turned about and the two rode on silently through the +forest road. Inquiry later developed the fact that the banker-looking +man was really a banker whose daughter had been lost from one of the +overwhelmed trains. The young man was his son. Both had been searching +for some clue to the young woman's fate. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +It was not "good morning" in Johnstown nor "good night" that passed as a +salutation between neighbors who meet for the first time since the +deluge but "How many of your folks gone?" It is always "folks," always +"gone." You heard it everywhere among the crowds that thronged the +viaduct and looked down upon the ghastly twenty acres of unburied dead, +from which dynamite was making a terrible exhumation of the corpses of +two thousand mortals and five hundred houses. You heard it at the rope +bridge, where the crowds waited the passage of the incessant file of +empty coffins. You heard it upon the steep hillside beyond the valley of +devastation, where the citizens of Johnstown had fled into the borough +of Conemaugh for shelter. You heard it again, the first salutation, +whenever a friend, who had been searching for _his_ dead, met a +neighbor: "Are any of your friends gone?" + +It was not said in tears or even seemingly in madness. It had simply +come to be the "how-d'ye-do" of the eleven thousand people who survived +the twenty-nine thousand five hundred people of the valley of the +Conemaugh. + +Still finding bodies by scores in the debris: still burying the dead and +caring for the wounded; still feeding the famishing and housing the +homeless, was the record for days following the one on which Johnstown +was swept away. A perfect stream of wagons bearing the dead as fast as +they were discovered was constantly filing to the various improvised +morgues where the bodies were taken for identification. Hundreds of +people were constantly crowding to these temporary houses, one of which +was located in each of the suburban boroughs that surround Johnstown. +Men armed with muskets, uniformed sentinels, constituting the force that +guarded the city while it was practically under martial law, stood at +the doors and admitted the crowd by tens. + +[Illustration: RUINS, CORNER MAIN AND CLINTON STS.] + +In the central dead-house in Johnstown proper there lay two rows of +ghastly dead. To the right were twenty bodies that had been identified. +They were mostly women and children, and they were entirely covered with +white sheets, and a piece of paper bearing the name was pinned at the +feet. To the left were eighteen bodies of the unknown dead. As the +people passed they were hurried along by an attendant and gazed at the +uncovered faces seeking to identify them. All applicants for +admission, if it was thought they were prompted by idle curiosity, were +not allowed to enter. The central morgue was formerly a school-house, +and the desks were used as biers for the dead bodies. Three of the +former pupils lay on the desks dead, with white pieces of paper pinned +on the white sheets that covered them, giving their names. + +But what touching scenes are enacted every hour about this mournful +building! Outside the sharp voices of the sentinels are constantly +shouting: "Move on." Inside weeping women and sad-faced, hollow-eyed men +are bending over loved and familiar faces. Back on the steep grassy hill +which rises abruptly on the other side of the street are crowds of +curious people who have come in from the country round about to look at +the wreckage strewn around where Johnstown was. + +"Oh! Mr. Jones," a pale-faced woman asks, walking up, sobbing, "can't +you tell me where we can get a coffin to bury Johnnie's body?" + +"Do you know," asks a tottering old man, as the pale-faced woman turns +away, "whether they have found Jennie and the children?" + +"Jennie's body has just been found at the bridge," is the answer, "but +the children can't be found." + +Jennie is the old man's widowed daughter, and was drowned, with her two +children, while her husband was at work over at the Cambria Mills. + +Just a few doors below the school-house morgue is the central office of +the "Registry Bureau." This was organized by Dr. Buchanan and H. G. +Connaugh, for the purpose of having a registry made of all those who had +escaped. They realized that it would be impossible to secure a complete +list of dead, and that the only practicable thing was to get a complete +list of the living. Then they would get all the Johnstown names, and by +that means secure a list of the dead. That estimate will be based on +figures secured by the subtraction of the total registry saved from +total population of Johnstown and surrounding boroughs. + +"I have been around trying to find my sister-in-law, Mrs. Laura R. +Jones, who is lost," said David L. Rogers. + +"How do you know she is lost?" he was asked. + +"Because I can't find her." + +When persons can't be found it is taken as conclusive evidence that they +have been drowned. It is believed that the flood has buried a great many +people below the bridge in the ground lying just below the Cambria +Works. Here the rush of waters covered the railroad tracks ten feet deep +with a coating of stones. Whether they will ever be dug for remains to +be seen. Meantime, those who are easier to reach will be hunted for. +There are many corpses in the area of rubbish that drifted down and +lodged against the stone bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Out of +this rubbish one thousand bodies have already been taken. The fire that +was started by the driftwood touching against the burning Catholic +Church as it floated down was still burning. + +Walk almost anywhere through the devastated district and you will hear +expressions like this: "Why, you see that pile of wreckage there. There +are three bodies buried beneath that pile. I know them, for I lived next +door. They are Mrs. Charles E. Kast and her daughter, who kept a tavern, +and her bartender, C. S. Noble." + +Henry Rogers, of Pittsburg, is here caring for his relatives. "I am +scarcely in a condition to talk," he says. "The awful scenes I have just +witnessed and the troubles of my relatives have almost unnerved me. My +poor aunt, Mrs. William Slick, is now a raving maniac. Her husband was +formerly the County Surveyor. He felt that the warning about the dam +should not be disregarded. Accordingly he made preparations to go to a +place of safety. His wife was just recovering from an illness, but he +had to take her on horseback, and there was no time to get a carriage. +They escaped, but all their property was washed away. Mrs. Slick for a +time talked cheerfully enough, and said they should be thankful they had +escaped with their lives. But on Sunday it was noticed that she was +acting strangely. By night she was insane. I suppose the news that some +relatives had perished was what turned her mind. I am much afraid that +Mrs. Slick is not the only one in Johnstown whose reason has been +dethroned by the calamity. I have talked with many citizens, and they +certainly seem crazy to me. When the excitement passes off I suppose +they will regain their reason. The escape of my uncle, George R. Slick, +and his wife, I think was really providential. They, too, had determined +to heed the warning that the dam was unsafe. When the flood came they +had a carriage waiting at the front door. Just as they were entering it, +the water came. How it was, my aunt cannot tell me, but they both +managed to catch on to some debris, and were thus floated along. My aunt +says she has an indistinct recollection of some one having helped her +upon the roof of a house. The person who did her this service was lost. +All night they floated along on the roof. They suffered greatly from +exposure, as the weather was extremely chilly. Next morning they were +fortunately landed safely. My uncle, however, is now lying at the point +of death. I have noticed a singular coincidence here. Down in the lower +end of the city stood the United Presbyterian parsonage. The waters +carried it two miles and a half, and landed it in Sandy Vale Cemetery. +Strange as it may seem, the sexton's house in the cemetery was swept +away and landed near the foundations of the parsonage. I have seen this +myself, and it is commented on by many others." + +In one place the roofs of forty frame houses were packed in together +just as you would place forty bended cards one on top of another. The +iron rods of a bridge were twisted into a perfect spiral six times +around one of the girders. Just beneath it was a woman's trunk, broken +up and half filled with sand, with silk dresses and a veil streaming out +of it. From under the trunk men were lifting the body of its owner, +perhaps, so burned, so horribly mutilated, so torn limb from limb that +even the workmen, who have seen so many of these frightful sights that +they have begun to get used to them, turned away sick at heart. In one +place was a wrecked grocery store--bins of coffee and tea, flour, spices +and nuts, parts of the counter and the safe mingled together. Near it +was the pantry of a house, still partly intact, the plates and saucers +regularly piled up, a waiter and a teapot, but not a sign of the +woodwork, not a recognizable outline of a house. + +In another place was a human foot, and crumbling indications of a boot, +but no signs of a body. A hay-rick, half ashes, stood near the centre +of the gorge. Workmen who dug about it to-day found a chicken coop, and +in it two chickens, not only alive but clucking happily when they were +released. A woman's hat, half burned; a reticule, with part of a hand +still clinging to it; two shoes and part of a dress told the story of +one unfortunate's death. Close at hand a commercial traveler had +perished. There was his broken valise, still full of samples, fragments +of his shoes, and some pieces of his clothing. + +Scenes like these were occurring all over the charred field where men +were working with pick and axe and lifting out the poor, shattered +remains of human beings, nearly always past recognition or +identification, except by guess-work, or the locality where they were +found. Articles of domestic use scattered through the rubbish helped to +tell who some of the bodies were. Part of a set of dinner plates told +one man where in the intangible mass his house was. In one place was a +photograph album with one picture still recognizable. From this the body +of a child near by was identified. A man who had spent a day and all +night looking for the body of his wife, was directed to her remains by +part of a trunk lid. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +The language of pathos is too weak to describe the scenes where the +living were searching for their loved and lost ones among the dead. + +"That's Emma," said an old man before one of the bodies. He said it as +coolly as though he spoke of his daughter in life, not in death, and as +if it were not the fifth dead child of his that he had identified. + +"Is that you, Mrs. James," said one woman to another on the foot-bridge +over Stony Creek. + +"Yes, it is, and we are all well," said Mrs. James. + +"Oh, have you heard from Mrs. Fenton?" + +"She's left," said the first woman, "but Mr. Fenton and the children are +gone." + +The scenes at the different relief agencies, where food, clothing, and +provisions were given out on the order of the Citizens Committee, were +extremely interesting. These were established at the Pennsylvania +Railroad depot, at Peter's Hotel, in Adams Street, and in each of the +suburbs. + +At the depot, where there was a large force of police, the people were +kept in files, and the relief articles were given out with some +regularity, but at such a place as Kernsville, in the suburbs, the +relief station was in the upper story of a partly wrecked house. + +The yard was filled with boxes and barrels of bread, crackers, biscuit, +and bales of blankets. The people crowded outside the yard in the +street, and the provisions were handed to them over the fence, while the +clothing was thrown to them from the upper windows. There was apparently +great destitution in Kernsville. + +"I don't care what it is, only so long as it will keep me warm," said +one woman, whose ragged clothing was still damp. + +The stronger women pushed to the front of the fence and tried to grab +the best pieces of clothing which came from the windows, but the people +in the house saw the game and tossed the clothing to those in the rear +of the crowd. A man stood on a barrel of flour and yelled out what each +piece of clothing was as it came down. + +At each yell there was a universal cry of "That's just what I want. My +boy is dying; he must have that. Throw me that for my poor wife," and +the likes of that. Finally the clothing was all gone, and there were +some people who didn't get any. They went away bewailing their +misfortune. + +A reporter was piloted to Kernsville by Kellog, a man who had lost his +wife and baby in the flood. + +"She stood right thar, sir," said the man, pointing to a house whose +roof and front were gone. "She climbed up thar when the water came first +and almost smashed the house. She had the baby in her arms. Then another +house came down and dashed against ours, and my wife went down with the +baby raised above her head. I saw it all from a tree thar. I couldn't +move a step to help 'em." + +Coming back, the same reporter met a man whose face was radiant. He +fairly beamed good nature and kindness. + +"You look happy," said the reporter. + +"Yes, sir; I've found my boy," said the man. + +"Is your house gone?" asked the reporter. + +"Oh, of course," answered the man. "I've lost all I've got except my +little boy," and he went on his way rejoicing. + +A wealthy young Philadelphian named Ogle had become engaged to a +Johnstown lady, Miss Carrie Diehl. They were to be wedded in the middle +of June, and were preparing for the ceremony. The lover heard of the +terrible flood, but, knowing that the residence of his dear one was up +in the hills, felt little fear for her safety. To make sure, however, he +started for Johnstown. Near the Fourth Street morgue he met Mr. Diehl. + +"Thank God! you are safe," he exclaimed, and then added: "Is Carrie +well?" + +"She was visiting in the valley when the wave came," was the mournful +reply. Then he beckoned the young man to enter the chamber of death. + +A moment later Mr. Ogle was kneeling beside the rough bier and was +kissing the cold, white face. From the lifeless finger he slipped a ring +and in its place put one of his own. Then he stole quietly out. + +"Mamma! mamma!" cried a child. She had recognized a body that no one +else could, and in a moment the corpse was ticketed, boxed, and +delivered to laborers, who bore it away to join the long funeral +procession. + +A mother recognized a baby boy. "Keep it a few minutes," she asked the +undertaker in charge. In a few moments she returned, carrying in her +arms a little white casket. Then she hired two men to bear it to a +cemetery. No hearses were seen in Johnstown. Relatives recognized their +dead, secured the coffins, got them carried the best way they could to +the morgues, then to the graveyards. A prayer, some tears, and a few +more of the dead thousands were buried in mother earth. + +A frequent visitor at these horrible places was David John Lewis. All +over Johnstown he rode a powerful gray horse, and to each one he met +whom he knew he exclaimed: "Have you seen my sisters?" Hardly waiting +for a reply, he galloped away, either to seek ingress into a morgue or +to ride along the river banks. One week before Mr. Lewis was worth +$60,000, his all being invested in a large commission business. After +the flood he owned the horse he rode, the clothes on his back, and that +was all. In the fierce wave were buried five of his near relatives, +sons, and his sisters Anna, Louise, and Maggie. The latter was married, +and her little boy and babe were also drowned. They were all dearly +loved by the merchant, who, crazed with grief and mounted on his horse, +was a conspicuous figure in the ruined city. + +William Gaffney, an insurance agent, had a very pitiful duty to perform. +On his father's and wife's side he lost fourteen relatives, among them +his wife and family. He had a man to take the bodies to the grave, and +he himself dug graves for his wife and children, and buried them. In +speaking of the matter he said: "I never thought that I could perform +such a sad duty, but I had to do it, and I did it. No one has any idea +of the feelings of a man who acts as undertaker, grave-digger, and +pall-bearer for his own family." + +The saddest sight on the river bank was Mr. Gilmore, who lost his wife +and family of five children. Ever since the calamity this old man was +seen on the river bank looking for his family. He insisted on the +firemen playing a stream of water on the place where the house formerly +stood, and where he supposed the bodies lay. The firemen, recognizing +his feelings, played the stream on the place, at intervals, for several +hours, and at last the rescuers got to the spot where the old man said +his house formerly stood. "I know the bodies are there, and you must +find them." When at last one of the men picked up a charred skull, +evidently that of a child, the old man exclaimed: "That is my child. +There lies my family; go on and get the rest of them." The workmen +continued, and in a few minutes they came to the remains of the mother +and three other children. There was only enough of their clothing left +to recognize them by. + +On the floor of William Mancarro's house, groaning with pain and grief, +lay Patrick Madden, a furnaceman of the Cambria Iron Company. He told of +his terrible experience in a voice broken with emotion. He said: "When +the Cambria Iron Company's bridge gave way I was in the house of a +neighbor, Edward Garvey. We were caught through our own neglect, like a +great many others, and a few minutes before the houses were struck +Garvey remarked that he was a good swimmer, and could get away no matter +how high the water rose. Ten minutes later I saw him and his son-in-law +drowned. + +"No human being could swim in that terrible torrent of débris. After the +South Fork Reservoir broke I was flung out of the building, and saw, +when I rose to the surface of the water, my wife hanging upon a piece of +scantling. She let it go and was drowned almost within reach of my arm, +and I could not help or save her. I caught a log and floated with it +five or six miles, but it was knocked from under me when I went over the +dam. I then caught a bale of hay and was taken out by Mr. Morenrow. + +"My wife is certainly drowned, and six children. Four of them were: +James Madden, twenty-three years old; John, twenty-one years; Kate, +seventeen years; and Mary, nineteen years." + +A spring wagon came slowly from the ruins of what was once Cambria. In +it, on a board and covered by a muddy cloth, were the remains of Editor +C. T. Schubert, of the Johnstown _Free Press_, German. Behind the wagon +walked his friend Benjamin Gribble. Editor Schubert was one of the most +popular and well-known Germans in the city. He sent his three sons to +Conemaugh Borough on Thursday, and on Friday afternoon he and his wife +and six other children called at Mr. Gribble's residence. They noticed +the rise of the water, but not until the flood from the burst dam washed +the city did they anticipate danger. All fled from the first to the +second floor. Then, as the water rose, they went to the attic, and Mr. +Schubert hastily prepared a raft, upon which all embarked. Just as the +raft reached the bridge, a heavy piece of timber swept the editor +beneath the surface. The raft then glided through, and all the rest were +rescued. Mr. Schubert's body was found beneath a pile of broken timbers. + +A pitiful sight was that of an old, gray-haired man named Norn. He was +walking around among the mass of débris, looking for his family. He had +just sat down to eat his supper when the crash came, and the whole +family, consisting of wife and eight children, were buried beneath the +collapsed house. He was carried down the river to the railroad bridge on +a plank. Just at the bridge a cross-tie struck him with such force that +he was shot clear upon the pier, and was safe. But he is a mass of +bruises and cuts from head to foot. He refused to go to the hospital +until he found the bodies of his loved ones. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +Five days after the disaster a bird's-eye view was taken of Johnstown +from the top of a precipitous mountain which almost overhangs it. The +first thing that impresses the eye, wrote the observer, is the fact that +the proportion of the town that remains uninjured is much smaller than +it seems to be from lower-down points of view. Besides the part of the +town that is utterly wiped out, there are two great swaths cut through +that portion which from lower down seems almost uninjured. Beginning at +Conemaugh, two miles above the railroad bridge, along the right side of +the valley looking down, there is a strip of an eighth by a quarter of a +mile wide, which constituted the heart of a chain of continuous towns, +and which was thickly built over for the whole distance, upon which now +not a solitary building stands except the gutted walls of the Wood, +Morrell & Co. general store in Johnstown, and of the Gautier wire mill +and Woodvale flour mill at Woodvale. Except for these buildings, the +whole two-mile strip is swept clean, not only of buildings, but of +everything. It is a tract of mud, rocks, and such other miscellaneous +débris as might follow the workings of a huge hydraulic placer mining +system in the gold regions. In Johnstown itself, besides the total +destruction upon this strip, extending at the end to cover the whole +lower end of the city, there is a swath branching off from the main +strip above the general store and running straight to the bluff. It is +three blocks wide and makes a huge "Y," with the gap through which the +flood came for the base and main strip and the swaths for branches. +Between the branches there is a triangular block of buildings that are +still standing, although most of them are damaged. At a point exactly +opposite the corner where the branches of the "Y" meet, and distant from +it by about fifty yards, is one of the freaks of the flood. The +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station, a square, two-story brick building, +with a little cupola at the apex of its slanting roof, is apparently +uninjured, but really one corner is knocked in and the whole interior is +a total wreck. How it stood when everything anywhere near it was swept +away is a mystery. Above the "Y"-shaped tract of ruin there is another +still wider swath, bending around in Stony Creek, save on the left, +where the flood surged when it was checked and thrown back by the +railroad bridge. It swept things clean before it through Johnstown and +made a track of ruin among the light frame houses for nearly two miles +up the gap. The Roman Catholic Church was just at its upper edge. It is +still standing, and from its tower the bell strikes the hours regularly +as before, although everybody now is noticing that it always sounds like +a funeral. Nobody ever noticed it before, but from the upper side it can +be seen that a huge hole has been knocked through the side of the +building. A train of cars could be run through it. Inside the church is +filled with all sorts of rubbish and ruin. A little further on is +another church, which curiously illustrates the manner in which fire and +flood seemed determined to unite in completing the ruin of the city. +Just before the flood came down the valley there was a terrific +explosion in this church, supposed to have been caused by natural gas. +Amid all the terrors of the flood, with the water surging thirty feet +deep all around and through it, the flames blazed through the roof and +tower, and its fire-stained walls arise from the débris of the flood, +which covers its foundations. Its ruins are one of the most conspicuous +and picturesque sights in the city. + +[Illustration: RUINS FROM SITE OF THE HURLBURT HOUSE.] + +Next to Adams Street, the road most traveled in Johnstown now is the +Pennsylvania Railroad track, or rather bed, across the Stony Creek, and +at a culvert crossing just west of the creek. More people have been +injured here since the calamity than at any other place. The railroad +ties which hold the track across the culvert are big ones, and their +strength has not been weakened by the flood, but between the ties and +between the freight and passenger tracks there is a wide space. The +Pennsylvania trains from Johnstown have to stop, of course, at the +eastern end of the bridge, and the thousands of people whom they daily +bring to Johnstown from Pittsburgh have to get into Johnstown by walking +across the track to the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, and then crossing +the pontoon foot-bridge that has been built across the Stony Creek. All +day long there is a black line of people going back and forth across +this course. Every now and then there is a yell, a plunge, a rush of +people to the culvert, a call for a doctor, and cries of "Help" from +underneath the culvert. Some one, of course, has fallen between the +freight and passenger tracks, or between the ties of the tracks +themselves. In the night it is particularly dangerous traveling to the +Pennsylvania depot this way, and people falling then have little chance +of a rescue. So far at least thirty persons have fallen down the +culvert, and a dozen of them, who have descended entirely to the ground, +have escaped in some marvelous manner with their lives. Several +Pittsburghers have had their legs and arms broken, and one man cracked +his collar-bone. It is to be hoped that these accidents will keep off +the flock of curiosity-seekers, in some degree at least. The presence of +these crowds seriously interferes with the work of clearing up the town, +and affects the residents here in even a graver manner, for though many +of those coming to Johnstown to spend a day and see the ruins bring +something to eat with them, many do not do so, and invade the relief +stands, taking the food which is lavishly dealt out to the suffering. +Though the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge is as strong as ever, +apparently, beyond the bridge, the embankment on which the track is +built is washed away, and people therefore do not cross the bridge, but +leave the track on the western side, and, clambering down the abutments, +cross the creek on a rude foot-bridge hastily erected, and then through +the yard of the Open-Hearth Works and of the railroad up to the depot. +This yard altogether is about three-quarters of a mile long, but so +deceptive are distances in the valley that it does not look one-third +that. The bed of this yard, three-quarters of a mile long, and about the +same distance wide, is the most desolate place here. The yard itself is +fringed with the crumbling ruins of the iron works and of the railroad +shops. The iron works were great, high brick buildings, with steep iron +roofs. The ends of these buildings were smashed in, and the roofs bend +over where the flood struck them, in a curve. + +But it is the bed of the yard itself that is desolate. In appearance it +is a mass of stones and rocks and huge boulders, so that it seems a vast +quarry hewn and uncovered by the wind. There is comparatively little +débris here, all this having been washed away over to the sides of the +buildings, in one or two instances filling the buildings completely. +There is no soft earth or mud on the rocks at all, this part of +Johnstown being much in contrast with the great stretch of sand along +the river. In some instances the dirt is washed away to such a depth +that the bed-rock is uncovered. + +The fury of the waters here may be gathered from this fact: piled up +outside the works of the Open-Hearth Company were several heaps of +massive blooms--long, solid blocks of pig iron, weighing fifteen tons +each. The blooms, though they were not carried down the river, were +scattered about the yard like so many logs of wood. They will have to be +piled up again by the use of a derrick. The Open-Hearth Iron Works +people are making vigorous efforts to clear their buildings. The yards +of the company were blazing last night with the burning débris, but it +will be weeks before the company can start operations. + +In the Pennsylvania Railroad yard all is activity and bustle. At the +relief station, and at the headquarters of General Hastings, in the +signal tower, the man who is the head of all operations there, and the +directing genius of the place, is Lieutenant George Miller, of the Fifth +United States Infantry. Lieutenant Miller was near here on his vacation +when the flood came. He was one of the first on the spot, and was about +the only man in Johnstown who showed some ability as an organizer and a +disciplinarian. A reporter who groped his way across the railroad track, +the foot-bridge, and the quarries and yards at reveille found Lieutenant +Miller in a group of the soldiers of the Fourteenth Pennsylvania +Regiment telling them just what to do. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +Travel was resumed up the valley of Conemaugh Creek for a few miles +about five days after the flood, and a weird sight was presented to the +visitor. No pen can do justice to it, yet some impressions of it must be +recorded. Every one has seen the light iron beams, shafts, and rods in a +factory lying in twisted, broken, and criss-cross shape after a fire has +destroyed the building. In the gap above Johnstown water has picked up a +four-track railroad covered with trains, freight, and passengers, and +with machine shops, a round-house, and other heavy buildings with heavy +contents, and it has torn the track to pieces, twisted, turned, and +crossed it as fire never could. It has tossed huge freight locomotives +about like barrels, and cars like packing-boxes, torn them to pieces, +and scattered them over miles of territory. It has in one place put a +stream of deep water, a city block wide, between the railroad and the +bluff, and in another place it has changed the course of the river as +far in the other direction and left a hundred yards inland the tracks +that formerly skirted the banks. + +Add to this that in the midst of all this devastation, fire, with the +singular fatality that has made it everywhere the companion of the flood +in this catastrophe, has destroyed a train of vestibule cars that the +flood had wrecked; that the passengers who remained in the cars through +the flood and until the fire were saved, while their companions who +attempted to flee were overwhelmed and drowned; and that through it all +one locomotive stood and still stands comparatively uninjured in the +heart of this disaster, and the story of one of the most marvelous +freaks of this marvelous flood is barely outlined. That locomotive +stands there on its track now with its fires burning, smoke curling from +the stack, and steam from its safety valve, all ready to go ahead as +soon as they will build a track down to it. It is No. 1309, a fifty-four +ton, eight driver, class R, Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive. George +Hudson was its engineer, and Conductor Sheely had charge of its train. +They, with all the rest of the crew, escaped by flight when they saw the +flood. + +The wonders of this playground, where a giant force played with masses +of iron, weighing scores of tons each, as a child might play with +pebbles, begins with a bridge, or a piece of a bridge, about thirty feet +long, that stands high and dry upon two ordinary stone abutments at +Woodvale. The part of the bridge that remains spanned the Pennsylvania +tracks. The tracks are gone, the bridge is gone on either side, the +river is gone to a new channel, the very earth for a hundred yards +around has been scraped off and swept away, but this little span remains +perched up there, twenty feet above everything, in the midst of a desert +of ruins--the only piece of a bridge that is standing from the railroad +bridge to South Forks. It is a light iron structure, and the abutments +are not unusually heavy. That it should be kept there, when everything +else was twisted and torn to pieces, is one other queer freak of this +flood. Near by are the wrecks of two freight trains that were standing +side by side when the flood caught them. The lower ends of both trains +are torn to pieces, the cars tossed around in every direction, and many +of them carried away. The whole of the train on the track nearest the +river was smashed into kindling wood. Its locomotive is gone entirely, +perhaps because this other train acted as a sort of buffer for the +second one. The latter has twenty-five or thirty cars that are +uninjured, apparently. They could move off as soon as that wonderful +engine, No. 1309, that stands with steam up at their head, gets ready +to pull out. A second look, however, shows that the track is in many +places literally washed from beneath the cars. Some of the trucks also +are turned half way around and standing with wheels running across the +track. But the force that did this left the light wood box cars +themselves unharmed. They were loaded with dressed beef and provisions. +They have been emptied to supply the hungry in Johnstown. + +In front of engine 1309 and this train the water played one of its most +fantastic tricks with the rails. The débris of trees, logs, planks, and +every description of wreckage is heaped up in front of the engine to the +headlight, and is packed in so tightly that twenty men with ropes and +axes worked all day without clearing all away. The track is absolutely +gone from the front of the engine clear up to beyond Conemaugh. Parts of +it lie about everywhere, twisted into odd shapes, turned upside down, +stacked crosswise one above the other, and in one place a section of the +west track has been lifted clear over the right track, runs along there +for a ways, and then twists back into its proper place. Even stranger +are the tricks the water has played with the rails where they have been +torn loose from the ties. The rails are steel and of the heaviest weight +used. They were twisted as easily as willow branches in a spring +freshet in a country brook. One rail lies in the sand in the shape of a +letter "S." More are broken squarely in two. Many times rails have been +broken within a few feet of a fishplate, coupling them to the next rail, +and the fragments are still united by the comparatively weak plates. +Every natural law would seem to show that the first place where they +should have broken was at the joints. + +There is little to indicate the recent presence of a railroad in the +stretch from this spot up to the upper part of Conemaugh. The little +plain into which the gap widened here, and in which stood the bulk of +the town, is wiped out. The river has changed its course from one side +of the valley to the other. There is not the slightest indication that +the central part of the plain was ever anything but a flood-washed gulch +in some mountain region. At the upper end of the plain, surrounded by a +desert of mud and rock, stands a fantastic collection of ruined railroad +equipments. Three trains stood there when the flood swept down the +valley. On the outside was a local passenger train with three cars and a +locomotive. It stands there yet, the cars tilted by the washing of the +tracks, but comparatively uninjured. Somehow a couple more locomotives +have been run into the sand bank. In the centre a freight train stood on +the track, and a large collection of smashed cars has its place now. It +was broken all to pieces. Inside of all was the day express, with its +baggage and express cars, and at the end three vestibule cars. It was +from this train that a number of passengers--fifteen certainly, and no +one knows how many more--were lost. When the alarm came most of the +passengers fled for the high ground. Many reached it; others hesitated +on the way, tried to run back to the cars, and were lost. Others stayed +on the cars, and, after the first rush of the flood, were rescued alive. +Some of the freight cars were loaded with lime, and this leaped over the +vestibule cars and set them on fire. All three of the vestibule cars +were burned down to the trucks. These and the peculiar-shaped iron +frames of the vestibules are all that show where the cars stood. + +The reason the flood, that twisted heavy steel rails like twigs just +below, did not wipe out these three trains entirely is supposed to be +that just in front of them, and between them and the flood, was the +round-house, filled with engines. It was a large building, probably +forty feet high to the top of the ventilators in the roof. The wave of +wrath, eye-witnesses say, was so high that these ventilators were +beneath it. The round-house was swept away to its very foundations, and +the flood played jackstraws with the two dozen locomotives lodged in it, +but it split the torrent, and a part of it went down each side of the +three trains, saving them from the worst of its force. Thirty-three +locomotives were in and about the round-house and the repair shops near +by. Of these, twenty-six have been found, or at least traced, part of +them being found scattered down into Johnstown, and one tender was found +up in Stony Creek. The other seven locomotives are gone, and not a trace +of them has been found up to this time. It is supposed that some of them +are in the sixty acres of débris above the bridge at Johnstown. All the +locomotives that remain anywhere within sight of the round-house, all +except those attached to the trains, are thrown about in every +direction, every side up, smashed, broken, and useless except for old +iron. The tenders are all gone. Being lighter than the locomotives, they +floated easier, and were quickly torn off and carried away. The engines +themselves were apparently rolled over and over in whichever direction +the current that had hold of them ran, and occasionally were picked up +bodily and slammed down again, wheels up, or whichever way chanced to be +most convenient to the flood. Most of them lie in five feet of sand and +gravel, with only a part showing above the surface. Some are out in the +bed of the river. + +A strange but very pleasant feature of the disaster in Conemaugh itself +is the comparatively small loss of life. As the townspeople figure it +out, there are only thirty-eight persons there positively known to have +perished besides those on the train. This was partly because the +buildings in the centre of the valley were mostly stores and factories, +and also because more heed appears to have been paid to the warnings +that came from up the valley. At noon the workmen in the shops were +notified that there was danger, and that they had better go home. At one +o'clock word was given that the dam was likely to go, and that everybody +must get on high ground. Few remained in the central part of the valley +when the high wave came through the gap. + +Doré never dreamed a weirder, ghastlier picture than night in the +Conemaugh Valley since the flood desolated it. Darkness falls early from +the rain-dropping, gray sky that has palled the valley ever since it +became a vast bier, a charnel-house fifteen miles long. The smoke and +steam from the placers of smouldering débris above the bridge aid to +hasten the night. Few lights gleam out, except those of the scattered +fires that still flicker fitfully in the mass of wreckage. Gas went out +with the flood, and oil has been almost entirely lacking since the +disaster. Candles are used in those places where people think it worth +while to stay up after dark. Up on the hills around the town bright +sparks gleam out like lovely stars from the few homes built so high. +Down in the valley the gloom settles over everything, making it look, +from the bluffs around, like some vast death-pit, the idea of entering +which brings a shudder. The gloomy effect is not relieved, but rather +deepened, by the broad beams of ghastly, pale light thrown across the +gulf by two or three electric lights erected around the Pennsylvania +Railroad station. They dazzle the eye and make the gloom still deeper. + +Time does not accustom the eyes to this ghastly scene. The flames rising +and falling over the ruins look more like witches' bale-fires the longer +they are looked at. The smoke-burdened depths in the valley seem +deserted by every living thing, except that occasionally, prowling +ghoul-like about the edges of the mass of débris, may be seen, as they +cross the beams of electric light, dark figures of men who are drawn to +the spot day and night, hovering over the place where some chance +movement may disclose the body of a wife, mother, or daughter gone down +in the wreck. They pick listlessly away at the heaps in one spot for +awhile and then wander aimlessly off, only to reappear at another spot, +pulling feverishly at some rags that looked like a dress, or poking a +stick into some hole to feel if there is anything soft at the bottom. At +one or two places the electric lights show, with exaggerated and +distorted shadows, firemen in big hats and long rubber coats, standing +upon the edge of the bridge, steadily holding the hose, from which two +streams of water shoot far out over the mass, sparkle for a moment like +silver in the pale light, and then drop downward into the blackness. + +For noise, there is heavy splashing of the Conemaugh over the rapids +below the bridge, the petulant gasping of an unseen fire-engine, pumping +water through the hose, and the even more rapid but greater puffing of +the dynamo-engine that, mounted upon a flat car at one end of the +bridge, furnishes electricity for the lights. There is little else +heard. People who are yet about gather in little groups, and talk in low +tones as they look over the dark, watchfire-beaconed gulf. Everybody in +Johnstown looks over that gulf in every spare moment, day or night. +Movement about is almost impossible, for the ways are only foot-paths +about the bluffs, irregular and slippery. Every night people are badly +hurt by falls over bluffs, through the bridge, or down banks. Lying +about under sheds in ruined buildings, and even in the open air, +wherever one goes, are the forms, wrapped in blankets, of men who have +no better place to sleep, resembling nothing so much as the corpses that +men are seen always to be carrying about the streets in the daytime. + +[Illustration: THE DÉBRIS ABOVE THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +One of the first to reach Johnstown from a distance was a New York +_World_ correspondent, who on Sunday wrote as follows:-- + +"I walked late yesterday afternoon from New Florence to a place opposite +Johnstown, a distance of four miles. I describe what I actually saw. All +along the way bodies were seen lying on the river banks. In one place a +woman was half buried in the mud, only a limb showing. In another was a +mother with her babe clasped to her breast. Further along lay a husband +and wife, their arms wound around each other's necks. Probably fifty +bodies were seen on that one side of the river, and it must be +remembered that here the current was the swiftest, and consequently +fewer of the dead were landed among the bushes. On the opposite side +bodies could also be seen, but they were all covered with mud. As I +neared Johnstown the wreckage became grand in its massive +proportions. In order to show the force of the current I will say that +three miles below Johnstown I saw a grand piano lying on the bank, and +not a board or key was broken. It must have been lifted on the crest of +the wave and laid gently on the bank. In another place were two large +iron boilers. They had evidently been treated by the torrent much as the +piano had been. + +"The scenes, as I neared Johnstown, were the most heart-rending that man +was ever called to look upon. Probably three thousand people were +scattered in groups along the Pennsylvania Railroad track and every one +of them had a relative lying dead either in the wreckage above, in the +river below, or in the still burning furnace. Not a house that was left +standing was in plumb. Hundreds of them were turned on their sides, and +in some cases three or four stood one on top of the other. Two miles +from Johnstown, on the opposite side of the river from where I walked, +stood one-half of the water-works of the Cambria Iron Company, a +structure that had been built of massive stone. It was filled with +planks from houses, and a large abutment of wreckage was piled up fully +fifty feet in front of it. A little above, on the same side, could be +seen what was left of the Cambria Iron Works, which was one of the +finest plants in the world. Some of the walls are still standing, it is +true, but not a vestige of the valuable machinery remains in sight. The +two upper portions of the works were swept away almost entirely, and +under the pieces of fallen iron and wood could be seen the bodies of +more than forty workmen. + +"At this point there is a bend in the river and the fiery furnace +blazing for a quarter of a mile square above the stone bridge came into +view. + +"'My God!' screamed a woman who was hastening up the track, 'can it be +that any are in there?' + +"'Yes; over a thousand,' replied a man who had just come from the +neighborhood, and it is now learned that he estimated the number at one +thousand too low. + +"The scenes of misery and suffering and agony and despair can hardly be +chronicled. One man, a clerk named Woodruff, was reeling along +intoxicated. Suddenly, with a frantic shout, he threw himself over the +bank into the flood and would have been carried to his death had he not +been caught by some persons below. + +"'Let me die,' he exclaimed, when they rescued him. 'My wife and +children are gone; I have no use for my life.' An hour later I saw +Woodruff lying on the ground entirely overcome by liquor. Persons who +knew him said that he had never tasted liquor before. + +"Probably fifty barrels of whisky were washed ashore just below +Johnstown, and those men who had lost everything in this world sought +solace in the fiery liquid. So it was that as early as six o'clock last +night the shrieks and cries of women were intermingled with drunkards' +howls and curses. What was worse than anything, however, was the fact +that incoming trains from Pittsburgh brought hundreds of toughs, who +joined with the Slavs and Bohemians in rifling the bodies, stealing +furniture, insulting women, and endeavoring to assume control of any +rescuing parties that tried to seek the bodies under the bushes and in +the limbs of trees. There was no one in authority, no one to take +command of even a citizens' posse could it have been organized. A +lawless mob seemed to control this narrow neck of land that was the only +approach to the city of Johnstown. I saw persons take watches from dead +men's jackets and brutally tear finger-rings from the hands of women. +The ruffians also climbed into the overturned houses and ransacked the +rooms, taking whatever they thought valuable. No one dared check them in +this work, and, consequently, the scene was not as riotous as it would +have been if the toughs had not had sway. In fact, they became beastly +drunk after a time and were seen lying around in a stupor. Unless the +military is on hand early to-morrow there may be serious trouble, for +each train pours loads of people of every description into the vicinity, +and Slavs are flocking like birds of prey from the surrounding country. + +"Here I will give the latest conservative estimate of the dead--it is +between seven and eight thousand drowned and two thousand burned. The +committee at Johnstown in their last bulletin placed the number of lives +lost at eight thousand. In doing so they are figuring the inhabitants of +their own city and the towns immediately adjoining. But it must be +remembered that the tidal wave swept ten miles through a populous +district before it even reached the locality over which this committee +has supervision. It devastated a tract the size and shape of Manhattan +Island. Here are a few facts that will show the geographical outlines of +the terrible disaster: The Hotel Hurlburt of Johnstown, a massive +three-story building of one hundred rooms, has vanished. There were in +it seventy-five guests at the time of the flood. Two only are now known +to be alive. The Merchants' Hotel is leveled. How many were inside it is +not known, but as yet no one has been seen who came from there or heard +of an inmate escaping. At the Conemaugh round-house forty-one +locomotives were swept down the stream, and before they reached the +stone bridge all the iron and steel work had been torn from their +boilers. It is almost impossible in this great catastrophe to go more +into details. + +"I stood on the stone bridge at six o'clock and looked into the seething +mass of ruin below me. At one place the blackened body of a babe was +seen; in another, fourteen skulls could be counted. Further along the +bones became thicker and thicker, until at last at one place it seemed +as if a concourse of people who had been at a ball or entertainment had +been carried in a bunch and incinerated. At this time the smoke was +still rising to the height of fifty feet, and it is expected that when +it dies down the charred bodies will be seen dotting the entire mass. + +"A cable had been run last night from the end of the stone bridge to the +nearest point across--a distance of three hundred feet. Over this cable +was run a trolley, and a swing was fastened under it. A man went over, +and he was the first one who visited Johnstown since the awful disaster. +I followed him to-day. + +"I walked along the hillside and saw hundreds of persons lying on the +wet grass, wrapped in blankets or quilts. It was growing cold and a +misty rain had set in. Shelter was not to be had, and houses on the +hillsides that had not been swept away were literally packed from top to +bottom. The bare necessities of life were soon at a premium, and loaves +of bread sold at fifty cents. Fortunately, however, the relief train +from Pittsburgh arrived at seven o'clock. Otherwise the horrors of +starvation would have been added. All provisions, however, had to be +carried over a rough, rocky road a distance of four miles (as I knew, +who had been compelled to walk it), and in many cases they were seized +by the toughs, and the people who were in need of food did not get it. + +"Rich and poor were served alike by this terrible disaster. I saw a girl +standing in her bare feet on the river's bank, clad in a loose petticoat +and with a shawl over her head. At first I thought she was an Italian +woman, but her face showed that I was mistaken. She was the belle of the +town--the daughter of a wealthy Johnstown banker--and this single +petticoat and shawl were not only all that was left her, but all that +was saved from the magnificent residence of her father. She had escaped +to the hills not an instant too soon. + +"The solicitor of Johnstown, Mr. George Martin, said to me to-day:-- + +"'All my money went away in the flood. My house is gone. So are all my +clothes, but, thank God, my family are safe.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +The first train that passed New Florence, bound east, was crowded with +people from Pittsburgh and places along the line, who were going to the +scene of the disaster with but little hope of finding their loved ones +alive. It was a heart-rending sight. Not a dry eye was in the train. +Mothers moaned for their children. Husbands paced the aisles and wrung +their hands in mute agony. Fathers pressed their faces against the +windows and endeavored to see something, they knew not what, that would +tell them in a measure of the dreadful fate that their loved ones had +met with. All along the raging Conemaugh the train stopped, and bodies +were taken on the express car, being carried by the villagers who were +out along the banks. Oh, the horror and infinite pity of it all! What a +journey has been that of the last half hour! Swollen corpses lay here +and there in piles of cross-ties, or on the river banks along the +tangled greenery. + +It was about nine o'clock when the first passenger train since Friday +came to the New Florence depot with its load of eager passengers. They +were no idle travelers, but each had a mission. Here and there men were +staring out the windows with red eyes. Among them were tough-looking +Hungarians and Italians who had lost friends near Nineveh, while many +were weeping, on all sides. Two of the passengers on the train were man +and wife from Johnstown. He was dignified and more or less +self-possessed. She was anxious, and tried hard to control her feelings. +From every newcomer and possible source of information she sought news. + +"Ours is a big, new brick house," said she with a brave effort, but with +her brown eyes moist and red lips trembling. "It is a three-story house, +and I don't think there is any trouble, do you?" said she to me, and +without waiting for my answer, she continued with a sob, "There are my +four children in the house and their nurse, and I guess father and +mother will go over to the house, don't you?" + +In a few moments all those in the car knew the story of the pair, and +many a pitying glance was cast at them. Their house was one of the first +to go. + +The huge wave struck Bolivar just after dark, and in five minutes the +Conemaugh rose from six to forty feet, and the waters spread out over +the whole country. Soon houses began floating down, and clinging to the +débris were men, women, and children shrieking for aid. A large number +of citizens gathered at the county bridge, and they were reinforced by a +number from Garfield, a town on the opposite side of the river. They +brought ropes, and these were thrown over into the boiling waters as +persons drifted by, in efforts to save them. For half an hour all +efforts were fruitless, until at last, when the rescuers were about +giving up all hope, a little boy astride a shingle roof managed to catch +hold of one of the ropes. He caught it under his left arm and was thrown +violently against an abutment, but managed to keep hold and was pulled +onto the bridge amid the cheers of the onlookers. The lad was at once +taken to Garfield and cared for. The boy is about sixteen years old and +his name is Hessler. His story of the calamity is as follows:-- + +"With my father I was spending the day at my grandfather's house in +Cambria City. In the house at the time were Theodore, Edward, and John +Kintz, John Kintz, Jr., Miss Mary Kintz, Mrs. Mary Kintz, wife of John +Kintz, Jr.; Miss Treacy Kintz, Mrs. Rica Smith, John Hirsch and four +children, my father, and myself. Shortly after five o'clock there was a +noise of roaring waters and screams of people. We looked out the door +and saw persons running. My father told us to never mind, as the waters +would not rise further. But soon we saw houses swept by, and then we ran +up to the floor above. The house was three stories, and we were at last +forced to the top one. In my fright I jumped on the bed. It was an +old-fashioned one, with heavy posts. The water kept rising, and my bed +was soon afloat. Gradually it was lifted up. The air in the room grew +close, and the house was moving. Still the bed kept rising and pressed +the ceiling. At last the posts pushed the plaster. It yielded, and a +section of the roof gave way. Then I suddenly found myself on the roof +and was being carried down stream. After a little this roof commenced to +part, and I was afraid I was going to be drowned, but just then another +house with a shingle roof floated by, and I managed to crawl on it and +floated down until nearly dead with cold, when I was saved. After I was +freed from the house I did not see my father. My grandfather was on a +tree, but he must have been drowned, as the waters were rising fast. +John Kintz, Jr., was also on a tree. Miss Mary Kintz and Mrs. Mary Kintz +I saw drown. Miss Smith was also drowned. John Hirsch was in a tree, but +the four children were drowned. The scenes were terrible. Live bodies +and corpses were floating down with me and away from me. I would see a +person shriek and then disappear. All along the line were people who +were trying to save us, but they could do nothing, and only a few were +caught." + +An eye-witness at Bolivar Block station tells a story of heroism which +occurred at the lower bridge which crosses the Conemaugh at that point. +A young man, with two women, were seen coming down the river on part of +a floor. At the upper bridge a rope was thrown down to them. This they +all failed to catch. Between the two bridges he was noticed to point +toward the elder woman, who, it is supposed, was his mother. He was then +seen to instruct the women how to catch the rope which was being lowered +from the other bridge. Down came the raft with a rush. The brave man +stood with his arms around the two women. As they swept under the bridge +he reached up and seized the rope. He was jerked violently away from the +two women, who failed to get a hold on the rope. Seeing that they would +not be rescued, he dropped the rope and fell back on the raft, which +floated on down the river. The current washed their frail craft in +toward the bank. The young man was enabled to seize hold of a branch of +a tree. He aided the two women to get up into the tree. He held on with +his hands and rested his feet on a pile of driftwood. A piece of +floating débris struck the drift, sweeping it away. The man hung with +his body immersed in the water. A pile of drift soon collected, and he +was enabled to get another insecure footing. Up the river there was a +sudden crash, and a section of the bridge was swept away and floated +down the stream, striking the tree and washing it away. All three were +thrown into the water and were drowned before the eyes of the horrified +spectators, just opposite the town of Bolivar. + +At Bolivar a man, woman, and child were seen floating down in a lot of +drift. The mass soon began to part, and, by desperate efforts, the +husband and father succeeded in getting his wife and little one on a +floating tree. Just then the tree was washed under the bridge, and a +rope was thrown out. It fell upon the man's shoulders. He saw at a +glance that he could not save his dear ones, so he threw the means of +safety on one side and clasped in his arms those who were with him. A +moment later and the tree struck a floating house. It turned over, and +in an instant the three persons were in the seething waters, being +carried to their death. + +An instance of a mother's love at Bolivar is told. A woman and two +children were floating down the torrent. The mother caught a rope, and +tried to hold it to her and her babe. It was impossible, and with a look +of anguish she relinquished the rope and sank with her little ones. + +A family, consisting of father and mother and nine children, were washed +away in a creek at Lockport. The mother managed to reach the shore, but +the husband and children were carried out into the Conemaugh to drown. +The woman was crazed over the terrible event. + +A little girl passed under the Bolivar bridge just before dark. She was +kneeling on part of a floor, and had her hands clasped as if in prayer. +Every effort was made to save her, but they all proved futile. A +railroader who was standing by remarked that the piteous appearance of +the little waif brought tears to his eyes. All night long the crowd +stood about the ruins of the bridge which had been swept away at +Bolivar. The water rushed past with a roar, carrying with it parts of +houses, furniture, and trees. No more living persons are being carried +past. Watchers, with lanterns, remained along the banks until daybreak, +when the first view of the awful devastation of the flood was witnessed. +Along the bank lay the remnants of what had once been dwelling-houses +and stores; here and there was an uprooted tree. Piles of drift lay +about, in some of which bodies of the victims of the flood will be +found. + +Harry Fisher, a young telegraph operator, who was at Bolivar when the +first rush of waters began, says: "We knew nothing of the disaster +until we noticed the river slowly rising, and then more rapidly. News +reached us from Johnstown that the dam at South Fork had burst. Within +three hours the water in the river rose at least twenty feet. Shortly +before six o'clock ruins of houses, beds, household utensils, barrels, +and kegs came floating past the bridges. At eight o'clock the water was +within six feet of the roadbed of the bridge. The wreckage floated past, +without stopping, for at least two hours. Then it began to lessen, and +night coming suddenly upon us, we could see no more. The wreckage was +floating by for a long time before the first living persons passed. +Fifteen people that I saw were carried down by the river. One of these, +a boy, was saved, and three of them were drowned just directly below the +town. Hundreds of animals lost their lives. The bodies of horses, dogs, +and chickens floated past in numbers that could not be counted." + +Just before reaching Sang Hollow, the end of the mail line on the +Pennsylvania Railroad, is "S. O." signal tower, and the men in it told +piteous stories of what they saw. + +A beautiful girl came down on the roof of a building, which was swung in +near the tower. She screamed to the operators to save her, and one big, +brawny, brave fellow walked as far into the river as he could, and +shouted to her to guide herself into shore with a bit of plank. She was +a plucky girl, full of nerve and energy, and stood upon her frail +support in evident obedience to the command of the operator. She made +two or three bold strokes, and actually stopped the course of the raft +for an instant. Then it swerved, and went out from under her. She tried +to swim ashore, but in a few seconds she was lost in the swirling water. +Something hit her, for she lay on her back, with face pallid and +expressionless. + +Men and women, in dozens, in pairs, and singly; children, boys, big and +little, and wee babies, were there among the awful confusion of water, +drowning, gasping, struggling, and fighting desperately for life. Two +men, on a tiny raft, shot into the swiftest part of the current. They +crouched stolidly, looking at the shores, while between them, dressed in +white, and kneeling with her face turned heavenward, was a girl six or +seven years old. She seemed stricken with paralysis until she came +opposite the tower, and then she turned her face to the operator. She +was so close they could see big tears on her cheeks, and her pallor was +as death. The helpless men on shore shouted to her to keep up her +courage, and she resumed her devout attitude, and disappeared under the +trees of a projecting point a short distance below. "We couldn't see her +come out again," said the operator, "and that was all of it." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +An interesting story of endeavor was related on Monday by a +correspondent of the New York _Sun_, who made his way to the scene of +disaster. This is what he wrote:-- + +Although three days have passed since the disaster, the difficulty of +reaching the desolated region is still so great that, under ordinary +circumstances, no one would dream of attempting the trip. The +Pennsylvania Railroad cannot get within several miles of Johnstown, and +it is almost impossible to get on their trains even at that. They run +one, two, or three trains a day on the time of the old through trains, +and the few cars on each train are crowded with passengers in a few +minutes after the gates open. Then the sale of tickets is stopped, the +gates are closed, and all admission to the train denied. No extra cars +will be put on, no second section sent out, and no special train run on +any account, for love or money. The scenes at the station when the +gates are shut are sorrowful. Men who have come hundreds of miles to +search for friends or relatives among the dead stand hopelessly before +the edict of the blue-coated officials from eight in the morning until +one in the afternoon. There is no later train on the Pennsylvania road +out of Pittsburgh, and the agony of suspense is thus prolonged. Besides +that, the one o'clock train is so late in getting to Sang Hollow that +the work of beginning a search is practically delayed until the next +morning. + +[Illustration: RUINS OF THE CAMBRIA IRON WORKS.] + +The _Sun's_ special correspondents were of a party of fifteen or twenty +business men and others who had come from the East by way of Buffalo, +and who reached Pittsburgh in abundant time to have taken the +Pennsylvania Railroad train at eight o'clock, had the company wished to +carry them. With hundreds of others they were turned away, and appeals +even to the highest official of the road were useless, whether in the +interest of newspaper enterprise or private business, or in the sadder +but most frequent case where men prayed like beggars for an opportunity +to measure the extent of their bereavement, or find if, by some happy +chance, one might not be alive out of a family. The sight-seeing and +curious crowd was on hand early, and had no trouble in getting on the +train. Those who had come from distant cities, and whose mission was of +business or sorrow, were generally later, and were left. No effort was +made to increase the accommodations of the train for those who most +needed them. The _Sun's_ men had traveled a thousand miles around to +reach Pittsburgh. Their journey had covered three sides of the State of +Pennsylvania, from Philadelphia at the extreme southeast, through New +Jersey and New York to Buffalo by way of Albany and the New York +Central, and thence by the Lake Shore to Ashtabula, O., passing through +Erie at the extreme northwest corner of the State; thence down by the +Pittsburgh and Lake Erie road to Youngstown, O., and so into Pittsburgh +by the back door, as it were. Circumstances and the edict of the +Pennsylvania Railroad were destined to carry them still further around, +more than a hundred miles, nearly south of Pittsburgh, almost across the +line into Maryland, and thence fifty miles up before they reached their +destination. + +The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ordinarily does not attempt to compete +for business from Pittsburgh into Johnstown. Its only route between +those two cities leads over small branch lines among the mountains south +of Johnstown, and is over double the length of the Pennsylvania main +line route. The first train to reach Johnstown, however, was one over +the Baltimore and Ohio lines, and, although they made no attempt to +establish a regular line, they did on Sunday get two relief trains out +of Pittsburgh and into Johnstown. Superintendent Patten, of the +Baltimore and Ohio, established headquarters in a box car two miles +south of Johnstown, and telegraphed to Acting Superintendent McIlvaine, +at Pittsburgh, to take for free transportation all goods offered for the +relief of the sufferers. No passenger trains were run, however, except +the regular trains on the main line for Cumberland, Md., and the +branches from the main line to Johnstown were used entirely by wildcat +trains running on special orders, with no object but to get relief up as +quickly as possible. Nothing had left Pittsburgh for Johnstown, however, +to-day up to nine o'clock. Arrangements were made for a relief train to +go out early in the afternoon, to pick up cars of contributed goods at +the stations along the line and get them into Johnstown some time during +the night. "No specials" was also the rule on the Baltimore and Ohio, +but Acting Superintendent McIlvaine recognized in the _Sun_, with its +enormous possibilities in the way of spreading throughout the country +the actual situation of affairs in the devastated district, a means of +awaking the public to the extent of the disaster that would be of more +efficient relief to the suffering people than even train-loads of food +and clothing. The _Sun's_ case was therefore made exceptional, and when +the situation was explained to him he consented, for a sum that appalled +the representatives of some other papers who heard it, but which was, +for the distance to be covered, very fair, to set the _Sun's_ men down +in Johnstown at the earliest moment that steam and steel and iron could +do it. + +In fifteen minutes one of the Baltimore and Ohio light passenger +engines, with Engineer W. E. Scott in charge and Fireman Charles Hood +for assistant, was hitched to a single coach out in the yard. Conductor +W. B. Clancy was found somewhere about and put in command of the +expedition. Brakeman Dan Lynn was captured just as he was leaving an +incoming train, and although he had been without sleep for a day, he +readily consented to complete the crew of the _Sun's_ train. There was +no disposition to be hoggish in the matter, and at a time like this the +great thing was to get the best possible information as to affairs at +Johnstown spread over the country in the least possible time. The +facilities of the train were therefore placed at the disposal of other +newspaper men who were willing to share in the expense. None of them, +however, availed themselves of this chance to save practically a whole +day in reaching the scene, except the artist representing _Harper's +Weekly_, who had accompanied the _Sun_ men this far in their race +against time from the East. As far as the New York papers were +concerned, there were no men except those from the _Sun_ to take the +train. If any other New York newspaper men had yet reached Pittsburgh at +all, they were not to be found around the Baltimore and Ohio station, +where the _Sun_ extended its invitation to the other representatives of +the press. There were a number of Western newspaper men on hand, but +journalism in that section is not accustomed to big figures except in +circulation affidavits, and they were staggered at the idea of paying +even a share of the expense that the _Sun_ was bearing practically +alone. + +At 9.15 A. M., therefore, when the special train pulled out of the +Baltimore and Ohio station, it had for passengers only the _Sun_ men and +_Harper's_ artist. As it started Acting Superintendent McIlvaine was +asked:-- + +"How quickly can we make it?" + +"Well, it's one hundred and forty-six miles," he replied, "and it's all +kinds of road. There's an accommodation train that you will have to look +out for until you pass it, and that will delay you. It's hard to make +any promise about time." + +"Can we make it in five hours?" he was asked. + +"I think you can surely do that," he replied. + +How much better than the acting superintendent's word was the +performance of Engineer Scott and his crew this story shows. The +special, after leaving Pittsburgh, ran wild until it got to McKeesport, +sixteen miles distant. At this point the regular train, which left +Pittsburgh at 8.40, was overtaken. The regular train was on a siding, +and the special passed through the city with but a minute's stop. Then +the special had a clear track before it, and the engineer drove his +machine to the utmost limit of speed consistent with safety. It is +nineteen miles from McKeesport to West Newton, and the special made this +distance in twenty minutes, the average time of over a mile a minute +being much exceeded for certain periods. The curves of the road are +frightful, and at times the single car which composed the train was +almost swung clear off the track. The _Sun_ men recalled vividly the +ride of Horace Greeley with Hank Monk, and they began to reflect that +there was such a thing as riding so fast that they might not be able to +reach Johnstown at all. From Layton's to Dawson the seven and one-half +miles were made in seven minutes, while the fourteen miles from Layton's +to Connellsville were covered in fourteen minutes precisely. On the +tender of the engine the cover of the water-tank flew open and the water +splashed out. Coal flew from the tender in great lumps, and dashed +against the end of the car. Inside the car the newspaper men's grips and +belongings went flying around on the floor and over seats like mad. The +Allegheny River, whose curves the rails followed, seemed to be right +even with the car windows, so that one could look straight down into the +water, so closely to it was the track built. In Connellsville there was +a crowd to see the special. On the depot was the placard:-- + +"Car will leave at 3 P. M. to-day with food and clothing for Johnstown." + +In Connellsville the train stopped five minutes and underwent a thorough +inspection. Then it shoved on again. At Confluence, twenty-seven miles +from Connellsville, a bridge of a Baltimore and Ohio branch line across +the river was washed away, but this didn't interfere with the progress +of the special. For sixty miles on the road is up hill at a grade of +sixty-five feet to the mile, and the curves, if anything, are worse, but +there was no appreciable diminution in the speed of the train. Just +before reaching Rockwood the first real traces of the flood were +apparent. The waters of the Castlemore showed signs of having been +recently right up to the railroad tracks, and driftwood and débris of +all descriptions lay at the side of the rails. Nearly all bridges on the +country roads over the river were washed away and their remnants +scattered along the banks. + +Rockwood was reached at 12.05 P. M. Rockwood is eighty-seven miles from +McKeesport, and this distance, which is up an extremely steep grade, +was therefore made in two hours, which includes fifteen minutes' stop. +The distance covered from Pittsburgh was one hundred and two miles in +two hours. Rockwood is the junction of the main line of the Baltimore +and Ohio road at its Cambria branch, which runs to Johnstown. The +regular local train from there to Johnstown was held to allow the +_Sun's_ special to pass first. + +The _Sun's_ special left Rockwood at 12.20 in charge of Engineer Oliver, +who assumed charge at that point. He said that the branch to Johnstown +was a mountain road, with steep grades, very high embankments, and +damaged in spots, and that he would have to use great precaution in +running. He gave the throttle a yank and the train started with a jump +that almost sent the newspaper men on their heads. Things began to dance +around the car furiously as the train dashed along at a great pace, and +the reporters began to wonder what Engineer Oliver meant by his talk +about precautions. All along the route up the valley at the stations +were crowds of people, who stared in silence as the train swept by. On +the station platforms were piled barrels of flour, boxes of canned +goods, and bales of clothing. The roads leading in from the country to +the stations were full of farmers' wagons laden with produce of all +kinds for the sufferers. + +The road from Rockwood to Johnstown lies in a deep gully, at the bottom +of which flows little Stony Creek, now swollen to a torrent. Wooden +troughs under the track carry off the water which trickles down from the +hills, otherwise the track would be useless. As it is there are frequent +washouts, which have been partly filled in, and for ten miles south of +Johnstown all trains have to be run very slowly. The branches of trees +above the bank which have been blown over graze the cars on the railroad +tracks. The _Sun's_ special arrived in Johnstown at two o'clock. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The experience of the newspaper correspondents in the Conemaugh valley +was the experience of a lifetime. Few war correspondents, even, have +been witnesses of such appalling scenes of horror and desolation. Day +after day they were busy recording the annals of death and despair, +conscious, meanwhile, that no expressions of accumulated pathos at their +command could do justice to the theme. They had only to stand in the +street wherever a knot of men had gathered, to hear countless stories of +thrilling escapes. Hundreds of people had such narrow escapes that they +hardly dared to believe that they were saved for hours after they +reached solid ground. William Wise, a young man who lived at Woodvale, +was walking along the road when the rush of water came down the valley. +He started to rush up the side of the hills, but stopped to help a young +woman; Ida Zidstein, to escape; lost too much time, and was forced to +drag the young woman upon a high pile of metal near the road. They had +clung there several hours, and thought that they could both escape, as +the metal pile was not exposed to the full force of the torrent. A +telegraph pole came dashing down the flood, its top standing above the +water, from which dangled some wires. The pole was caught in an eddy +opposite the pile. It shot in toward the two who were clinging there. As +the pole swung around, the wires came through the air like a whip-lash, +and catching in the hair of the young woman, dragged her down to instant +death. The young man remained on the heap of metal for hours before the +water subsided so as to allow him to escape. + +One man named Homer, with his child, age six, was on one of the houses +which were first carried away. He climbed to the roof and held fast +there for four hours, floating all the way to Bolivar, fifteen miles +below. + +A young hero sat upon the roof of his father's house, holding his mother +and little sister. Once the house swung in toward a brick structure +which still rested on its foundation. As one house struck the other, the +boy sprang into one of the windows. As he turned to rescue his mother +and sister, the house swung out again, and the boy, seeing that there +was no possibility of getting them off, leaped back to their side. A +second time the house was stopped--this time by a tree. The boy helped +his mother and sister to a place of safety in the tree, but before he +could leave the roof, the house was swept on and he was drowned. + +One man took his whole family to the roof of his floating house. He and +one child escaped to another building, but his wife and five children +were whirled around for hours, and finally carried down to the bridge +where so many people perished in the flames. They were all rescued. + +District Attorney Rose, his wife, two brothers and two sisters were +swept across the lower portion of the town. They had been thrown into +the water, and were swimming, the men assisting the women. Finally, they +got into a back current, and were cast ashore at the foot of the hills +back of Knoxville. + +One merchant of Johnstown, after floating about upon a piece of wreckage +for hours, was carried down to the stone bridge. After a miraculous +escape from being burned to death, he was rescued and carried ashore. He +was so dazed and terrified by his experience, however, that he walked +off the bridge and broke his neck. + +One man who was powerless to save his wife, after he had leaped from a +burning building to a house floating by, was driven insane by her +shrieks for help. + +An old gentleman of Verona rescued a modern Moses from the bulrushes. +Verona is on the east bank of the Allegheny river, twelve miles above +Pittsburg. Mr. McCutcheon, while standing on the river bank watching the +drift floating by, was compelled by instinct to take a skiff and row out +to one dense mass of timber. As he reached it, he was startled to find +in the centre, out of the reach of the water, a cradle covered with the +clothing. As he lifted the coverings aside a pretty five-months-old boy +baby smiled on him. The little innocent, unconscious of the scenes it +had passed through, crowed with delight as the old man lifted it +tenderly, cradle and all, into his skiff and brought it ashore. + +Among the miraculous escapes is that of George J. Lea and family. When +the rush of water came there were eight people on the roof of Lea's +house. The house swung around and floated for nearly half an hour before +it struck the wreck above the stone bridge. A three-year-old girl, with +sunny, golden hair and dimpled cheeks, prayed all the while that God +would save them, and it seemed that God really answered the prayer and +directed the house against the drift, enabling every one of the eight to +get off. + +H. M. Bennett and S. W. Keltz, engineer and conductor of engine No. 1165 +and the extra freight, which happened to be lying at South Fork when the +dam broke, tell a graphic story of their wonderful flight and escape on +the locomotive before the advancing flood. Bennett and Keltz were in +the signal tower awaiting orders. The fireman and flagman were on the +engine, and two brakemen were asleep in the caboose. Suddenly the men in +the tower heard a roaring sound in the valley above them. They looked in +that direction and were almost transfixed with horror to see, two miles +above them, a huge black wall of water, at least 150 feet in height, +rushing down the valley. The fear-stricken men made a rush for the +locomotive, at the same time giving the alarm to the sleeping brakemen +in the caboose, but with no avail. It was impossible to aid them +further, however, so Bennett and Keltz cut the engine loose from the +train, and the engineer, with one wild wrench, threw the lever wide +open, and they were away on a mad race for life. It seemed that they +would not receive momentum enough to keep ahead of the flood, and they +cast one despairing glance back. Then they could see the awful deluge +approaching in its might. On it came, rolling and roaring, tossing and +tearing houses, sheds and trees in its awful speed as if they were toys. +As they looked, they saw the two brakemen rush out of the caboose, but +they had not time to gather the slightest idea of the cause of their +doom before they, the car and signal tower were tossed high in the air, +to disappear forever. Then the engine leaped forward like a thing of +life, and speeded down the valley. But fast as it went, the flood +gained upon it. In a few moments the shrieking locomotive whizzed around +a curve, and they were in sight of a bridge. Horror upon horrors! ahead +of them was a freight train, with the rear end almost on the bridge, and +to get across was simply impossible. Engineer Bennett then reversed the +lever, and succeeded in checking the engine as they glided across the +bridge. Then the men jumped and ran for their lives up the hillside. The +bridge and the tender of the engine they had been on were swept away +like a bundle of matches. + +A young man who was a passenger on the Derry express furnishes an +interesting account of his experiences. "When we reached Derry," he +said, "our train was boarded by a relief committee, and no sooner was it +ascertained that we were going on to Sang Hollow than the contributions +of provisions and supplies of every kind were piled on board, filling an +entire car. On reaching Sang Hollow the scene that presented itself to +us was heart-rending. The road was lined with homeless people, some with +a trunk or solitary chair, the only thing saved from their household +goods, and all wearing an aspect of the most hopeless misery. Men were +at work transferring from a freight car a pile of corpses at least sixty +in number, and here and there a ghastly something under a covering +showed where the body of some victim of the flood lay awaiting +identification or burial in a nameless grave. Busy workers were engaged +in clearing away the piles of driftwood and scattered articles of +household use which cumbered the tracks and the roads. These piles told +their own mournful story. There were beds, bureaus, mattresses, chairs, +tables, pictures, dead horses and mules, overcoats, remnants of dresses +sticking on the branches of trees, and a thousand other odd pieces of +flotsam and jetsam from ruined homes. I saw a man get off the train and +pick up an insurance policy for $30,000. Another took away as relics a +baby's chair and a confirmation card in a battered frame. On the banks +of the Little Conemaugh creek people were delving in the driftwood, +which was piled to a depth of six or seven feet, unearthing and carrying +away whatever could be turned to account. Under those piles, it is +thought, numbers of bodies are buried, not to be recovered except by the +labor of many days. A woman and a little girl were brought from +Johnstown by some means which I could not ascertain. The woman was in +confinement, and was carried on a lounge, her sole remaining piece of +property. She was taken to Latrobe for hospital treatment. I cannot +understand how it is that people are unable to make their way from Sang +Hollow to Johnstown. The distance is short, and it should certainly be a +comparatively easy task to get over it on foot or horseback. However, +there seems to be some insuperable obstacle. All those who made the trip +on the train with me in order to obtain tidings of their friends in +Johnstown, were forced to return as I did. + +"The railroad is in a terrible condition. The day express and the +limited, which left Pittsburg on Friday morning, are lying between +Johnstown and Conemaugh on the east, having been cut off by the flood. +Linemen were sent down from our train at every station to repair the +telegraph wires which are damaged. Tremendous efforts are being exerted +to repair the injury sustained by the railroad, and it is only a +question of a couple of days until through communication is +reëstablished. Our homeward trip was marked by a succession of sad +spectacles. At Blairsville intersection two little girls lay dead, and +in a house taken from the river was the body of a woman. Some idea of +the force of the flood may be had from the statement that freight cars, +both loaded and empty, had been lifted bodily from the track, and +carried a distance of several blocks, and deposited in a graveyard in +the outskirts of the town, where they were lying in a mass mixed up with +tombstones and monuments." + +[Illustration: RUINS OF THE CAMBRIA IRON CO'S STORE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Where the carcass is, there will the vultures be gathered together. It +is humiliating to human nature to record it, but it is nevertheless +true, that amid all the suffering and sacrifice, and heroism and +generosity that was displayed in this awful time, there arose some of +the basest passions of unbridled vice. The lust of gain led many +skulking wretches to rob and despoil, and even to mutilate the bodies of +the dead. Pockets were searched. Jewels were stolen. Finger-rings and +ear-rings were torn away, the knife often being used upon the poor, dead +clay to facilitate the spoliation. Against this savagery the better +elements of the populace sternly revolted. For the time there was no +organized government. But outraged and indignant humanity soon +formulates its own code of laws. Pistol and rope and bludgeon, in the +hand of honesty, did effective work. The reports of summary lynchings +that at first were spread abroad were doubtless exaggerated, but they +had a stern foundation of truth; and they had abundant provocation. + +Writing on that tragic Sunday, one correspondent says: "The way of the +transgressor in the desolated valley of the Conemaugh is hard indeed. +Each hour reveals some new and horrible story of suffering and outrage, +and every succeeding hour brings news of swift and merited punishment +meted out to the fiends who have dared to desecrate the stiff and +mangled bodies in the city of the dead, and torture the already +half-crazed victims of the cruelest of modern catastrophes. Last night a +party of thirteen Hungarians were noticed stealthily picking their way +along the banks of the Conemaugh toward Sang Hollow. Suspicious of their +purpose, several farmers armed themselves and started in pursuit. Soon +their most horrible fears were realized. The Hungarians were out for +plunder. They came upon the dead and mangled body of a woman, lying upon +the shore, upon whose person there were a number of trinkets of jewelry +and two diamond rings. In their eagerness to secure the plunder, the +Hungarians got into a squabble, during which one of the number severed +the finger upon which were the rings, and started on a run with his +fearful prize. The revolting nature of the deed so wrought upon the +pursuing farmers, who by this time were close at hand, that they gave +immediate chase. Some of the Hungarians showed fight, but, being +outnumbered, were compelled to flee for their lives. Nine of the brutes +escaped, but four were literally driven into the surging river and to +their death. The thief who took the rings was among the number of the +involuntary suicides." + +At 8.30 o'clock this morning an old railroader, who had walked from Sang +Hollow, stepped up to a number of men who were on the platform station +at Curranville, and said:-- + +"Gentlemen, had I a shot-gun with me half an hour ago, I would now be a +murderer, yet with no fear of ever having to suffer for my crime. Two +miles below here I watched three men going along the banks stealing the +jewels from the bodies of the dead wives and daughters of men who have +been robbed of all they hold dear on earth." + +He had no sooner finished the last sentence than five burly men, with +looks of terrible determination written on their faces, were on their +way to the scene of plunder, one with a coil of rope over his shoulder +and another with a revolver in his hand. In twenty minutes, so it is +stated, they had overtaken two of their victims, who were then in the +act of cutting pieces from the ears and fingers from the hands of the +bodies of two dead women. With revolver leveled at the scoundrels, the +leader of the posse shouted:-- + +"Throw up your hands, or I'll blow your heads off!" + +With blanched faces and trembling forms, they obeyed the order and +begged for mercy. They were searched, and, as their pockets were emptied +of their ghastly finds, the indignation of the crowd intensified, and +when a bloody finger of an infant encircled with two tiny gold rings was +found among the plunder in the leader's pocket, a cry went up, "Lynch +them! Lynch them!" Without a moment's delay ropes were thrown around +their necks and they were dangling to the limbs of a tree, in the +branches of which an hour before were entangled the bodies of a dead +father and son. After half an hour the ropes were cut and the bodies +lowered and carried to a pile of rocks in the forest on the hill above. +It is hinted that an Allegheny county official was one of the most +prominent in this justifiable homicide. + +One miserable wretch who was caught in the act of mutilating a body was +chased by a crowd of citizens, and when captured was promptly strung up +to a telegraph pole. A company of officers rescued him before he was +dead, much to the disgust of many reputable people, whose feelings had +been outraged by the treatment of their deceased relations. Shortly +after midnight an attempt was made to rob the First National Bank, +which, with the exception of the vaults, had been destroyed. The +plunderers were discovered by the citizens' patrol, which had been +established during the night, and a lively chase ensued. A number of +the thieves--six, it is said--were shot. It is not known whether any +were killed or not, as their bodies would have been washed away almost +immediately if such had been the case. + +A number of Hungarians collected about a number of bodies at Cambria +which had been washed up, and began rifling the trunks. After they had +secured all the contents they turned their attention to the dead. + +The ghastly spectacle presented by the distorted features of those who +had lost their lives during the flood had no influence upon the ghouls, +who acted more like wild beasts than human beings. They took every +article from the clothing on the dead bodies, not leaving anything of +value or anything that would serve to identify the remains. + +After the miscreants had removed all their plunder to dry ground a +dispute arose over a division of the spoils. A pitched battle followed, +and for a time the situation was alarming. Knives and clubs were used +freely. As a result several of the combatants were seriously wounded and +left on the ground, their fellow-countrymen not making any attempt to +remove them from the field of strife. + +A Hungarian was caught in the act of cutting off a dead woman's finger, +on which was a costly ring. The infuriated spectators raised an outcry +and the fiend fled. He was hotly pursued, and after a half-hour's hard +chase, was captured and hanged to a telegraph pole, but was cut down and +resuscitated by officers. Liquor emboldened the ghouls, and Pittsburg +was telegraphed for help, and the 18th and 14th Regiments, Battery B and +the Washington Infantry were at once called out for duty, members being +apprised by posters in the newspaper windows. + +One correspondent wrote: "The number of drunken men is remarkable. +Whiskey seems marvelously plenty. Men are actually carrying it around in +pails. Barrels of the stuff are constantly located among the drifts, and +_men are scrambling over each other and fighting like wild beasts_ in +their mad search for it. At the cemetery, at the upper end of town, I +saw a sight that rivals the Inferno. A number of ghouls had found a lot +of fine groceries, among them a barrel of brandy, with which they were +fairly stuffing themselves. One huge fellow was standing on the strings +of an upright piano singing a profane song, every little while breaking +into a wild dance. A half-dozen others were engaged in a hand-to-hand +fight over the possession of some treasure stolen from a ruined house, +and the crowd around the barrel were yelling like wild men." + +These reports were largely discredited and denied by later and probably +more trustworthy authorities, but there was doubtless a considerable +residue of truth in them. + +There were so many contradictory stories about these horrible doings +that our painstaking correspondent put to "Chall" Dick, the Deputy +Sheriff, this "leading question": "Did you shoot any robbers?" Chall did +not make instant reply, but finally looked up with a peculiar expression +on his face and said:-- + +"There are some men whom their friends will never again see alive." + +"Well, now, how many did you shoot?" was the next question. + +"Say," said Chall. "On Saturday morning I was the first to make my way +to Sang Hollow to see if I could not get some food for people made +homeless by the flood. There was a car-load of provisions there, but the +vandals were on hand. They broke into the car and, in spite of my +protestations, carried off box after box of supplies. I only got half a +wagon load. They were too many for me. I know when I have no show. There +was no show there and I got out. + +"As I was leaving Sang Hollow and got up the mountain road a piece, I +saw two Hungarians and one woman engaged in cutting the fingers off of +corpses to get some rings. Well, I got off that team and--well, there +are three people who were not drowned and who are not alive." + +"Where are the bodies?" + +"Ain't the river handy there? I went down to Sang Hollow on Sunday, but +I went fixed for trouble that time. When I got into the hollow the +officers had in tow a man who claimed he was arrested because he had +bummed it on the freight train. A large crowd of men were trying to +rescue the fellow. I rode into that crowd and scattered it. I got +between the crowd and officers, who succeeded in getting their man in +here. The fellow had been robbing the dead and had a lot of jewelry on +his person. I see by the papers that Consul Max Schamberg, of Pittsburg, +asserts that the Huns are a law-abiding race, and that when they were +accused of robbing the dead they were simply engaged in trying to +identify some of their friends. Consul Schamberg does not know what he +is talking about. I know better, for I saw them engaged in robbing the +dead. + +"Those I caught at it will never do the like again. Why, I saw them let +go of their friends in the water to catch a bedstead with a mattress on +it. That's the sort of law-abiding citizens the Huns are." + +Down the Cambria road, past which the dead of the river Conemaugh swept +into Nineveh in awful numbers, was witnessed a wretched scene--that of a +young officer of the National Guard in full uniform, and a poor +deputy-sheriff, who had lost home, wife, children and all, clinched +like madmen and struggling for the former's revolver. If the officer of +the Guard had won, there might have been a tragedy, for he was drunk. +The homeless deputy-sheriff, with his wife and babies swept to death +past the place where they struggled, was sober and in the right. + +The officer was a first lieutenant. His company came with that regiment +into this valley of distress to protect survivors from ruffianism and +maintain the peace and dignity of the State. The man with whom he fought +for the weapon was almost crazy in his own woe, but singularly cool and +self-possessed regarding the safety of those left living. + +It was one o'clock in the afternoon when a Philadelphia _Press_ +correspondent noticed on the Cambria road the young officer with his +long military coat cut open, leaning heavily for support upon two +privates. He was crying in a maudlin way, "You just take me to a place +and I'll drink soft stuff." They entreated him to return at once to the +regimental headquarters, even begged him, but he cast them aside and +went staggering down the road to the line, where he met the grave-faced +deputy face to face. The latter looked in the white of his eyes and +said: "You can't pass here, sir." + +"Can't pass here?" he cried, waving his arms. "You challenge an officer? +Stand aside!" + +"You can't pass here!" this time quietly, but firmly; "not while you're +drunk." + +"Stand aside!" yelled the lieutenant. "Do you know who I am? You talk to +an officer of the National Guard." + +"Yes; and listen," said the man in front of him so impatiently that it +hushed his antagonist's tirade. "I talk to an 'officer' of the National +Guard--I who have lost my wife, my children and all in this flood no man +has yet described; we who have seen our dead with their bodies mutilated +and their fingers cut from their hands by dirty foreigners for a little +gold, are not afraid to talk for what is right, even to an officer of +the National Guard." + +While he spoke another great, dark, stout man, who looked as if he had +suffered, came up, and upon taking in the situation every vein in his +forehead swelled purple with rage. + +"You dirty cur," he cried to the officer; "you dirty, drunken cur, if it +was not for the sake of peace I'd lay you out where you stand." + +"Come on," yelled the Lieutenant, with an oath. + +The big man sent out a terrible blow that would have left the Lieutenant +senseless had not one of the privates dashed in between, receiving part +of it and warding it off. The Lieutenant got out of his military coat. +The privates seized the big man and with another correspondent, who ran +to the scene, held him back. The Lieutenant put his hand to his pistol +pocket, the deputy seized him, and the struggle for the weapon began. +For a moment it was fierce and desperate, then another private came to +the deputy's assistance. The revolver was wrested from the drunken +officer and he himself was pushed back panting to the ground. + +The deputy seized the military coat he had thrown on the ground, and +with it and the weapon started to the regimental headquarters. Then the +privates got around him and begged him, one of them with tears in his +eyes, not to report their officer, saying that he was a good man when he +was sober. He studied a long while, standing in the road, while the +officer slunk away over the hill. Then he threw the disgraced uniform to +them, and said: "Here, give them to him; and, mind you, if he does not +go at once to his quarters, I'll take him there, dead or alive." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +While yet the first wild cry of anguish was thrilling among the startled +hills of the Conemaugh, the great heart of the nation answered it with a +mighty throb of sympathy. On Tuesday afternoon, at Washington, the +President called a gathering of eminent citizens to devise measures of +relief. The meeting was held in Willard's Hall, on F street, above +Fourteenth, and President Harrison made such an eloquent appeal for +assistance that nearly $10,000 was raised in the hour and a half that +the meeting was in session. + +As presiding officer the Chief Magistrate sat in a big arm-chair on the +stage. On his right were District Commissioner Douglass, Hine and +Raymond, and on his left sat Postmaster-General Wanamaker and Private +Secretary Halford. In the audience were Secretaries Noble, Proctor and +Tracy, Attorney-General Miller, Congressman Randall and Senators and +Representatives from all parts of the country. + +President Harrison called the meeting to order promptly at 3 o'clock. A +dead silence fell over the three hundred people as the President stepped +to the front of the platform and in a clear, distinct voice appealed for +aid for the thousands who had been bereft of their all by the terrible +calamity. His voice trembled once or twice as he dwelt upon the scene of +death and desolation, and a number of handkerchiefs were called into use +at his vivid portrayal of the disaster. + +Upon taking the chair the President said:-- + +"Every one here to-day is distressingly conscious of the circumstances +which have convened this meeting. It would be impossible to state more +impressively than the newspapers have already done the distressing +incidents attending the calamity which has fallen upon the city of +Johnstown and the neighboring hamlets, and upon a large section of +Pennsylvania situated upon the Susquehanna river. The grim pencil of +Doré would be inadequate to portray the horrors of this visitation. In +such meetings as we have here in the national capital and other like +gatherings that are taking place in all the cities of this land, we have +the only rays of hope and light in the general gloom. When such a +calamitous visitation falls upon any section of our country we can do no +more than to put about the dark picture the golden border of love and +charity. [Applause.] It is in such fires as these that the brotherhood +of man is welded. + +"And where is sympathy and help more appropriate than here in the +national capital? I am glad to say that early this morning, from a city +not long ago visited with pestilence, not long ago itself appealing to +the charitable people of the whole land for relief--the city of +Jacksonville, Fla.--there came the ebb of that tide of charity which +flowed toward it in the time of its need, in a telegram from the +Sanitary Relief Association authorizing me to draw upon them for $2000 +for the relief of the Pennsylvania sufferers. [Applause.] + +"But this is no time for speech. While I talk men and women are +suffering for the relief which we plan to give. One word or two of +practical suggestion, and I will place this meeting in your hands to +give effect to your impatient benevolence. I have a despatch from the +Governor of Pennsylvania advising me that communication has just been +opened with Williamsport, on a branch of the Susquehanna river, and that +the losses in that section have been appalling; that thousands of people +there are homeless and penniless, and that there is an immediate call +for food to relieve their necessities. He advises me that any supplies +of food that can be hastily gathered here should be sent via Harrisburg +to Williamsport, where they will be distributed. I suggest, therefore, +that a committee be constituted having in charge the speedy collection +of articles of food. + +"The occasion is such that the bells might well be rung through your +streets to call the attention of the thoughtless to this great +exigency--in order that a train load of provisions may be despatched +to-night or in the early morning to this suffering people. + +"I suggest, secondly, as many of these people have had the entire +furnishings of their houses swept away and have now only temporary +shelter, that a committee be appointed to collect such articles of +clothing, and especially bed clothing, as can be spared. Now that the +summer season is on, there can hardly be a house in Washington which +cannot spare a blanket or a coverlet. + +"And, third, I suggest that from the substantial business men and +bankers there be appointed a committee who shall collect money, for +after the first exigency is past there will be found in those +communities very many who have lost their all, who will need aid in the +construction of their demolished homes and in furnishing them so that +they may be again inhabited. + +"Need I say in conclusion that, as a temporary citizen of Washington, it +would give me great satisfaction if the national capital should so +generously respond to this call of our distressed fellow citizens as +to be conspicuous among the cities of our land. [Applause.] I feel that, +as I am now calling for contributions, I should state that on Saturday, +when first apprised of the disaster at Johnstown, I telegraphed a +subscription to the Mayor of that city. I do not like to speak of +anything so personal as this, but I felt it due to myself and to you +that I should say so much as this." + +[Illustration: THIRD STREET, WILLIAMSPORT, DURING THE FLOOD.] + +The vice presidents elected included all the members of the Cabinet, +Chief Justices Fuller, Bingham and Richardson, M. G. Emery, J. A. J. +Cresswell, Dr. E. B. Clark, of the Bank of the Republic; C. L. Glover, +of the Riggs Bank; Cashier James, of the Bank of Washington; B. H. +Warner, Ex-Commissioners Webb and Wheatley, Jesse B. Wilson, Ex-Minister +Foster and J. W. Thompson. The secretaries were S. H. Kaufmann, Beriah +Wilkins, E. W. Murphy and Hallett Kilbourne; treasurer, E. Kurtz +Johnson. + +While subscriptions were being taken up, the President intimated that +suggestions would be in order, and a prompt and generous response was +the result. The Adams Express Company volunteered to transport all +material for the relief of the distressed people free of charge, and the +Lamont Opera Company tendered their services for a benefit, to be given +in aid of the sufferers. The managers offered the use of their theatre +free of charge for any performances. Numerous other offers of +provisions and clothing were made and accepted. + +Then President Harrison read a number of telegrams from Governor Beaver, +in which he gave a brief synopsis of the horrors of the situation and +asked for the government pontoon bridge. + +"I regret to say," added the President, "that the entire length of the +pontoon bridge is only 550 feet. Governor Beaver advises me that the +present horrors are not alone to be dreaded, but he fears that +pestilence may come. I would therefore suggest that disinfectants be +included in the donations. I think we should concentrate our efforts and +work, through one channel, so that the work may be expeditiously done. +In view of that fact we should have one headquarters and everything +should be sent there. Then it could be shipped without delay." + +The use of Willard Hall was tendered and decided upon as a central +point. The District Commissioners were appointed a committee to receive +and forward the contributions. When the collections had been made, the +amounts were read out and included sums ranging from $500 to $1. + +The President, in dismissing the meeting, said:-- + +"May I express the hope that this work will be earnestly and thoroughly +pushed, and that every man and woman present will go from this meeting +to use their influence in order that these supplies of food and +clothing so much and so promptly needed may be secured, and that either +to-night or to-morrow morning a train well freighted with relief may go +from Washington." + +In adjourning the meeting, President Harrison urged expediency in +forwarding the materials for the sufferers. Just before adjournment a +resolution was read, thanking the President for the interest he had +taken in the matter. President Harrison stepped to the front of the +platform then, and declined the resolution in a few graceful remarks. + +"I appreciate the resolution," he said, "but I don't see why I should be +thanked any more than the others, and I would prefer that the resolution +be withdrawn." + +Pension Commissioner Tanner, on Monday, sent the following telegram to +the United States Pension agent at Pittsburg:-- + +"Make special any current vouchers from the towns in Pennsylvania ruined +by floods and pay at once on their receipt. Where certificates have been +lost in floods send permit to execute new voucher without presenting +certificate to magistrate. Permits signed in blank forwarded to-day. +Make special all original certificates of pensioners residing in those +towns and pay on receipt of vouchers, regardless of my instruction of +May 13th." + +The Governor of Pennsylvania issued the following:-- + + "COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, + "EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, + "HARRISBURG, PA., June 3d, 1889. + + "_To the People of the United States:--_ + +"The Executive of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has refrained +hitherto from making any appeal to the people for their benefactions, in +order that he might receive definite and reliable information from the +centres of disaster during the late floods, which have been +unprecedented in the history of the State or nation. Communication by +wire has been established with Johnstown to-day. The civil authorities +are in control, the Adjutant General of the State coöperating with them; +order has been restored and is likely to continue. Newspaper reports as +to the loss of life and property have not been exaggerated. + +"The valley of the Conemaugh, which is peculiar, has been swept from one +end to the other as with the besom of destruction. It contained a +population of forty thousand to fifty thousand people, living for the +most part along the banks of a small river confined within narrow +limits. The most conservative estimates place the loss of life at 5000 +human beings, and of property at twenty-five millions. Whole towns have +been utterly destroyed. Not a vestige remains. In the more substantial +towns the better buildings, to a certain extent, remain, but in a +damaged condition. Those who are least able to bear it have suffered the +loss of everything. + +"The most pressing needs, so far as food is concerned, have been +supplied. Shoes and clothing of all sorts for men, women and children +are greatly needed. Money is also urgently required to remove the +débris, bury the dead and care temporarily for the widows and orphans +and for the homeless generally. Other localities have suffered to some +extent in the same way, but not in the same degree. + +"Late advices seem to indicate that there is great loss of life and +destruction of property along the west branch of the Susquehanna and in +localities from which we can get no definite information. What does +come, however, is of the most appalling character, and it is expected +that the details will add new horrors to the situation. + +"The responses from within and without the State have been most generous +and cheering. North and South, East and West, from the United States and +from England, there comes the same hearty, generous response of sympathy +and help. The President, Governors of States, Mayors of cities, and +individuals and communities, private and municipal corporations, seem to +vie with each other in their expressions of sympathy and in their +contributions of substantial aid. But, gratifying as these responses +are, there is no danger of their exceeding the necessities of the +situation. + +"A careful organization has been made upon the ground for the +distribution of whatever assistance is furnished, in kind. The Adjutant +General of the State is there as the representative of the State +authorities, and is giving personal attention, in connection with the +Chief Burgess of Johnstown and a committee of relief, to the +distribution of the help which is furnished. + +"Funds contributed in aid of the sufferers can be deposited with Drexel +& Co., Philadelphia; Jacob C. Bomberger, banker, Harrisburg, or William +R. Thompson & Co., bankers, Pittsburg. All money contributed will be +used carefully and judiciously. Present wants are fairly met. + +"A large force will be employed at once to remove the débris and bury +the dead, so as to avoid disease and epidemic. + +"The people of the Commonwealth and others whose unselfish generosity is +hereby heartily appreciated and acknowledged may be assured that their +contributions will be made to bring their benefactions to the immediate +and direct relief of those for whose benefit they are intended. + + "JAMES A. BEAVER. + +"By the Governor, CHARLES W. STONE, Secretary of the Commonwealth." + +Governor Hill, of New York, also issued the following proclamation:-- + + STATE OF NEW YORK. + +"A disaster unparalleled of its kind in the history of our nation has +overtaken the inhabitants of the city of Johnstown and surrounding towns +in our sister State of Pennsylvania. In consequence of a mighty flood +thousands of lives have been lost, and thousands of those saved from the +waters are homeless and in want. The sympathy of all the people of the +State of New York is profoundly aroused in behalf of the unfortunate +sufferers by the calamity. The State, in its capacity as such, has no +power to aid, but the generous-hearted citizens of our State are always +ready and willing to afford relief to those of their fellow countrymen +who are in need, whenever just appeal has been made. + +"Therefore, as the Governor of the State of New York, I hereby suggest +that in each city and town in the State relief committees be formed, +contributions be solicited and such other appropriate action be taken as +will promptly afford material assistance and necessary aid to the +unfortunate. Let the citizens of every portion of the State vie with +each other in helping with liberal hand this worthy and urgent cause. + +"Done at the Capitol, this third day of June, in the year of our Lord +one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine." + + DAVID B. HILL. + +By the Governor, WILLIAM G. RICE, _Sec._ + +Nor were Americans in foreign lands less prompt with their offerings. On +Wednesday, in Paris, a meeting of Americans was held at the United +States Legation, on a call in the morning papers by Whitelaw Reid, the +United States Minister, to express the sympathy of the Americans in +Paris with the sufferers by the Johnstown calamity. In spite of the +short notice the rooms of the Legation were packed, and many went away +unable to gain admittance. Mr. Reid was called to the chair, and Mr. +Ernest Lambert was appointed secretary. The following resolutions were +offered by Mr. Andrew Carnegie and seconded by Mr. James N. Otis:-- + +_Resolved_, That we send across the Atlantic to our brethren, +overwhelmed by the appalling disaster at Johnstown, our most profound +and heartfelt sympathy. Over their lost ones we mourn with them, and in +every pang of all their misery we have our part. + +_Resolved_, That as American citizens we congratulate them upon and +thank them for the numerous acts of noble heroism displayed under +circumstances calculated to unnerve the bravest. Especially do we honor +and admire them for the capacity shown for local self-government, upon +which the stability of republican institutions depends, the military +organizations sent from distant points to preserve 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 solely by and from the +inherent power which remains in the people of Johnstown themselves. + +_Resolved_, That the thanks of this meeting be cordially tendered to Mr. +Reid for his prompt and appropriate action in this matter, and for +services as chairman of this meeting. + +_Resolved_, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded at once by +telegraph to the Mayors of Johnstown, Pittsburg and Philadelphia. + +Brief and touching speeches were made by General Lawton, late United +States Minister to Austria; the Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, General Meredith +Read and others. + +The resolutions were then unanimously adopted, and a committee was +appointed to receive subscriptions. About 40,000 francs were subscribed +on the spot. The American bankers all agreed to open subscriptions the +next day at their banking houses. "Buffalo Bill" subscribed the entire +receipts of one entertainment, to be given under the auspices of the +committee. + +Besides those already named, there were present Benjamin Brewster, Louis +von Hoffman, Charles A. Pratt, ex-Congressman Lloyd Bryce, Clarence +Dinsmore, Edward Tuck, Professor Chanler, the Rev. Dr. Stoddard and +others from New York; Colonel Otis Ritchie, of Boston; General Franklin +and Assistant Commissioner Tuck; George W. Allen, of St. Louis; +Consul-General Rathbone, and a large number of the American colony in +Paris. It was the largest and most earnest meeting of Americans held in +Paris for many years. + +The Municipal Council of Paris gave 5000 francs to the victims of the +floods. + +In London, the American Minister, Mr. Robert T. Lincoln, received from +his countrymen there large contributions. Mr. Marshall R. Wilder, the +comedian, gave an evening of recitations to swell the fund. Generous +contributions also came from Berlin and other European cities. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +Spontaneously as the floods descended upon the fated valley, the +American people sprang to the relief of the survivors. In every city and +town subscription lists were opened, and clothing and bedding and food +were forwarded by the train-load. Managers gave theatrical performances +and baseball clubs gave benefit games to swell the fund. The Mayors of +New York, Philadelphia and other large cities took personal charge of +the collection and forwarding of funds and goods. In New York a meeting +of representative citizens was called by the Mayor, and a committee +formed, with General Sherman as chairman, and the presidents of the +Produce Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce among the vice-chairmen, +while the president of the Stock Exchange acted as treasurer. The +following appeal was issued:-- + + "_To the People of the City of New York:_-- + +"The undersigned have been appointed a committee by a meeting held at +the call of the Mayor of the city to devise means for the succor and +relief of the sufferers in the Conemaugh Valley. A disaster of +unparalleled magnitude has overtaken the people of that valley and +elsewhere. Without warning, their homes have been swept away by an +unexpected and unprecedented flood. The daily journals of this city +contain long lists of the dead, and the number of those who perished is +still unknown. The survivors are destitute. They are houseless and +homeless, with scant food and no shelter, and the destructive waters +have not yet subsided. + +"In this emergency their cry for help reaches us. There has never been +an occasion in our history that the appeal to our citizens to be +generous in their contributions was of greater moment than the present. +That generosity which has distinguished them above the citizens of every +other city, and which was extended to the relief of the famishing in +Ireland, to the stricken city of Charleston, to the plague-smitten city +of Jacksonville, and so on through the record of every event where man +was compelled to appeal to man, will not be lacking in this most recent +calamity. Generous contributions have already reached the committee. Let +the amount increase until they swell into a mighty river of benevolence. + +"The committee earnestly request, as the want is pressing and succor to +be effectual must be speedy, that all contributions be sent at as early +a date as possible. Their receipt will be promptly acknowledged and +they will be applied, through responsible channels, to the relief of the +destitute and suffering." + +All the exchanges, newspapers and other public agencies took up the +work, and hundreds of thousands of dollars rolled in every day. Special +collections were taken in the churches, and large sums were thus +realized. + +In Philadelphia the work of relief was entered into in a similar manner, +with equally gratifying results. By Tuesday evening the various funds +established in that city for the sufferers had reached a total of +$360,000. In addition over 100,000 packages of provisions, clothing, +etc., making fully twenty car-loads, had been started on the way. The +leading business houses tendered the service of their delivery wagons +for the collection of goods, and some of them placed donation boxes at +their establishments, yielding handsome returns. + +At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad +Company the following resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote:-- + +"_Resolved_, That in addition to the $5000 subscribed by this company at +Pittsburg, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company hereby makes an extra +donation of $25,000 for the assistance of the sufferers by the recent +floods at Johnstown and other points upon the lines of the Pennsylvania +Railroad and the other affiliated roads, the contribution to be expended +under the direction of the Committee on Finance." + +At the same time the members of the Board and executive officers added a +contribution, as individuals, of $5000. + +The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company subscribed $10,000 to the +Citizens' Fund. + +In pursuance of a call issued by the Citizens' Permanent Relief +Association, a largely-attended meeting was held at the Mayor's office. +Drexel & Co., the treasurers of the fund, started the fund with a +contribution of $10,000. Several subscriptions of $1000 each were +announced. Many subscriptions were sent direct to Drexel & Co.'s banking +house, including $5000 from the Philadelphia brewers, $5000 from the +Baldwin Locomotive Works and other individual contributors. + +But the great cities had no monopoly of benefactions. How every town in +the land responded to the call may be imagined from a few items clipped +at random from the daily papers, items the like of which for days +crowded many columns of the public press:-- + +_Bethlehem, Penn., June 3._--The Bethlehem Iron Company to-day +contributed $5000 for the relief of the sufferers. + +_Johnstown, Penn., June 3._--Stephen Collins, of the Pittsburg +post-office, and several other members of the Junior Order of United +American Mechanics, were here to-day to establish a relief fund. They +have informed the committees that the members of this strong +organization are ready to do their best for their sufferers. + +_Buffalo, June 3._--A meeting was held at the Mayor's office to-day to +devise means for the aid of the flood sufferers. The Mayor sent $1000 by +telegraph this afternoon. A committee was appointed to raise funds. The +Merchants' Exchange also started a relief fund this morning. A relief +train on the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad left here for +Pittsburg to-night with contributions of food and clothing. + +_Albany, June 3._--_The Morning Express_ to-day started a subscription +for the relief of the sufferers. A public meeting, presided over by +Mayor Maher, was held at noon to-day, and a number of plans were adopted +for securing funds. There is now on hand $1000. Another meeting was held +this evening. The offertory in the city churches will be devoted to the +fund. + +_Poughkeepsie, June 3._--A general movement was begun here to-day to aid +the sufferers in Pennsylvania. Mayor Rowley issued a proclamation and +people have been sending money to _The Eagle_ office all day. Factory +operatives are contributing, clergymen are taking hold of the matter, +and to-night the Retail Dealers' Association held a public meeting at +the Court House to appoint committees to go about among the merchants +with subscription lists. Mrs. Brazier, proprietress of a knitting +factory, sent off sixty dozen suits of under-wear to the sufferers +to-day. + +_Troy, June 3._--Subscriptions exceeding $1500 for the relief of the +Pennsylvania flood sufferers were received to-day by _The Troy Press_. +The Mayor has called a public meeting for to-morrow. + +_Washington, June 3._--A subscription for the relief of the sufferers by +the Johnstown flood was started at the Post-office Department to-day by +Chief Clerk Cooley. First Assistant Postmaster-General Clarkson headed +the list with $100. The indications are that nearly $1000 will be raised +in this Department. Postmaster-General Wanamaker had already subscribed +$1000 in Philadelphia. + +_The Post_ has started a subscription for the relief of the Johnstown +sufferers. It amounts at present to $810. The largest single +contribution is $250 by Allen McLane. + +[Illustration: WRECK OF TRUSS BRIDGE, AT WILLIAMSPORT.] + +_Trenton, June 3._--In the Board of Trade rooms to-night over $1000 was +subscribed for the benefit of Johnstown sufferers. Contributions made +to-day will swell the sum to double that amount. Committees were +appointed to canvass the city. + +_Chicago, June 3._--Mayor Cregier called a public meeting, which was +held at the City Hall to-day, to take measures for the relief of the +Johnstown sufferers. John B. Drake, of the Grand Pacific, headed a +subscription with $500. + +_Hartford, Conn., June 3._--The House to-day concurred with the Senate +in passing the resolution appropriating $25,000 for the flood sufferers. + +_Boston, June 3._--The House this afternoon admitted a bill +appropriating $10,000 for the relief of the sufferers. + +A citizens' committee will receive subscriptions. It was announced that +$4600 had already been subscribed. Dockstader's Minstrels will give a +benefit to-morrow afternoon in aid of the sufferers' fund. + +_Pittsfield, Mass., June 3._--A meeting was held here to-night and about +$300 was raised for the Johnstown sufferers. The town will be canvassed +to-morrow. Senator Dawes attended the meeting, made an address and +contributed liberally. + +_Charleston, S. C., June 3._--At a meeting of the Charleston Cotton +Exchange to-day $500 was subscribed for the relief of the flood +sufferers. + +_Fort Worth, Texas, June 3._--The Texas Spring Palace Association +to-night telegraphed to George W. Childs, of Philadelphia, that +to-morrow's receipts at the Spring Palace will be given to the sufferers +by the flood. + +_Nashville, Tenn., June 3._--_The American_ to-day started a fund for +the relief of the Johnstown sufferers. + +_Utica, June 4._--Utica to-day sent $2000 to Johnstown. + +_Ithaca, June 4._--Cornell University has collected $800 for the +sufferers. + +_Troy, June 4._--_The Troy Times_ sent this afternoon $1200 to the Mayor +of Pittsburg. _The Press_ sent $1000, making $2000 forwarded by _The +Press_. + +_Boston, June 4._--The House to-day amended its bill of yesterday and +appropriated $30,000. + +The Citizens' Committee has received $12,000, and Governor Ames' check +for $250 was received. + +_New Bedford, Mass., June 4._--Mayor Clifford has sent $500 to the +sufferers. + +_Providence, R. I., June 4._--A meeting of business men this morning +raised $4000 for the sufferers. + +_Erie, Penn., June 4._--In mass meeting last night ex-Congressman W. L. +Scott led with a $1500 subscription for Johnstown, followed by ex-Judge +Galbraith with $500. The list footed up $6000 in a quarter of an hour. +Ward committees were appointed to raise it to $10,000. In addition to a +general subscription of $1000, which was sent forward yesterday, it is +rumored that a private gift of $5000 was also sent. + +_Toledo, June 4._--Two thousand dollars have been obtained here for the +flood sufferers. + +_Cleveland, June 4._--Over $16,000 was subscribed yesterday, which, +added to the $5000 raised on Sunday, swells Cleveland's cash +contributions to $21,000. Two car-loads of provisions and clothing and +twenty-one car-loads of lumber went forward to Johnstown. + +_Cincinnati, June 4._--Subscriptions amounting to $10,000 were taken on +'Change yesterday. + +_Milwaukee, June 4._--State Grand Commander Weissert telegraphed $250 to +the Pennsylvania Department yesterday. + +_Detroit, June 4._--The relief fund already reaches nearly $1000. +Ex-Governor Alger and Senator James McMillan have each telegraphed $500 +to the scene of the disaster. + +_Chicago, June 4._--A meeting of business men was held this morning to +collect subscriptions. Several large subscriptions, including one of +$1000 by Marshall Field & Co., were received. The committees expect to +raise $50,000 within twenty four hours. + +Governor Fifer has issued a proclamation urging the people to take +measures for rendering aid. The Aldermen of Chicago subscribed among +themselves a purse of $1000. The jewelers raised $1500. On the Board of +Trade one member obtained $5000, and another $4000. + +From a citizens' meeting in Denver to-night $2500 was raised. + +President Hughitt announces that the Chicago and Northwestern, the +Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, and the Fremont, Elkhorn and +Missouri Valley Railways will transport, free of charge, all provisions +and clothing for the sufferers. + +_Kansas City, Mo., June 4._--At the mass meeting last night a large sum +was subscribed for the sufferers. + +_Chattanooga, June 3._--Chattanooga to-day subscribed $500. + +_Wilmington, Del., June 4._--Over $2700 has been raised here for the +sufferers. A carload of supplies was shipped last night. Two doctors +have offered their services. + +_Knoxville, Tenn., June 4._--The relief committee to-day raised over +$1500 in two hours for the sufferers in Johnstown and vicinity. + +_Saratoga, June 4._--The village of Saratoga Springs has raised $2000. +Judge Henry Hilton subscribed one-half the amount. A committee was +appointed to-night to solicit additional subscriptions. + +_Carlisle, Penn., June 4._--Aid for the sufferers has been pouring in +from all sections of the Cumberland Valley. From this city $700 and a +supply of clothing and provisions have been sent. Among the +contributions to-day was $100 from the Indian children at the Government +training school. + +_Charleston, S. C., June 4._--The City Council to-day voted $1000 for +the relief of the Pennsylvania sufferers. The Executive Committee of the +Chamber of Commerce subscribed $380 in a few minutes, and appointed +three committees to canvass for subscriptions. The Merchants' Exchange +is at work and general subscriptions are starting. + +_St. Louis, June 4._--Generous subscriptions for the Conemaugh Valley +sufferers have been made here. The Merchants' Exchange has called a mass +meeting for to-morrow. + +_Middletown, June 4._--To-day the Mayor telegraphed the Mayor of +Johnstown to draw on him for $1000. + +_Poughkeepsie, June 4._--Mayor Rowley to-day sent $1638 to Drexel & Co., +Philadelphia. As much more was subscribed to-day. + +_Auburn, June 5._--Auburn has subscribed $2000. + +_Lockport, N. Y., June 5._--The Brewers' National Convention at Niagara +Falls this morning contributed $10,000. + +_St. Johnsbury, Vt., June 5._--Grand Master Henderson issued an +invitation to-day to Odd Fellows in Vermont to contribute toward the +sufferers. + +_Newburg, N. Y., June 5._--Newburg has raised about $2000 for the +sufferers. + +_Worcester, Mass., June 5._--Subscriptions to the amount of $2400 were +made here to-day. + +_Boston, June 5._--The total of the subscriptions received through +Kidder, Peabody & Co. to-day amounted to $35,400. The Fall River Line +will forward supplies free of charge. + +_Providence, June 5._--The subscriptions here now exceed $11,000. + +_Minneapolis, June 5._--The Citizens' Committee to-day voted to send +2000 barrels of flour to the sufferers. + +_Chicago, June 5_.--It is estimated that Chicago's cash contributions to +date aggregate about $90,000. + +_St. Louis, June 5._--The town of Desoto in this State has contributed +$200. Litchfield, Ill., has also raised $200. + +_Los Angeles, Cal., June 5._--This city has forwarded $2000 to Governor +Beaver. + +_Macon, June 5._--The City Council last night appropriated $200 for the +sufferers. + +_Chattanooga, Tenn., June 5._--A. B. Forrest Camp, No. 3, Confederate +Veterans of Chattanooga, have contributed $100 to the relief fund. J. M. +Duncan, general manager of the South Tredegar Iron Company, of this +city, who a few years ago left Johnstown for Chattanooga as a young +mechanic, sent $1000 to-day to the relief fund. Another $1000 will be +sent from the proceeds of a popular subscription. + +_Savannah, June 5._--The Savannah Benevolent Association subscribed +$1000 for the sufferers. + +_Binghamton, June 5._--More than $2600 will be sent to Johnstown from +this city. Lieutenant-Governor Jones telegraphed that he would subscribe +$100. + +_Albany, June 5._--Mayor Maher has telegraphed the Mayor of Pittsburg to +draw on him for $3000. The fund being raised by _The Morning Express_ +amounts to over $1141. + +_Lebanon, Penn., June 5._--This city will raise $5000 for the sufferers. + +_Rochester, June 5._--Over $400 was subscribed to the Red Cross relief +fund to-day and $119 to a newspaper fund besides. + +_Cleveland, June 5._--The cash collected in this city up to this evening +is $38,000. Ten car-loads of merchandise were shipped to Johnstown +to-day, and a special train of twenty-eight car-loads of lumber, from +Cleveland dealers, left here to-night. + +_Fonda, N. Y., June 5._--The people of Johnstown, N. Y., instead of +making an appropriation with which to celebrate the Fourth of July, will +send $1000 to the sufferers at Johnstown, Pa. + +_New Haven, June 5._--Over $2000 has been collected here. + +_Wilmington, Del., June 5._--This city's fund has reached $470. The +second car-load of supplies will be shipped to-morrow. + +_Glens Falls, N. Y., June 5._--Subscriptions here to-day amounted to +$622. + +_Poughkeepsie, June 5._--Up to this evening $2736 have been raised in +this city for Johnstown. + +_Washington, June 7._--The total cash contributions of the employees of +the Treasury Department to date, amounting to $2070, were to-day handed +to the treasurer of the Relief Fund of Washington. The officers and +clerks of the several bureaus of the Interior Department have subscribed +$2280. The contributions in the Government Printing Office aggregate +$1275. Chief Clerk Cooley to-day transmitted to the chairman of the +local committee $600 collected in the Post-office Department. + +_Syracuse, N. Y., June 7._--Mayor Kirk to-day sent to Governor Beaver a +draft for $3000. + +_Utica, N. Y., June 7._--Ilion has raised $1100, and has sent six cases +of clothing to Johnstown. + +The Little Falls subscription is $700 thus far. + +The Utica subscription is now nearly $6000. + +Thus the gifts of the people flowed in, day by day, from near and from +far, from rich and from poor, to make less dark the awful desolation +that had set up its fearful reign in the Valley of the Conemaugh. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +The city of Philadelphia with characteristic generosity began the work +of raising a relief fund on the day following the disaster, the Mayor's +office and Drexel's banking house being the chief centres of receipt. +Within four days six hundred thousand dollars was in hand. A most +thorough organization and canvass of all trades and branches of business +was made under the following committees: + + Machinery and Iron--George Burnham, Daniel A. Waters, William + Sellers, W. B. Bement, Hamilton Disston, Walter Wood, J. Lowber + Welsh, W. C. Allison, Charles Gilpin, Jr., E. Y. Townsend, + Dawson Hoopes, Alvin S. Patterson, Charles H. Cramp, and John H. + Brill. + + Attorneys--Mayer Sulzberger, George S. Graham, George W. + Biddle, Lewis C. Cassidy, William F. Johnson, Joseph Parrish, + Hampton L. Carson, John C. Bullitt, John R. Read, and Samuel B. + Huey. + + Physicians--William Pepper, Horatio C. Wood, Thomas G. Morton, + W. H. Pancoast, D. Hayes Agnew, and William W. Keen. + + Insurance--R. Dale Benson, C. J. Madeira, E. J. Durban, and + John Taylor. Chemicals--William Weightman, H. B. Rosengarten, + and John Wyeth. + + City Officers--John Bardsley, Henry Clay, Robert P. Dechert, + S. Davis Page, and Judge R. N. Willson. + + Paper--A. G. Elliott, Whitney Paper Company, W. E. & E. D. + Lockwood, Alexander Balfour, and the Nescochague Paper + Manufacturing Company. + + Coal--Charles F. Berwind, Austin Corbin, Charles E. + Barrington, and George B. Newton. + + Wool Dealers--W. W. Justice, David Scull, Coates Brothers, + Lewis S. Fish & Co., and Theodore C. Search. + + Commercial Exchange--Walter F. Hagar and William Brice. + + Board of Trade--Frederick Fraley, T. Morris Perot, John H. + Michener, and Joel Cook. + + Book Trade, Printing, and Newspapers--Charles Emory Smith, + Walter Lippincott, A. K. McClure, Charles E. Warburton, Thomas + MacKellar, William M. Singerly, Charles Heber Clark, and William + V. McKean. + + Furniture--Charles B. Adamson, Hale, Kilburn & Co., John H. + Sanderson, and Amos Hillborn & Co. + + Bakers and Confectioners--Godfrey Keebler, Carl Edelheim, + Croft & Allen, and H. O. Wilbur & Sons. + + China, etc.--R. J. Allen, and Tyndale, Mitchell & Co. + + Lumber--Thomas P. C. Stokes, William M. Lloyd Company, Henry + Bayard & Co., Geissel & Richardson, and D. A. Woelpper. + + Cloth and Tailors' Trimmings--Edmund Lewis, Henry N. Steel, + Joseph R. Keim, John Alburger, and Samuel Goodman. + + Notions, etc.--Joel J. Baily, John Field, Samuel Clarkson, + John C. Sullivan, William Super, John C. File, and W. B. + Hackenberg. + + Clothing--H. B. Blumenthal, William Allen, Leo Loeb, William + H. Wanamaker, Alan H. Reed, Morris Newberger, Nathan Snellenburg, + Samuel Goodman, and John Alburger. Dry Goods + Manufacturers--Lincoln Godfrey, Lemuel Coffin, N. Parker + Shortridge, and W.H. Folwell. + + Wholesale Dry Goods--Samuel B. Brown, John M. Howett, Henry H. + Ellison, and Edward T. Steel. + + Retail Dry Goods--Joseph G. Darlington, Isaac H. Clothier, + Granville B. Haines, and Henry W. Sharpless. + + Jewelers--Mr. Bailey, of Bailey, Banks & Biddle; James E. + Caldwell, and Simon Muhr. + + Straw Goods, Hats, and Millinery--John Adler, C. H. Garden & + Co., and Henry Tilge. + + City Railways--Alexander M. Fox, William H. Kemble, E. B. + Edwards, John F. Sullivan, and Charles E. Ellis. + + Photography--F. Gutekunst, A. K. P. Trask, and H. C. Phillips. + + Pianos and Musical--W. D. Dutton, Schomacker Piano Company, + and C. J. Heppe. + + Plumbers--William Harkness, Jr., J. Futhey Smith, C. A. + Blessing, and Henry B. Tatham. + + Liquors and Brewers--Joseph F. Sinnott, Bergner & Engel, John + Gardiner, and John F. Belz. + + Hotels--E. F. Kingsley, Thomas Green, L. U. Maltby, C. H. + Reisser, and H. J. Crump. + + Butchers--Frank Bower and Shuster Boraef. + + Woolen Manufacturers--William Wood, George Campbell, Joseph P. + Truitt, and John C. Watt. + + Retail Grocers--George B. Woodman, George A. Fletcher, Robert + Ralston, H. B. Summers, and E. J. Howlett. + + Boots and Shoes--John Mundell, John G. Croxton, Henry Z. + Ziegler, and A. A. Shumway. + + Theatrical--J. Fred. Zimmerman, Israel Fleishman, and T. F. + Kelly. + + Tobacco Trade--M. J. Dohan, L. Bamberger, E. H. Frishmuth, + Jr., Walter Garrett, M. E. McDowell, J. H. Baltz, Henry Weiner, + and George W. Bremer. + + Hosiery Manufactures--J. B. Allen and James B. Doak, Jr. Real + Estate--Adam Everly, John M. Gummey, and Lewis H. Redner. + + Cordage--E. H. Fitler, John T. Bailey, and Charles Lawrence. + + Patent Pavement--Dr. L. S. Filbert and James Stewart, Jr. + + Bankers and Brokers--Winthrop Smith, Robert H. Glendenning, + George H. Thomas, William G. Warden, Lindley Smyth, Thomas + Cochran, J. L. Erringer, Charles H. Banes, Wharton Barker, and + Jacob Naylor. + + Wholesale Grocers and Sugar Refiners--Francis B. Reeves, + Edward C. Knight, Adolph Spreckels, William Janney, and Charles + C. Harrison. + + Shirt Manufacturers and Dealers--Samuel Sternberger and Jacob + Miller. + + Carpets--James Dobson, Robert Dornan, Hugh McCallum, John F. + Orne, John R. White, and Thomas Potter, Jr. + + Saddlery Hardware, etc.--William T. Lloyd, of Lloyd & Supplee; + Conrad B. Day, George DeB. Keim, Charles Thackara, John C. + Cornelius, William Elkins, Jr., and James Peters. + +By Tuesday the tide of relief was flowing strongly. On that day between +eight and nine thousand packages of goods were sent to the freight depot +of the Pennsylvania Railroad, to be forwarded to the sufferers. Wagons +came in an apparently endless stream and the quantity of goods received +far exceeded that of any previous day. Eight freight cars, tightly +packed, were shipped to Johnstown, while five car-loads of provisions +were sent to Williamsport, and one of provisions to Lewistown. + +The largest consignment of goods from an individual was sent to +Williamsport by W. M. McCormick. He was formerly a resident of +Williamsport, and when he heard that the people of that city were +suffering for want of provisions, he immediately went out and ordered a +car-load of flour (one hundred and twenty-five barrels) and a car-load +of groceries and provisions, consisting of dried and smoked meats, +sugar, crackers, and a large assortment of other necessaries. Mr. +McCormick said he thought that several of his friends would go in with +him when they knew of the venture, but if they did not he would foot all +the bills himself. + +The saddest incident of the day was the visit of a handsome young lady, +about twenty-three years of age. She was accompanied by an older lady, +and brought three packages of clothing. It was Miss Clydia Blackford, +whose home was in Johnstown. She said sobbingly that every one of her +relatives and friends had been lost in the floods, and her home entirely +wiped out. The gift of the packages to the sufferers of her old home +seemed to give her a sort of sad pleasure. She departed with tears in +her eyes. + +When the convicts in the Eastern Penitentiary learned of the disaster +through the weekly papers which arrived on Wednesday and Thursday--the +only papers they are allowed to receive--a thing that will seem +incongruous to the outside world happened. The criminal, alone in his +cell, was touched with the same sympathy and desire to help fellow-men +in sore distress as the good people who have been filling relief depots +with supplies and coffers with money. Each as he read the story of the +flood would knock on his wicket and tell the keeper he wanted to give +some of his money. + +The convicts, by working over and above their daily task, are allowed +small pay for the extra time. Half the money so earned goes to the +county from which the convict comes and half to the convict himself. The +maximum amount a Cherry Hill inmate can make in a week for himself is +one dollar. + +The keepers told Warden Cassidy of the desire expressed all along that +the authorities receive their contributions. The convicts can do what +they please with their over-time money, by sending it to their friends, +and several had already sent small sums out of the Penitentiary to be +given to the Johnstown sufferers. The warden very promptly acceded to +the general desire and gave the keepers instructions. There are about +one thousand one hundred and ten men imprisoned in the institution, and +of this number one hundred and forty-six persons gave five hundred and +forty-two dollars and ninety-six cents. It would take one convict +working all his extra time ten years to earn that sum. + +There was one old man, a cripple, who had fifteen dollars to his credit. +He said to the keeper: "I've been doing crooked work nearly all my life, +and I want to do something square this time. I want to give all the +money coming to me for these fellers out there." The warden, however, +had made a rule prohibiting any individual from contributing more than +five dollars. The old man was told this, but he was determined. "Look +here," said he; "I'll send the rest of my money out to my folks and tell +them to send it." + +Chief of Police Mayer, in denying reports that there was an influx of +professional thieves into the flooded regions to rob the dead, said: +"The thieves wouldn't do anything like that; there is too much of the +gentleman in them." But here were thieves and criminals going into their +own purses out of that same "gentlemanly" part of them. + +Up to Saturday, June 8th, the cash contributions in Philadelphia, +amounted to $687,872.68. Meantime countless gifts and expressions of +sympathy came from all over the world. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, +Ireland, raised a fund of $5,000. Archbishop Walsh gave $500. + +Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British Minister at Washington, called on the +President on June 7th, in company with Secretary Blaine, and delivered +a message from Queen Victoria expressing her deep sympathy for the +sufferers by the recent floods in Pennsylvania. The President said in +reply: + +"Mr. Minister: This message of sympathy from Her Majesty the Queen will +be accepted by our people as another expression of her own generous +character, as well as of the friendliness and good-will of her people. +The disasters which have fallen upon several communities in the State of +Pennsylvania, while extreme and full of the most tragic and horrifying +incidents, have fortunately been limited in territorial extent. The +generosity of our own citizens will promptly lessen to these stricken +people every loss that is not wholly irretrievable; and these the +sympathy of the Queen and the English people will help to assuage. Will +you, Mr. Minister, be pleased to convey to the Queen the sincere thanks +of the American people." + +[Illustration: WRECK OF THE LUMBER YARDS AT WILLAMSPORT, PA.] + +A newspaper correspondent called upon the illustrious Miss Florence +Nightingale, at her home in London, and asked her to send a message to +America regarding the floods. In response, she wrote: + + "I am afraid that I cannot write such a message as I would wish to + just at this moment. I am so overdone. I have the deepest + sympathy with the poor sufferers by the floods, and with Miss Clara + Barton, of the Red Cross Societies, and the good women who are + hastening to their help. I am so overworked and ill that I can feel + all the more but write all the less for the crying necessity. + + (Signed) "FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE." + +Though Miss Nightingale is sixty-nine years old, and an invalid, this +note was written in a hand indicating all the strength and vigor of a +schoolgirl. She is seldom able to go out now, though when she can she +dearly loves to visit the Nightingale Home for Training Nurses, which +constitutes such an enduring monument and noble record of her life. But, +though in feeble health, Miss Nightingale manages to do a great deal of +work yet. From all parts of the world letters pour in upon her, asking +advice and suggestions on matters of hospital management, of health and +of education, all of which she seldom fails to answer. + +Last, but not least, let it be recorded that the members of the club +that owned the fatal lake sent promptly a thousand blankets and many +thousands of dollars to the sufferers from the floods, which had been +caused by their own lack of proper supervision of the dam. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburg were, of course, the three chief +centres of charitable contributions, and the sources from which the +golden flood of relief was poured into the devastated valley. One of the +earliest gifts in New York city was that of $1,200, the proceeds of a +collection taken on Sunday morning, June 2d, in the West Presbyterian +Church, after an appeal by the Rev. Dr. John R. Paxton, the pastor. The +next day a meeting of prominent New York business men was held at the +Mayor's office, and a relief committee was formed. At this meeting many +contributions were announced. Isidor Wormser said that the Produce +Exchange had raised $15,000 for the sufferers. Ex-Mayor Grace reported +that the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company had telegraphed the Cambria +Iron Company to draw upon it for $5,000 for the relief of the Cambria's +employees. Mayor Grant announced that he had received letters and checks +during the forenoon aggregating the sum of $15,000, and added his own +for $500. Subscriptions of $1,000 each were offered as fast as the +Secretary could record them by Kuhn, Loeb & Co., Jesse Seligman, Calvin +S. Brice, Winslow, Lanier & Co., Morris K. Jesup, Oswald Ottendorfer, R. +H. Macy & Co., M. Schiff & Co., and O. B. Potter. Sums of $500 were +subscribed with equal cheerfulness by Eugene Kelly, Sidney Dillon, the +Chatham National Bank, Controller Myers, Cooper, Hewitt & Co., Frederick +Gallatin, Tefft, Weller & Co., City Chamberlain Croker, and Tiffany & +Co. Numerous gifts of less sums quickly followed. Elliott F. Shepard +announced that the _Mail and Express_ had already sent $10,000 to +Johnstown. Before the Committee on Permanent Organization had time to +report, the Secretary gave out the information that $27,000 had been +subscribed since the meeting was called to order. Before the day was +over no less than $75,000 had been received at the Mayor's office, +including the following subscriptions: + + Pennsylvania Relief Committee of the Maritime Association of the + Port of New York, Gustav H. Schwab, Treasurer, $3,435; Chatham + National Bank, $500; Morris K. Jesup, $1,000; William Steinway, + $1,000; Theodore W. Myers, $500; J. G. Moore, $1,000; J. W. Gerard, + $200; Platt & Bowers, $250; Henry L. Hoguet, $100; Harry Miner, + $200; Tefft, Weller & Co., $500; Louis May, $200; Madison Square + Bank, $200; Richard Croker, $500; Tiffany & Co., $500; John Fox, + $200; Jacob H. Schiff, $1,000; Nash & Brush, $100; Oswald + Ottendorfer, $1,000; William P. St. John, $100; George Hoadly, for + Hoadly, Lauterbach & Johnson, $250; Edwin Forrest Lodge, Order of + Friendship, $200; W. T. Sherman, $100; W. L. Stone, $500; John R. + Dos Passos, $250; G. G. Williams, $100; Coudert Bros., $250; + _Staats-Zeitung_, $1,166; Cooper, Hewitt & Co., $500; Frederick + Gallatin, $500; R. H. Macy & Co., $1,000; Mr. Caldwell, $100; C. N. + Bliss, $500; Ward & Olyphant, $100; Eugene Kelly, $500; Lackawanna + Coal and Iron Company, through Mayor Grace, $5,000; W. R. Grace, + $500; G. Schwab & Bros., $300; Kuhn, Loeb & Co., $1,000; Central + Trust Co., $1,000; Calvin S. Brice, $1,000; J. S. Seligman & Co., + $1,000; Sidney Dillon, $500; Winslow, Lanier & Co., $1,000; Hugh J. + Grant, $500; Orlando B. Potter, $1,000. + + Through _The Tribune_, $319.75; through _The Sun_, $87.50; from + Tammany Society, through Richard Croker, $1,000; Joseph Pulitzer, + $2,000; Lazard Fréres, $1,000; Arnold, Constable & Co., $1,000; D. + H. King, Jr., $1,000; August Belmont & Co., $1,000; New York Life + Insurance Co., $500; John D. Crimmins, $500; Nathan Manufacturing + Co., $500; Hugh N. Camp, $250; National Railway Publishing Co., + $200; William Openhym & Sons, $200; New York Transfer Co., $200; + Warner Brothers, $100; L. J. and I. Phillips, $100; John Davel & + Sons, $100; Hoole Manufacturing Co., $100; Hendricks Brothers, + $100; Rice & Bijur, $100; C. A. Auffmordt, $100; Thomas C. T. + Crain, $100; J. J. Wysong & Co., $100; Megroz, Portier, & Megroz & + Co., $100; Foster, Paul & Co., $100; S. Stein & Co., $100; James + McCreery & Co., $100; Lazell, Dalley & Co., $100; George W. + Walling, $100; Thomas Garner & Co., $100; John Simpson, $100; W. H. + Schieffelin & Co., $100; through A. Schwab, $1,400; H. C. F. Koch & + Co., $100; George T. Hoadly, $250; G. Sidenburg & Co., $100; Ward & + Oliphant, $100; Robert Bonner, $1,000; Horace White, $100; A. H. + Cridge, $250; Edward Shriever, $300; C. H. Ludington, $100; + Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Company of New York, $200; Warner + Brothers, $100; _New York Times_ (cash), $100; cash items, $321.20; + Bennett Building, $105. + +Shortly after the opening of the New York Stock Exchange a subscription +was started for the benefit of the Johnstown sufferers. The Governing +Committee of the Exchange made Albert King treasurer of the Exchange +Relief Fund, and, although many leading members were absent from the +floor, as is usual on Monday at this season of the year, the handsome +sum of $14,520 was contributed by the brokers present at the close of +business. Among the subscriptions received were: + + Vermilye & Co., $1,000; Moore & Schley, $1,000; L. Von + Hoffman & Co., $500; N. S. Jones, $500; Speyer & Co., $500; + Homans & Co., $500; Work, Strong & Co., $250; Washington E. + Connor, $250; Van Emberg & Atterbury, $250; Simon Borg & Co., + $250; Chauncey & Gwynne Bros., $250; John D. Slayback, $250; + Woerishoffer & Co., $250; S. V. White, $250; I. & S. Wormser, + $250; Henry Clews & Co., $250; Ladenberg, Thalmann & Co., + $250; John H. Davis & Co., $200; Jones, Kennett & Hopkins, + $200; H. B. Goldschmidt, $200; other subscriptions, $7,170. + +Generosity rose higher still on Tuesday. Early in the day $5,000 was +received by cable from the London Stock Exchange. John S. Kennedy also +sent $5,000 from London. John Jacob Astor subscribed $2,500 and William +Astor $1,000. Other contributions received at the Mayor's office were +these: + + Archbishop Corrigan, $250; Straiton & Storm, $250; Bliss, + Fabyan & Co., $500; Funk & Wagnalls, $100; Nathan Straus, + $1,000; Sidney Dillon, $500; Winslow, Lanier & Co., $1,000; + Henry Hilton, $5,000; R. J. Livingston, $1,000; Peter Marie, + $100; The Dick & Meyer Co., Wm. Dick, President, $1,000; + Decastro & Donner Sugar Refining Co., $1,000; Havemeyers & + Elder Sugar Refining Co., $1,000; Frederick Gallatin, $500; + Continental National Bank, from Directors, $1,000; F. O. + Mattiessen & Wiechers' Sugar Refining Co., $1,000; Phelps, + Dodge & Co., $2,500; Knickerbocker Ice Co., $1,000; First + National Bank, $1,000; Apollinaris Water Co., London, $1,000; + W. & J. Sloane, $1,000; Tefft, Weller & Co., $500; New York + Stock Exchange, $20,000; Board of Trade, $1,000; Central Trust + Co, $1,000; Samuel Sloan, $200. + +The following contributions were made in ten minutes at a special +meeting of the Chamber of Commerce: + + Brown Brothers & Co., $2,500; Morton, Bliss & Co., $1,000; + H. B. Claflin & Co., $2,000; Percy R. Pyne, $1,000; Fourth + National Bank, $1,000; E. D. Morgan & Co., $1,000; C. S. + Smith, $500; J. M. Ceballas, $500; Barbour Brothers & Co., + $500; Naumberg, Kraus & Co., $500; Thos. F. Rowland, $500; + Bliss, Fabyan & Co., $500; William H. Parsons & Co., $250; + Smith, Hogg & Gardner, $250; Doerun Lead Company, $250; A. R. + Whitney & Co., $250; Williams & Peters, $100; Joy, Langdon & + Co., $250; B. L. Solomon's Sons, $100; D. F. Hiernan, $100; A. + S. Rosenbaum, $100; Henry Rice, $100; Parsons & Petitt, $100; + Thomas H. Wood & Co., $100; T. B. Coddington, $100; John I. + Howe, $50; John Bigelow, $50; Morrison, Herriman & Co., $250; + Frederick Sturges, $250; James O. Carpenter, $50; C. H. + Mallory, $500; George A. Low, $25; Henry W. T. Mali & Co., + $500; C. Adolph Low, $50; C. C. Peck, $20. Total, $15,295. + +Thousands of dollars also came in from the Produce Exchange, Cotton +Exchange, Metal Exchange, Coffee Exchange, Real Estate Exchange, etc. +The Adams Express Co. gave $5,000, and free carriage of all goods for +the sufferers. The Mutual Life Insurance Co., gave $10,000. And so all +the week the gifts were made. Jay Gould, gave $1,000; the Jewish Temple +Emanuel, $1,500; The Hide and Leather Trade, $5,000; the Commercial +Cable Co., $500; the Ancient Order of Hibernians, $270; J. B. & J. H. +Cornell, $1,000; the New York Health Department, $500; Chatham National +Bank, $500; the boys of the House of Refuge on Randall's Island, +$258.22. Many gifts came from other towns and cities. + + Kansas City, $12,000; Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, + $22,106; Washington Post Office, $600; Boston, $94,000; + Willard (N. Y.) Asylum for Insane, $136; Washington Government + Printing Office, $1,275; Saugerties, N. Y., $850; Ithaca, N. + Y., $1,600; Cornell University, $1,100; Whitehall, N. Y., + $600; Washington Interior Department, $2,280; Schenectady, N. + Y., $3,000; Albany, $10,500; Washington Treasury Department, + $2,070; Augusta, Ga., $1,000; Charleston, S. C., $3,500; + Utica, N. Y., $6,000; Little Falls, N. Y., $700; Ilion, N. Y., + $1,100; Trenton, N. J., $12,000; Cambridge, Mass., $3,500; + Haverhill, Mass., $1,500; Lawrence, Mass., $5,000; Salem, + Mass., $1,000; Taunton, Mass., $1,010; New London, Conn., + $1,120; Newburyport, Mass., $1,500. + +No attempt has been made above to give anything more than a few random +and representative names of givers. The entire roll would fill a volume. +By the end of the week the cash contributions in New York city amounted +to more than $600,000. Collections in churches on Sunday, June 9th, +aggregated $15,000 more. Benefit performances at the theatres the next +week brought up the grand total to about $700,000. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +And now begins the task of burying the dead and caring for the living. +It is Wednesday morning. Scarcely has daylight broken before a thousand +funerals are in progress on the green hill-sides. There were no hearses, +few mourners, and as little solemnity as formality. The majority of the +coffins were of rough pine. The pall-bearers were strong ox-teams, and +instead of six pall-bearers to one coffin, there were generally six +coffins to one-team. Silently the processions moved, and silently they +unloaded their burdens in the lap of mother earth. No minister of God +was there to pronounce a last blessing as the clods rattled down, except +a few faithful priests who had followed some representatives of their +faith to the grave. + +All day long the corpses were being hurried below ground. The +unidentified bodies were grouped on a high hill west of the doomed city, +where one epitaph must do for all, and that the word "unknown." + +Almost every stroke of the pick in some portions of the city resulted in +the discovery of another victim, and, although the funerals of the +morning relieved the morgues of their crush, before night they were as +full of the dead as ever. Wherever one turns the melancholy view of a +coffin is met. Every train into Johnstown was laden with them, the +better ones being generally accompanied by friends of the dead. Men +could be seen staggering over the ruins with shining mahogany caskets on +their shoulders. + +In the midst of this scene of death and desolation a relenting +Providence seems to be exerting a subduing influence. Six days have +elapsed since the great disaster, and the temperature still remains low +and chilly in the Conemaugh valley. When it is remembered that in the +ordinary June weather of this locality from two to three days are +sufficient to bring an unattended body to a degree of decay and +putrefaction that would render it almost impossible to prevent the +spread of disease throughout the valley, the inestimable benefits of +this cool weather are almost beyond appreciation. + +The first body taken from the ruins was that of a boy, Willie Davis, who +was found in the debris near the bridge. He was badly bruised and +burned. The remains were taken to the undertaking rooms at the +Pennsylvania Railroad station, where they were identified. The boy's +mother has been making a tour of the different morgues for the past few +days, and was just going through the undertaking rooms when she saw the +remains of her boy being brought in. She ran up to the body and demanded +it. She seemed to have lost her mind, and caused quite a scene by her +actions. She said that she had lost her husband and six children in the +flood, and that this was the first one of the family that had been +recovered. The bodies of a little girl named Bracken and of Theresa and +Katie Downs of Clinton Street were taken out near where the remains of +Willie Davis were found. + +Two hundred experienced men with dynamite, a portable crane, a +locomotive, and half a dozen other appliances for pulling, hauling, and +lifting, toiled all of Wednesday at the sixty-acre mass of debris that +lies above the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge at Johnstown. "As a result," +wrote a correspondent, "there is visible, just in front of the central +arch, a little patch of muddy water about seventy-five feet long by +thirty wide. Two smaller patches are in front of the two arches on each +side of this one, but both together would not be heeded were they not +looked for especially. Indeed, the whole effect of the work yet done +would not be noticed by a person who had never seen the wreck before. +The solidity of the wreck and the manner in which it is interlaced and +locked together exceeds the expectations of even those who had examined +the wreck carefully, and the men who thought that with dynamite the mass +could be removed in a week, now do not think the work can be done in +twice this time. The work is in charge of Arthur Kirk, a Pittsburg +contractor. Dynamite is depended upon for loosening the mass, but it has +to be used in small charges for fear of damaging the bridge, which, at +this time, would be another disaster for the town. As it is, the south +abutment has been broken a little by the explosions. + +"After a charge of dynamite had shaken up a portion of the wreck in +front of the middle arch, men went to work with long poles, crowbars, +axes, saws, and spades. All the loose pieces that could be got out were +thrown into the water under the bridge, and then, beginning at the +edges, the bits of wreck were pulled, pushed and cut out, and sent +floating away. At first the work of an hour was hardly perceptible, but +each fresh log of timber pulled out loosened others and made better +progress possible. When the space beneath the arch was cleared, and a +channel thus made through which the debris could be floated off, a huge +portable crane, built on a flat-car and made for raising locomotives and +cars, was run upon the bridge over the arch and fastened to the track +with heavy chains. A locomotive was furnished to pull the rope, instead +of the usual winch with a crank handle. A rope from the crane was +fastened by chains or grapnels to a log, and then the locomotive pulled. +About once in five times the log came out. Other times the chain slipped +or something else made the attempt a failure. Whenever a big stick came +out men with pikes pushed off all the other loosened debris that they +could get at. Other men shoveled off the dirt and ashes which cover the +raft so thickly that it is almost as solid as the ground. + +"When a ten-foot square opening had been made back on the arch, the +current could be seen gushing up like a great spring from below, showing +that there was a large body of it being held down there by the weight of +the debris. The current through the arch became so strong that the +heaviest pieces in the wreck were carried off readily once they got +within its reach. One reason for this is that laborers are filling up +the gaps on the railroad embankment approaching the bridge in the north, +through which the river had made itself a new bed, and the water thus +dammed back has to go through or under the raft and out by the +bridge-arches. This both buoys up the whole mass and provides a means of +carrying off the wooden part of the debris as fast as it can be +loosened. + +"Meanwhile an attack on the raft was being made through the adjoining +arch in another way. A heavy winch was set up on a small island in the +river seventy-five yards below the bridge, and ropes run from this were +hitched to heavy timbers in the raft, and then pulled out by workmen at +the winch. A beginning for a second opening in the raft was made in this +way. One man had some bones broken and was otherwise hurt by the +slipping of the handle while he was at work at the winch this afternoon. +The whole work is dangerous for the men. There is twenty feet of swift +water for them to slip into, and timbers weighing tons are swinging +about in unexpected directions to crush them. + +"So far it is not known that any bodies have been brought out of the +debris by this work of removal, though many logs have been loosened and +sent off down the river beneath the water without being seen. There will +probably be more bodies back toward the centre of the raft than at the +bridge, for of those that came there many were swept over the top. Some +went over the arches and a great many were rescued from the bridge and +shore. People are satisfied now that dynamite is the only thing that can +possibly remove the wreck and that as it is being used it is not likely +to mangle bodies that may be in the debris any more than would any other +means of removing it. There are no more protests heard against its +use." + +Bodies continue to be dug out of the wreck in the central portion all +day. A dozen or so had been recovered up to nightfall, all hideously +burned and mangled. In spite of all the water that has been thrown upon +it by fire engines and all the rain that has fallen, the debris is still +smouldering in many spots. + +Work was begun in dead earnest on Wednesday on the Cambria Iron Works +buildings. The Cambria people gave out the absurd statement that their +loss will not exceed $100,000. It will certainly take this amount to +clean the works of the debris, to say nothing of repairing them. The +buildings are nearly a score in number, some of them of enormous size, +and they extend along the Conemaugh River for half a mile, over a +quarter of a mile in width. Their lonely chimneys, stretching high out +of the slate roofs above the brick walls, make them look not unlike a +man-of-war of tremendous size. The buildings on the western end of the +row are not damaged a great deal, though the torrent rolled through +them, turning the machinery topsy-turvy; but the buildings on the +eastern end, which received the full force of the flood, fared badly. +The eastern ends are utterly gone, the roofs bent over and smashed in, +the chimneys flattened, the walls cracked and broken, and, in some +cases, smashed entirely. Most of the buildings are filled with drift. +The workmen, who have clambered over the piles of logs and heavy drift +washed in front of the buildings and inside, say that they do not +believe that the machinery in the mills is damaged very much, and that +the main loss will fall on the mills themselves. Half a million may +cover the loss of the Cambria people, but this is a rather low estimate. +They have nine hundred men at work getting things in shape, and the +manner in which they have had to go to work illustrates the force with +which the flood acted. The trees jammed in and before the buildings were +so big and so solidly wedged in their places that no force of men could +pull them out, and temporary railroad tracks were built up to the mass +of debris. Then one of the engines backed down from the Pennsylvania +Railroad yards, and the workmen, by persistent effort, managed to get +big chains around parts of the drift. These chains were attached to the +engine, which rolled off puffing mightily, and in this way the mass of +drift was pulled apart. Then the laborers gathered up the loosened +material, heaped it in piles a distance from the buildings, and burned +them. Sometimes two engines had to be attached to some of the trees to +pull them out, and there are many trees which cannot be extricated in +this manner. They will have to be sawed into parts, and these parts +lugged away by the engines. + +[Illustration: 250,000,000 FEET OF LOGS AFLOAT IN THE SUSQUEHANNA.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +Upon a pretty little plateau two hundred feet above the waters of Stony +Creek, and directly in front of a slender foot-bridge which leads into +Kernsville, stands a group of tents which represents the first effort of +any national organization to give material sanitary aid to the unhappy +survivors of Johnstown. + +It is the camp of the American National Association of the Red Cross, +and is under the direction of that noble woman, Miss Clara Barton of +Washington, the President of the organization in this country. The camp +is not more than a quarter of a mile from the scene of operations in +this place, and, should pestilence attend upon the horrors of the flood, +this assembly of trained nurses and veteran physicians will be known all +over the land. That an epidemic of some sort will come, there seems to +be no question. The only thing which can avert it is a succession of +cool days, a possibility which is very remote. + +Miss Barton, as soon as she heard of the catastrophe, started +preparations for opening headquarters in this place. By Saturday morning +she had secured a staff, tents, supplies, and all the necessary +appurtenances of her work, and at once started on the Baltimore and Ohio +Road. She arrived here on Tuesday morning, and pitched her tents near +Stony Creek. This was, however, a temporary choice, for soon she removed +her camp to the plateau upon which it will remain until all need for +Miss Barton will have passed. With her came Dr. John B. Hubbell, field +agent; Miss M. L. White, stenographer; Gustave Angerstein, messenger, +and a corps of fifteen physicians and four trained female nurses, under +the direction of Dr. O'Neill, of Philadelphia. + +Upon their arrival they at once established quartermaster and kitchen +departments, and in less than three hours these divisions were fully +equipped for work. Then when the camp was formally opened on the plateau +there were one large hospital tent, capable of accommodating forty +persons, four smaller tents to give aid to twenty persons each, and four +still smaller ones which will hold ten patients each. Then Miss Barton +organized a house-to-house canvass by her corps of doctors, and began to +show results almost immediately. + +The first part of the district visited was Kernsville. There great want +and much suffering were discovered and promptly relieved. Miss Barton +says that in most of the houses which were visited were several persons +suffering from nervous prostration in the most aggravated form, many +cases of temporary insanity being discovered, which, if neglected, would +assume chronic conditions. There were a large number of persons, too, +who were bruised by their battling on the borders of the flood, and were +either ignorant or too broken-spirited to endeavor to aid themselves in +any particular. The majority of these were not sufficiently seriously +hurt to require removal from their homes to the camp, and so were given +medicines and practical, intelligent advice how to use them. + +There were fifteen persons, however, who were removed from Kernsville +and from a district known as the Brewery, on the extreme east of +Johnstown. Three of the number were women and were sadly bruised. One +man, Caspar Walthaman, a German operative at the Cambria Iron Works, was +the most interesting of all. He lived in a little frame house within +fifty yards of the brewery. When the flood came his house was lifted +from its foundations and was tossed about like a feather in a gale, +until it reached a spot about on a line with Washington Street. There +the man's life was saved by a great drift, which completely surrounded +the house, and which forced the structure against the Prospect Hill +shore, where the shock wrecked it. Walthaman was sent flying through the +air, and landed on his right side on the water-soaked turf. Fortunately +the turf was soft and springy with the moisture, and Walthaman had +enough consciousness left to crawl up the hillside, and then sank into +unconsciousness. + +At ten o'clock Saturday morning some friends found him. He was taken to +their home in Kernsville. He was scarcely conscious when found, and +before he had been in a place of safety an hour he had lost his mind, +the reaction was so great. His hair had turned quite white, and the +places where before the disaster his hair had been most abundant, on the +sides of his head, were completely denuded of it. His scalp was as +smooth as an apple-cheek. The physicians who removed him to the Red +Cross Hospital declared the case as the most extraordinary one resulting +from fright that had ever come under their observation. Miss Barton +declares her belief that not one of the persons who are now under +treatment is seriously injured, and is confident they will recover in a +few days. + +Her staff was reinforced by Mrs. and Dr. Gardner, of Bedford, who, +during the last great Western floods, rendered most excellent assistance +to the sufferers. Both are members of the Relief Association. The squad +of physicians and nurses was further added to by more from +Philadelphia, and then Miss Barton thought she was prepared to cope with +anything in the way of sickness which might arise. + +The appearance of the tents and the surroundings are exceedingly +inviting. Everything is exquisitely neat, the boards of the tent-floors +being almost as white as the snowy linen of the cots. This contrast to +the horrible filth of the town, with its fearful stenches and its +dead-paved streets, is so invigorating that it has become a place of +refuge to all who are compelled to remain here. + +The hospital is an old rink on the Bedford pike, which has been +transformed into an inviting retreat. Upon entering the door the visitor +finds himself in a small ante-room, to one side of which is attached the +general consulting-room. On the other side, opposite the hall, is the +apothecary's department, where the prescriptions are filled as carefully +as they would be at a first-class druggist's. In the rear of the medical +department and of the general consultation-room are the wards. There are +two of them--one for males and the other for females. A long, high, +heavy curtain divides the wards, and insures as much privacy as the most +modest person would wish. Around the walls in both wards are ranged the +regulation hospital beds, with plenty of clean and comfortable +bed-clothes. + +Patients in the hospital said they couldn't be better treated if they +were paying the physician for their attendance. The trained nurses of +the Red Cross Society carefully look after the wants of the sick and +injured, and see that they get everything they wish. People who have an +abhorrence of going into these hospitals need have no fear that they +will not be well treated. + +The orphans of the flood--sadly few there are of them, for it was the +children that usually went down first, not the parents--are looked after +by the Pennsylvania Children's Aid Society, which has transferred its +headquarters for the time being from Philadelphia to this city. There +was a thriving branch of this society here before the flood, but of all +its officers and executive force two only are alive. Fearing such might +be the situation, the general officers of the society sent out on the +first available train Miss H. E. Hancock, one of the directors, and Miss +H. W. Hinckley, the Secretary. They arrived on Thursday morning, and +within thirty minutes had an office open in a little cottage just above +the water-line in the upper part of the city. Business was ready as soon +as the office, and there were about fifty children looked after before +evening. In most cases these were children with relatives or friends in +or near Johnstown, and the society's work has been to identify them and +restore them to their friends. + +As soon as the society opened its office all cases in which children +were involved were sent at once to them, and their efforts have been of +great benefit in systematizing the care of the children who are left +homeless. Besides this, there are many orphans who have been living in +the families of neighbors since the flood, but for whom permanent homes +must be found. One family has cared for one hundred and fifty-seven +children saved from the flood, and nearly as many are staying with other +families. There will be no difficulty about providing for these little +ones. The society already has offers for the taking of as many as are +likely to be in need of a home. + +The Rev. Morgan Dix, on behalf of the Leake and Watts Orphan Home in New +York, has telegraphed an offer to care for seventy-five orphans. +Pittsburg is proving itself generous in this as in all other matters +relating to the flood, and other places all over the country are +telegraphing offers of homes for the homeless. Superintendent Pierson, +of the Indianapolis Natural Gas Company, has asked for two; Cleveland +wants some; Altoona would like a few; Apollo, Pa., has vacancies the +orphans can fill, and scores of other small places are sending in +similar offers and requests. A queer thing is that many of the officers +are restricted by curious provisions as to the religious belief of the +orphans. The Rev. Dr. Griffith, for instance, of Philadelphia, says +that the Angora (Pa.) Home would like some orphans, "especially Baptist +ones," and Father Field, of Philadelphia, offers to look after a few +Episcopal waifs. + +The work of the society here has been greatly assisted by the fact that +Miss Maggie Brooks, formerly Secretary of the local society here, but +living in Philadelphia at the time of the flood, has come here to assist +the general officers. Her acquaintance with the town is invaluable. + +Johnstown is generous in its misery. Whatever it has left it gives +freely to the strangers who have come here. It is not much, but it shows +a good spirit. There are means by which Johnstown people might reap a +rich harvest by taking advantage of the necessities of strangers. It is +necessary, for instance, to use boats in getting about the place, and +men in light skiffs are poling about the streets all day taking +passengers from place to place. Their services are free. They not only +do not, but will not accept any fee. J. D. Haws & Son own large +brick-kilns near the bridge. The newspaper men have possession of one of +the firm's buildings and one of the firm spends most of his time in +running about trying to make the men comfortable. A room in one of the +firm's barns filled with straw has been set apart solely for the +newspaper men, who sleep there wrapped in blankets as comfortably as in +beds. There is no charge for this, although those who have tried one +night on the floors, sand-piles, and other usual dormitories of the +place, would willingly pay high for the use of the straw. Food for the +newspaper and telegraph workers has been hard to get except in crude +form. Canned corned beef, eaten with a stick for a fork, and dry +crackers were the staples up to Tuesday, when a house up the hill was +discovered where anybody who came was welcome to the best the house +afforded. There was no sugar for the coffee, no vinegar for the lettuce, +and the apple butter ran out before the siege was raised, but the defect +was in the circumstances of Johnstown, and not in the will of the +family. + +"How much?" was asked at the end of the meal. + +They were poor people. The man probably earns a dollar a day. + +"Oh!" replied the woman, who was herself cook, waiter, and lady of the +house, "we don't charge anything in times like these. You see, I went +out and spent ten dollars for groceries at a place that wasn't washed +away right after the flood, and we've been living on that ever since. Of +course we don't ask any of the relief, not being washed out. You men are +welcome to all I can give." + +She had seen the last of her ten dollars worth of provisions gobbled up +without a murmur, and yet didn't "charge anything in times like these." +Her scruples did not, however, extend so far as to refusing tenders of +coin, inasmuch as without it her larder would stay empty. She filled it +up last night, and the news of the place having spread, she has been +getting a continual meal from five in the morning until late at night. +Although she makes no charge, her income would make a regular restaurant +keeper dizzy. + +So far as the Signal Service is concerned, the amount of rainfall in the +region drained by the Conemaugh River cannot be ascertained. Mrs. H. M. +Ogle, who had been the Signal Service representative in Johnstown for +several years and also manager of the Western Union office there, +telegraphed at eight o'clock Friday morning to Pittsburg that the river +marked fourteen feet, rising; a rise of thirteen feet in twenty-four +hours. At eleven o'clock she wired: "River twenty feet and rising, +higher than ever before; water in first floor. Have moved to second. +River gauges carried away. Rainfall, two and three-tenth inches." At +twenty-seven minutes to one P. M. Mrs. Ogle wired: "At this hour north +wind; very cloudy; water still rising." + +Nothing more was heard from her by the bureau, but at the Western Union +office at Pittsburg later in the afternoon she commenced to tell an +operator that the dam had broken, that a flood was coming, and before +she had finished the conversation a singular click of the instrument +announced the breaking of the current. A moment afterward the current of +her life was broken forever. + +Sergeant Stewart, in charge of the Pittsburg bureau, says that the fall +of water on the Conemaugh shed at Johnstown up to the time of the flood +was probably two and five-tenth inches. He believes it was much heavier +in the mountains. The country drained by the little Conemaugh and Stony +Creek covers an area of about one hundred square miles. The bureau, +figuring on this basis and two and five-tenth inches of rainfall, finds +that four hundred and sixty-four million six hundred and forty thousand +cubic feet of water was precipitated toward Johnstown in its last hours. +This is independent of the great volume of water in the lake, which was +not less than two hundred and fifty million cubic feet. + +It is therefore easily seen that there was ample water to cover the +Conemaugh Valley to the depth of from ten to twenty-five feet. Such a +volume of water was never known to fall in that country in the same +time. + +Colonel T. P. Roberts, a leading engineer, estimates that the lake +drained twenty-five square miles, and gives some interesting data on the +probable amount of water it contained. He says: "The dam, as I +understand, was from hill to hill, about one thousand feet long and +about eighty-five feet high at the highest point. The pond covered above +seven hundred acres, at least for the present I will assume that to be +the case. We are told also that there was a waste-weir at one end +seventy-five feet wide and ten feet below the comb or top of the dam. +Now we are told that with this weir open and discharging freely to the +utmost of its capacity, nevertheless the pond or lake rose ten inches +per hour until finally it overflowed the top, and, as I understand, the +dam broke by being eaten away at the top. + +"Thus we have the elements for very simple calculation as to the amount +of water precipitated by the flood, provided these premises are +accurate. To raise seven hundred acres of water to a height of ten feet +would require about three hundred million cubic feet of water, and while +this was rising the waste-weir would discharge an enormous volume--it +would be difficult to say just how much without a full knowledge of the +shape of its side-walls, approaches, and outlets--but if the rise +required ten hours the waste-weir might have discharged perhaps ninety +million cubic feet. We would then have a total of flood water of three +hundred and ninety million cubic feet. This would indicate a rainfall of +about eight inches over the twenty-five square miles. As that much does +not appear to have fallen at the hotel and dam it is more than likely +that even more than eight inches was precipitated in places farther up. +These figures I hold tentatively, but I am much inclined to believe that +there was a cloud burst." + +Of course, the Johnstown disaster, great as it was, was by no means the +greatest flood in history, since Noah's Deluge. The greatest of modern +floods was that which resulted from the overflow of the great Hoang-Ho, +or Yellow River, in 1887. This river, which has earned the title of +"China's Sorrow," has always been the cause of great anxiety to the +Chinese Government and to the inhabitants of the country through which +it flows. It is guarded with the utmost care at great expense, and +annually vast sums are spent in repairs of its banks. In October, 1887, +a number of serious breaches occurred in the river's banks about three +hundred miles from the coast. As a result the river deserted its natural +bed and spread over a thickly-populated plain, forcing for itself +finally an entire new road to the sea. Four or five times in two +thousand years the great river had changed its bed, and each time the +change had entailed great loss of life and property. + +In 1852 it burst through its banks two hundred and fifty miles from the +sea and cut a new bed through the northern part of Shaptung into the +Gulf of Pechili. The isolation in which foreigners lived at that time in +China prevented their obtaining any information as to the calamitous +results of this change, but in 1887 many of the barriers against +foreigners had been removed and a general idea of the character of the +inundation was easily obtainable. + +For several weeks preceding the actual overflow of its banks the +Hoang-Ho had been swollen from its tributaries. It had been unusually +wet and stormy in northwest China, and all the small streams were full +and overflowing. The first break occurred in the province of Honan, of +which the capital is Kaifeng, and the city next in importance is Ching +or Cheng Chou. The latter is forty miles west of Kaifeng and a short +distance above a bend in the Hoang-Ho. At this bend the stream is borne +violently against the south shore. For ten days a continuous rain had +been soaking the embankments, and a strong wind increased the already +great force of the current. Finally a breach was made. At first it +extended only for a hundred yards. The guards made frantic efforts to +close the gap, and were assisted by the frightened people in the +vicinity. But the breach grew rapidly to a width of twelve hundred +yards, and through this the river rushed with awful force. Leaping over +the plain with incredible velocity, the water merged into a small stream +called the Lu-chia. Down the valley of the Lu-chia the torrent poured +in an easterly direction, overwhelming everything in its path. + +Twenty miles from Cheng Chou it encountered Chungmou, a walled city of +the third rank. Its thousands of inhabitants were attending to their +usual pursuits. There was no telegraph to warn them, and the first +intimation of disaster came with the muddy torrent that rolled down upon +them. Within a short time only the tops of the high walls marked where a +flourishing city had been. Three hundred villages in the district +disappeared utterly, and the lands about three hundred other villages +were inundated. + +The flood turned south from Chungmou, still keeping to the course of the +Lu-chia, and stretched out in width for thirty miles. This vast body of +water was from ten to twenty feet deep. Several miles south of Kaifeng +the flood struck a large river which there joins the Lu-chia. The result +was that the flood rose to a still greater height, and, pouring into a +low-lying and very fertile plain which was densely populated, submerged +upward of one thousand five hundred villages. + +Not far beyond this locality the flood passed into the province of +Anhui, where it spread very widely. The actual loss of life could not be +computed accurately, but the lowest intelligent estimate placed it at +one million five hundred thousand, and one authority fixed it at seven +million. Two million people were rendered destitute by the flood, and +the suffering that resulted was frightful. Four months later the +inundated provinces were still under the muddy waters. The government +officials who were on guard when the Hoang-Ho broke its banks were +condemned to severe punishment, and were placed in the pillory in spite +of their pleadings that they had done their best to avert the disaster. + +The inundation which may be classed as the second greatest in modern +history occurred in Holland in 1530. There have been many floods in +Holland, nearly all due to the failure of the dikes which form the only +barrier between it and the sea. In 1530 there was a general failure of +the dikes, and the sea poured in upon the low lands. The people were as +unprepared as were the victims of the Johnstown disaster. Good +authorities place the number of human beings that perished in this flood +at about four hundred thousand, and the destruction of property was in +proportion. + +[Illustration: LAST TRAINS IN AND OUT OF HARRISBURG.] + +In April, 1421, the River Meuse broke in the dikes at Dort, or +Dordrecht, an ancient town in the peninsula of South Holland, situated +on an island. Ten thousand persons perished there and more than one +hundred thousand in the vicinity. In January, 1861, there was a +disastrous flood in Holland, the area sweeping over forty thousand +acres, and leaving thirty thousand villages destitute, and again in 1876 +severe losses resulted from inundations in this country. + +The first flood in Europe of which history gives any authentic account +occurred in Lincolnshire, England, A. D. 245, when the sea passed over +many thousands of acres. In the year 353 a flood in Cheshire destroyed +three thousand human lives and many cattle. Four hundred families were +drowned in Glasgow by an overflow of the Clyde in 758. A number of +English seaport towns were destroyed by an inundation in 1014. In 1483 a +terrible overflow of the Severn, which came at night and lasted for ten +days, covered the tops of mountains. Men, women, and children were +carried from their beds and drowned. The waters settled on the lands and +were called for one hundred years after the Great Waters. + +A flood in Catalonia, a province of Spain, occurred in 1617, and fifty +thousand persons lost their lives. One of the most curious inundations +in history, and one that was looked upon at the time as a miracle, +occurred in Yorkshire, England, in 1686. A large rock was split assunder +by some hidden force, and water spouted out, the stream reaching as high +as a church steeple. In 1771 another flood, known as the Ripon flood, +occurred in the same province. + +In September, 1687, mountain torrents inundated Navarre, and two +thousand persons were drowned. Twice, in 1787 and in 1802, the Irish +Liffey overran its banks and caused great damage. A reservoir in Lurca, +a city of Spain, burst in 1802, in much the same way as did the dam at +Johnstown, and as a result one thousand persons perished. Twenty-four +villages near Presburg, and nearly all their inhabitants, were swept +away in April, 1811, by an overflow of the Danube. Two years later large +provinces in Austria and Poland were flooded, and many lives were lost. +In the same year a force of two thousand Turkish soldiers, who were +stationed on a small island near Widdin, were surprised by a sudden +overflow of the Danube and all were drowned. There were two more floods +in this year, one in Silesia, where six thousand persons perished, and +the French army met such losses and privations that its ruin was +accelerated; and another in Poland, where four thousand persons were +supposed to have been drowned. In 1816 the melting of the snow on the +mountains surrounding Strabane, Ireland, caused destructive floods, and +the overflow of the Vistula in Germany laid many villages under water. +Floods that occasioned great suffering occurred in 1829, when severe +rains caused the Spey and Findhorn to rise fifty feet above their +ordinary level. The following year the Danube again overflowed its +banks and inundated the houses of fifty thousand inhabitants of Vienna. +The Saone overflowed in 1840, and poured its turbulent waters into the +Rhine, causing a flood which covered sixty thousand acres. Lyons was +flooded, one hundred houses were swept away at Avignon, two hundred and +eighteen at La Guillotiere, and three hundred at Vaise, Marseilles, and +Nimes. Another great flood, entailing much suffering, occurred in the +south of France in 1856. + +A flood in Mill River valley in 1874 was caused by the bursting of a +badly constructed dam. The waters poured down upon the villages in the +valley much as at Johnstown, but the people received warning in time, +and the torrent was not so swift. Several villages were destroyed and +one hundred and forty-four persons drowned. The rising of the Garonne in +1875 caused the death of one thousand persons near Toulouse, and twenty +thousand persons were made homeless in India by floods in the same year. +In 1882 heavy floods destroyed a large amount of property and drowned +many persons in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys. + +The awful disaster in the Conemaugh Valley calls attention to the fact +that there are many similar dams throughout the United States. Though +few of these overhang a narrow gorge like the one in which the borough +of Johnstown reposed, there is no question that several of the dams now +deemed safe would, if broken down by a sudden freshet, sweep down upon +peaceful hamlets, cause immense damage to property and loss of life. The +lesson taught by the awful scenes at Johnstown should not go unheeded. + +Croton Lake Dam was first built with ninety feet of masonry overfall, +the rest being earth embankment. On January 7th, 1841, a freshet carried +away this earth embankment, and when rebuilt the overfall of the dam was +made two hundred and seventy feet long. The foundation is two lines of +cribs, filled with dry stone, and ten feet of concrete between. Upon +this broken range stone masonry was laid, the down-stream side being +curved and faced with granite, the whole being backed with a packing of +earth. The dam is forty feet high, its top is one hundred and sixty-six +feet above tidewater, and it controls a reservoir area of four hundred +acres and five hundred million gallons of water. The Boyd's Corner Dam +holds two million seven hundred and twenty-seven thousand gallons, and +was built during the years 1866 and 1872. It stands twenty-three miles +from Croton dam, and has cut-stone faces filled between with concrete. +The extreme height is seventy-eight feet, and it is six hundred and +seventy feet long. Although this dam holds a body of water five times +greater than that at Croton Lake, it is claimed by engineers that +should it give way the deluge of water which would follow would cause +very little loss of life and only destroy farming lands, as below it the +country is comparatively level and open. Middle Branch Dam holds four +billion four hundred thousand gallons, and was built during 1874 and +1878. It is composed of earth, with a centre of rubble masonry carried +down to the rock bottom. It is also considered to be in no danger of +causing destruction by sudden breakage, as the downpour of water would +spread out over a large area of level land. Besides these there are +other Croton water storage basins formed by dams as follows: East +Branch, with a capacity of 4,500,000,000 gallons; Lake Mahopac, +575,000,000 gallons; Lake Kirk, 565,000,000 gallons; Lake Gleneida, +165,000,000 gallons; Lake Gilead, 380,000,000 gallons; Lake Waccabec, +200,000,000 gallons; Lake Lonetta, 50,000,000 gallons; Barrett's ponds, +170,000,000 gallons; China pond, 105,000,000 gallons; White pond, +100,000,000 gallons; Pines pond, 75,000,000 gallons; Long pond, +60,000,000 gallons; Peach pond, 230,000,000 gallons; Cross pond, +110,000,000 gallons, and Haines pond, 125,000,000 gallons, thus +completing the storage capacity of the Croton water system of +14,000,000,000 gallons. The engineers claim that none of these +last-named could cause loss of life or any great damage to property, +because there exist abundant natural outlets. + +At Whitehall, N. G., there is a reservoir created by a dam three hundred +and twenty feet long across a valley half a mile from the village and +two hundred and sixty-six feet above it. A break in this dam would +release nearly six million gallons, and probably sweep away the entire +town. Norwich, N. Y., is supplied by an earthwork dam, with centre +puddle-wall, three hundred and twenty-three feet long and forty feet +high. It imprisons thirty million gallons and stands one hundred and +eighty feet above the village. At an elevation of two hundred and fifty +feet above the town of Olean N. Y., stands an embankment holding in +check two million, five hundred thousand gallons. Oneida, N. Y., is +supplied by a reservoir formed by a dam across a stream which controls +twenty-two million, three hundred and fifty thousand gallons. The dam is +nearly three miles from the village and at an altitude of one hundred +and ninety feet above it. Such are some of the reservoirs which threaten +other communities of our fair land. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +It is now the Thursday after the disaster, and amid the ruins of +Johnstown people are beginning to get their wits together. They have +quit the aimless wandering about amid the ruins, that marked them for a +crushed and despairing people. Everybody is getting to work and +forgetting something of the horror of the situation in the necessity of +thinking of what they are doing. The deadly silence that has prevailed +throughout the town is ended, giving place to the shouts of hundreds of +men pulling at ropes, and the crash of timbers and roofs as they pull +wrecked buildings down or haul heaps of débris to pieces. Hundreds more +are making an almost merry clang with pick and shovel as they clear away +mud and gravel, opening ways on the lines of the old streets. +Locomotives are puffing about, down into the heart of the town now, and +the great whistle at the Cambria Iron Works blew for noon yesterday and +to-day for the first time since the flood silenced it. To lighten the +sombre aspect of the ruined area, heightened by the cold gray clouds +hanging low about the hills, were acres of flame, where debris is being +got rid of. Down in what was the heart of the city the soldiers have +gone into camp, and little flags snap brightly in the high wind from +their acres of white tents. + +The relief work seems now to be pretty thoroughly organized, and +thousands of men are at work under the direction of the committee. The +men are in gangs of about a hundred each, under foremen, with mounted +superintendents riding about overseeing the work. + +The first effort, aside from that being made upon the gorge at the +bridge, is in the upper part of the city and in Stony Creek Gap, where +there are many houses with great heaps of debris covering and +surrounding them. Three or four hundred men were set at work with ropes, +chains, and axes upon each of these heaps, tearing it to pieces as +rapidly as possible. Where there are only smashed houses and furniture +in the heap the work is easy, but when, as in most instances, there are +long logs and tree-trunks reaching in every direction through the mass, +the task of getting them out is a slow and difficult one. The lighter +parts of the wreck are tossed into heaps in the nearest clear space and +set on fire. Horses haul the logs and heavier pieces off to add them to +other blazing piles. Everything of any value is carefully laid aside, +but there is little of it. Even the strongest furniture is generally in +little bits when found, but in one heap this morning were found two +mirrors, one about six feet by eight in size, without a crack in it, and +with its frame little damaged; the other one, about two feet by three in +size, had a little crack at the bottom, but was otherwise all right. + +Every once in a while the workmen about these wreck-heaps will stop +their shouting and straining at the ropes, gather into a crowd at some +one spot in the ruins, and remain idle and quiet for a little while. +Presently the group will stir itself a little, fall apart, and out of it +will come six men bearing between them on a door or other improvised +stretcher a vague form covered with a canvas blanket. The bearers go off +along the irregular paths worn into the muddy plain, toward the +different morgues, and the men go to work again. + +These little groups of six, with the burden between them, are as +frequent as ever. One runs across them everywhere about the place. +Sometimes they come so thick that they have to form in line at the +morgue doors. The activity with which work was prosecuted brought +rapidly to light the dark places within the ruins in which remained +concealed those bodies that the previous desultory searching had not +brought to light. Many of the disclosures might almost better have never +seen the light, so heart-rending were they. A mother lay with three +children clasped in her arms. So suddenly had the visitation come upon +them that the little ones had plainly been snatched up while at play, +for one held a doll clutched tightly in its dead hand, and in one hand +of another were three marbles. This was right opposite the First +National Bank building, in the heart of the city, and near the same spot +a family of five--father, mother, and three children--were found dead +together. Not far off a roof was lifted up, and dropped again in horror +at the sight of nine bodies beneath it. There were more bodies, or +fragments of bodies, found, too, in the gorge at the bridge, and from +the Cambria Iron Works the ghastly burden-bearers began to come in with +the first contributions of that locality to the death list. The passage +of time is also bringing to the surface bodies that have been lying +beneath the river further down, and from Nineveh bodies are continually +being sent up to Morrellville, just below the iron works, for +identification. + +Wandering about near the ruins of Wood, Morrell & Co.'s store a +messenger from Morrellville found a man who looked like the pictures of +the Tennessee mountaineers in the _Century Magazine_, with an addition +of woe and misery upon his gaunt, hairy face that no picture could ever +indicate. He was tall and thin, and bent, and, from his appearance, +abjectly poor. He was telling two strangers how he had lived right +across from the store, with his wife and eight children. When the high +water came and word was brought that the dam was in danger, he told his +wife to get the children together and come with him. The water was deep +in the streets, and the passage to the bluff would have been difficult. +She laughed at him and told him the dam was all right. He urged her, +ordered her, and did everything else but pick her up bodily and carry +her out, but she would not come. Finally he set the example and dashed +out, himself, through the water, calling to his wife to follow. As his +feet began to touch rising ground, he saw the wall of water coming down +the valley. He climbed in blind terror up the bank, helped by the rising +water, and, reaching solid ground, turned just in time to see the water +strike his house. + +"When I turned my back," he said, "I couldn't look any longer." + +Tears ran down his face as he said this. The messenger coming up just +then said:-- + +"Your wife has been found. They got her down at Nineveh. Her brother has +gone to fetch her up." + +The man went away with the messenger. + +"He didn't seem much rejoiced over the good news about his wife," +remarked one of the strangers, who had yet to learn that Johnstown +people speak of death and the dead only indirectly whenever possible. + +It was the wife's body, not the wife, that had been found, and that the +messenger was to fetch up. The bodies of this man's eight children have +not yet been found. He is the only survivor of a family of ten. + +Queer salvage from the flood was a cat that was taken out alive last +evening. Its hair was singed off and one eye gone, but it was able to +lick the hand of the man who picked it up and carried it off to keep, he +said, as a relic of the flood. A white Wyandotte rooster and two hens +were also dug out alive, and with dry feathers, from the centre of a +heap of wrecked buildings. + +The work of clearing up the site of the town has progressed so far that +the outlines of some of the old streets could be faintly traced, and +citizens were going about hunting up their lots. In many cases it was a +difficult task, but enough old landmarks are left to make the +determination of boundary lines by a new survey a comparatively easy +matter. + +The scenes in the morgues are disgusting in the highest degree. The +embalmers are at work cutting and slashing with an apathy born of four +days and nights of the work, and such as they never experienced before. +The boards on which the bodies lie are covered with mud and slime, in +many instances. + +Men with dynamite, blowing up the drift at the Pennsylvania Railroad +bridge, people in the drift watching for bodies, people finding bodies +in the ruins and carrying them away on stretchers or sheets, the +bonfires of blazing débris all over the town, the soldiers with their +bayonets guarding property or taking thieves into custody, the +tin-starred policemen with their base ball clubs promenading the streets +and around the ruins, the scenes of distress and frenzy at the relief +stations, the crash of buildings as their broken remnants fall to the +ground--this is the scene that goes on night and day in Johnstown, and +will go on for an indefinite time. Still, people have worked so in the +midst of such excitement, with the pressure of such an awful horror on +their minds that they can get but little rest even when they wish to. +Men in this town are too tired to sleep. They lie down with throbbing +brains that cannot stop throbbing, so that even the sense of thinking is +intense agony. + +The undertakers and embalmers claim that they are the busiest men in +town, and that they have done more to help the city than any other +workmen. The people who attend the morgues for the purpose of +identifying their friends and relatives are hardly as numerous as +before. Many of them are exhausted with the constant wear and tear, and +many have about made up their minds that their friends are lost beyond +recovery, and that there is no use looking for them any longer. Others +have gone to distant parts of the State, and have abandoned Johnstown +and all in it. + +A little girl in a poor calico dress climbed upon the fence at the Adams +Street morgue and looked wistfully at the row of coffins in the yard. +People were only admitted to the morgue in squads of ten each, and the +little girl's turn had not come yet. Her name was Jennie Hoffman. She +was twelve years old. She told a reporter that out of her family of +fourteen the father and mother and oldest sister were lost. They were +all in their home on Somerset Street when the flood came. The father +reached out for a tree which went sweeping by, and was pulled out of the +window and lost. The mother and children got upon the roof, and then a +dash of water carried her and the eldest daughter off. A colored man on +an adjoining house took off the little girls who were left--all of them +under twelve years of age, except Jennie--and together they clambered +over the roofs of the houses near by and escaped. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Day after day the work of reparation goes on. The city has been blotted +out. Yet the reeking ruins that mark its site are teeming with life and +work more vigorous than ever marked its noisy streets and panting +factories. As men and money pour into Johnstown the spirit of the town +greatly revives, and the people begin to take a much more favorable view +of things. The one thing that is troubling people just now is the lack +of ready money. There are drafts here in any quantity, but there is no +money to cash them until the money in the vaults of the First National +Bank has been recovered. It is known that the vaults are safe and that +about $500,000 in cash is there. Of this sum $125,000 belongs to the +Cambria Iron Company. It was to pay the five thousand employés of the +works. The men are paid off every two weeks, and the last pay-day was to +have been on the Saturday after the fatal flood. The money was brought +down to Johnstown, on the day before the flood, by the Adams Express +Company, and deposited in the bank. After the water subsided, and it was +discovered that the money was safe, a guard was placed around the bank +and has been maintained ever since. + +When the pay-day of the Cambria Iron Company does come it will be an +impressive scene. The only thing comparable to it will be the roll-call +after a great battle. Mothers, wives, and children will be there to +claim the wages of sons, and husbands, and fathers. The men in the +gloomy line will have few families to take their wages home to. The +Cambria people do not propose to stand on any red-tape rules about +paying the wages of their dead employés to the surviving friends and +relatives. They will only try to make reasonably sure that they are +paying the money to the right persons. + +An assistant cashier, Thomas McGee, in the company's store saved $12,000 +of the company's funds. The money was all in packages of bills in bags +in the safe on the ground floor of the main building of the stores. When +the water began to rise he went up on the second floor of the building, +carrying the money with him. When the crash of the reservoir torrent +came Mr. McGee clambered upon the roof, and just before the building +tottered and fell he managed to jump on the roof of a house that went +by. The house was swept near the bank. Mr. McGee jumped off and fell +into the water, but struck out and managed to clamber up the bank. Then +he got up on the hills and remained out all night guarding his treasure. + +[Illustration: COLUMBIA, PA., UNDER THE FLOOD.] + +At dawn of Thursday the stillness of the night, which had been punctured +frequently by the pistol and musket shots of vigilant guards scaring off +possible marauders, was permanently fractured by the arousing of gangs +of laborers who had slept about wherever they could find a soft spot in +the ruins, as well as in tents set up in the centre of where the town +used to be. The soldiers in their camps were seen about later, and the +railroad gang of several hundred men set out up the track toward where +they had left off work the night before. Breakfast was cooked at +hundreds of camp-fires, and about brick-kilns, and wherever else a fire +could be got. At seven o'clock five thousand laborers struck pick and +shovel and saw into the square miles of débris heaped over the city's +site. At the same time more laborers began to arrive on trains and march +through the streets in long gangs toward the place where they were +needed. Those whose work was to be pulling and hauling trailed along in +lines, holding to their ropes. They looked like gangs of slaves being +driven to a market. By the time the forenoon was well under way, seven +thousand laborers were at work in the city under the direction of one +hundred foremen. There were five hundred cars and as many teams, and +half a dozen portable hoisting engines, besides regular locomotives and +trains of flat cars that were used in hauling off débris that could not +be burned. With this force of men and appliances at work the ruined +city, looked at from the bluffs, seemed to fairly swarm with life, +wherever the flood had left anything to be removed. The whole lower part +of the city, except just above the bridge, remained the deserted mud +desert that the waters left. There was no cleaning up necessary there. +Through the upper part of the city, where the houses were simply smashed +to kindling wood and piled into heaps, but not ground to pieces under +the whirlpool that bore down on the rest of the city, acres of bonfires +have burned all day. The stifling smoke, blown by a high wind, has made +life almost unendurable, and the flames have twirled about so fiercely +in the gusts as to scorch the workmen some distance away. Citizens whose +houses were not damaged beyond salvation have almost got to work in +clearing out their homes and trying to make them somewhere near +habitable. In the poorer parts of the city often one story and a half +frame cottages are seen completely surrounded by heaps of débris tossed +up high above their roofs. Narrow lanes driven through the débris have +given the owners entrance to their homes. + +With all the work the apparent progress was small. A stranger seeing the +place for the first time would never imagine that the wreck was not just +as the flood left it. The enormity of the task of clearing the place +grows more apparent the more the work is prosecuted, and with the force +now at work the job cannot be done in less than a month. It will hardly +be possible to find room for any larger force. + +The railroads added largely to the bustle of the place. Long freight +trains, loaded with food and clothing for the suffering, were +continually coming in faster than they could be unloaded. Lumber was +also arriving in great quantities, and hay and feed for the horses was +heaped up high alongside the tracks. Hundreds of men were swarming over +the road-bed near the Pennsylvania station, strengthening and improving +the line. Work was begun on frame sheds and other temporary buildings in +several places, and the rattle of hammers added its din to the shouts of +the workmen and the crash of falling wreckage. + +Some sort of organization is being introduced into other things about +the city than the clearing away of the débris. The Post-office is +established in a small brick building in the upper part of the city. +Those of the letter carriers who are alive, and a few clerks, are the +working force. The reception of mail consists of one damaged street +letter-box set upon a box in front of the building and guarded by a +carrier, who has also to see that there is no crowding in the long lines +of people waiting to get their turn at the two windows where letters and +stamps are served out. A wide board, stood up on end, is lettered +rudely, "Post-office Bulletin," and beneath is a slip of paper with the +information that a mail will leave the city for the West during the day, +and that no mail has been received. There are many touching things in +these Post-office lines. It is a good place for acquaintances who lived +in different parts of the city to find out whether each is alive or +dead. + +"You are through all right, I see," said one man in the line to an +acquaintance who came up this morning. + +"Yes," said the acquaintance. + +"And how's your folks? They all right, too?" was the next question. + +"Two of them are--them two little ones sitting on the steps there. The +mother and the other three have gone down." + +Such conversations as this take place every few minutes. Near the +Post-office is the morgue for that part of the city, and other lines of +waiting people reach out from there, anxious for a glimpse at the +contents of the twenty-five coffins ranged in lines in front of the +school-building, that does duty for a dead-house. Only those who have +business are admitted, but the number is never a small one. Each walks +along the lines of coffins, raises the cover over the face, glances in, +drops the cover quickly, and passes on. Men bearing ghastly burdens on +stretchers pass frequently into the school-house, where the undertakers +prepare the bodies for identification. + +A little farther along is the relief headquarters for that part of the +city, and the streets there are packed all day long with women and +children with baskets on their arms. So great is the demand that the +people have to stand in line for an hour to get their turn. A large +unfinished building is turned into a storehouse for clothing, and the +people throng into it empty-handed and come out with arms full of +underclothing and other wearing apparel. At another building the +sanitary bureau is serving out disinfectants. + +The workmen upon the débris in what was the heart of the city have now +reached well into the ruins and are getting to where the valuable +contents of jewelry and other stores may be expected to be found, and +strict watch is being kept to prevent the theft of any such articles by +the workmen or others. In the ruins of the Wood, Morrell & Co. general +store a large amount of goods, chiefly provisions and household +utensils, has been found in fairly good order. It is piled in a heap as +fast as gotten out, and the building is being pulled down. + +About the worst heap of wreckage in the centre of the city is where the +Cambria Library building stood, opposite the general store. This was a +very substantial and handsome building and offered much obstruction to +the flood. It was completely destroyed, but upon its site a mass of +trees, logs, heavy beams, and other wreckage was left, knotted together +into a mass only extricable by the use of the ax and saw. Two hundred +men have worked at it for three days and it is not half removed yet. + +The Cambria Iron Company have several acres of gravel and clay to remove +from the upper end of its yard. Except for an occasional corner of some +big iron machine that projects above the surface no one would ever +suspect that it was not the original earth. In one place a freight car +brake-wheel lies just on the surface of the ground, apparently dropped +there loosely. Any one who tries to kick it aside or pick it up finds +that it is still attached to its car, which is buried under a solid mass +of gravel and broken rock. Several lanes have been dug through this mass +down to the old railroad tracks, and two or three of the little yard +engines of the iron company, resurrected with smashed smoke-stacks and +other light damage, but workable yet, go puffing about hardly visible +above the general level of the new-made ground. + +The progress of the work upon the black and still smoking mass of +charred ruins above the bridge is hardly perceptible. There is clear +water for about one hundred feet back from the central arch, and a +little opening before the two on each side of it. When there is a +good-sized hole made before all three of these arches, through which the +bulk of the water runs, it is expected that the stuff can be pulled +apart and set afloat much more rapidly. Dynamiter Kirk, who is +overseeing the work, used up the last one hundred pounds of the +explosive early this afternoon, and had to suspend operations until the +arrival of two hundred pounds more that was on the way from Pittsburgh. +The dynamite has been used in small doses for fear of damaging the +bridge. Six pounds was the heaviest charge used. Even with this the +stone beneath the arches of the bridge is charred and crumbling in +places, and some pieces have been blown out of the heavy coping. The +whole structure shakes as though with an earthquake at every discharge. + +The dynamite is placed in holes drilled in logs matted into the surface +of the raft, and its effect being downward, the greatest force of the +explosion is upon the mass of stuff beneath the water. At the same time +each charge sent up into the air, one hundred feet or more, a fountain +of dirt, stones, and blackened fragments of logs, many of them large +enough to be dangerous. The rattling crash of their fall upon the bridge +follows hard after the heavy boom of the explosion. One of the worst and +most unexpected objects with which the men on the raft have to contend +is the presence in it of hundreds of miles of telegraph wire wound +around almost everything there and binding the whole mass together. + +No bodies have yet been brought to the surface by the operations with +dynamite, but indications of several buried beneath the surface are +evident. A short distance back from where the men are not at work, +bodies continue to be taken out from the surface of the raft at the rate +of ten or a dozen a day. The men this afternoon came across hundreds of +feet of polished copper pipe, which is said to have come from a Pullman +car. It was not known until then that there was a Pullman car in that +part of the raft. The remnants of a vestibule car are plainly seen at a +point a hundred feet away from this. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +The first thing that Johnstown people do in the morning is to go to the +relief stations and get something to eat. They go carrying big baskets, +and their endeavor is to get all they can. There has been a new system +every day about the manner of dispensing the food and clothing to the +sufferers. At first the supplies were placed where people could help +themselves. Then they were placed in yards and handed to people over the +fences. Then people had to get orders for what they wanted from the +Citizens Committee, and their orders were filled at the different relief +stations. Now the whole matter of receiving and dispensing relief +supplies has been placed in the hands of the Grand Army of the Republic +men. Thomas A. Stewart, commander of the Department of Pennsylvania, G. +A. R., arrived with his staff and established his headquarters in a tent +near the headquarters of the Citizens Committee, and opposite the +temporary post-office. Over this tent floats Commander Stewart's flag, +with purple border, bearing the arms of the State of Pennsylvania. The +members of his staff are: Quartermaster-General Tobin Taylor and his +assistant H. J. Williams, Chaplain John W. Sayres, and W. V. Lawrence, +quartermaster-general of the Ohio Department. The Grand Army men have +made the Adams Street relief station a central relief station, and all +the others, at Kernville, the Pennsylvania depot, Cambria City, and +Jackson and Somerset Street, sub-stations. The idea is to distribute +supplies to the sub-stations from the central station, and thus avoid +the jam of crying and excited people at the committee's headquarters. + +The Grand Army men have appointed a committee of women to assist them in +their work. The women go from house to house, ascertaining the number of +people quartered there, the number of people lost from there in the +flood, and the exact needs of the people. It was found necessary to have +some such committee as this, for there were women actually starving, who +were too proud to take their places in line with the other women with +bags and baskets. Some of these people were rich before the flood. Now +they are not worth a dollar. A _Sun_ reporter was told of one man who +was reported to be worth $100,000 before the flood, but who now is +penniless, and who has to take his place in the line along with others +seeking the necessaries of life. + +Though the Adams Street station is now the central relief station, the +most imposing display of supplies is made at the Pennsylvania Railroad +freight and passenger depots. Here, on the platforms and in the yards, +are piled up barrels of flour in long rows, three and four barrels high; +biscuits in cans and boxes, where car-loads of them have been dumped; +crackers, under the railroad sheds in bins; hams, by the hundred, strung +on poles; boxes of soap and candles, barrels of kerosene oil, stacks of +canned goods, and things to eat of all sorts and kinds. The same is +visible at the Baltimore and Ohio road, and there is now no fear of a +food famine in Johnstown, though of course everybody will have to rough +it for weeks. What is needed most in this line is cooking utensils. +Johnstown people want stoves, kettles, pans, knives, and forks. All the +things that have been sent so far have been sent with the evident idea +of supplying an instant need, and that is right and proper, but it would +be well now, if, instead of some of the provisions that are sent, +cooking utensils would arrive. Fifty stoves arrived from Pittsburgh this +morning, and it is said that more are coming. + +At both the depots where the supplies are received and stored a big +rope-line incloses them in an impromptu yard, so as to give room to +those having them in charge to walk around and see what they have got. +On the inside of this line, too, stalk back and forth the soldiers, with +their rifles on their shoulders, and, beside the lines pressing against +the ropes, there stands every day, from daylight until dawn, a crowd of +women with big baskets, who make piteous appeals to the soldiers to give +them food for their children at once, before the order of the relief +committee. Those to whom supplies are dealt out at the stations have to +approach in a line, and this line is fringed with soldiers, Pittsburgh +policemen, and deputy sheriffs, who see that the children and weak women +are not crowded out of their places by the stronger ones. The supplies +are not given in large quantities, but the applicants are told to come +again in a day or so and more will be given them. The women complain +against this bitterly, and go away with tears in their eyes, declaring +that they have not been given enough. Other women utter broken words of +thankfulness and go away, their faces wreathed in smiles. + +One night something in the nature of a raid was made by Father McTahney, +one of the Catholic priests here, on the houses of some people whom he +suspected of having imposed upon the relief committee. These persons +represented that they were destitute, and sent their children with +baskets to the relief stations, each child getting supplies for a +different family. There are unquestionably many such cases. Father +McTahney found that his suspicions were correct in a great many cases, +and he brought back and made the wrong-doers bring back the provisions +which they had obtained under false pretenses. + +The side tracks at both the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad +depots are filled with cars sent from different places, bearing relief +supplies to Johnstown. The cars are nearly all freight cars, and they +contain the significant inscriptions of the railroad officials: "This +car is on time freight. It is going to Johnstown, and must not be +delayed under any circumstances." Then, there are the ponderous labels +of the towns and associations sending the supplies. They read this way: +"This car for Johnstown with supplies for the sufferers." "Braddock +relief for Johnstown." "The contributions of Beaver Falls to Johnstown." +The cars from Pittsburgh had no inscriptions. Some cars had merely the +inscription, in great big black letters on a white strip of cloth +running the length of the car, "Johnstown." One car reads on it: +"Stations along the route fill this car with supplies for Johnstown, and +don't delay it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +At the end of the week Adjutant-General Hastings moved his headquarters +from the signal tower and the Pennsylvania Railroad depot to the eastern +end of the Pennsylvania freight depot. Here the general and his staff +sleep on the hard floor, with only a blanket under them. They have their +work systematized and in good shape, though about all they have done or +will do is to prevent strangers and others who have no business here +from entering the city. The entire regiment which is here is disposed +around the city in squads of two or three men each. The men are +scattered up and down the Conemaugh, away out on the Pennsylvania and +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks, along Stony Creek on the southern +side of the town, and even upon the hills. It is impossible for any one +to get into town by escaping the guards, for there is a cordon of +soldiers about it. General Hastings rides around on a horse, inspecting +the posts, and the men on guard present arms to him in due form, he +returning the salute. The sight is a singular one, for General Hastings +is not in uniform, and in fact wears a very rusty civilian's dress. He +wears a pair of rubber boots covered with mud, and a suit of old, +well-stained, black clothes. His coat is a cutaway. His appearance among +his staff officers is still more dramatic, for the latter, being ordered +out and having time to prepare, are in gold lace and feathers and +glittering uniforms. + +General Hastings came here right after the flood, on the spur of the +moment, and not in his official capacity. He rides his horse finely and +looks every inch a soldier. He has established in his headquarters in +the freight depot a very much-needed bureau for the answering of +telegrams from friends of Johnstown people making inquiries as to the +latter's safety. The bureau is in charge of A. K. Parsons, who has done +good work since the flood, and who, with Lieutenant George Miller, of +the Fifth Infantry, U. S. A., General Hastings' right-hand man, has been +with the general constantly. The telegrams in the past have all been +sent to the headquarters of the Citizens Committee, in the Fourth Ward +Hotel, and have laid there, along with telegrams of every sort, in a +little heap on a little side table in one corner of the room. +Three-quarters of them were not called for, and people who knew that +telegrams were there for them did not have the patience to look through +the heap for them. Finally some who were not worried to death took the +telegrams, opened them all, and pinned them in separate packages in +alphabetical order and then put them back on the table again, and they +have been pored over, until their edges are frayed, by all the people +who crowded into the little low-roofed room where Dictator Scott and his +messengers are. There were something like three thousand telegrams there +in all. Occasionally a few are taken away, but in the majority of cases +they remain there. The persons to whom they were sent are dead or have +not taken the trouble to come to headquarters and see if their friends +are inquiring after them. Of course the Western Union Telegraph Company +makes no effort to deliver the messages. This would be impossible. + +[Illustration: PENNSYLVANIA AVE., COR. SIXTH ST., WASHINGTON, D. C.] + +The telegrams addressed to the Citizens Committee headquarters are all +different in form, of course, but they all breathe the utmost anxiety +and suspense. Here are some samples:-- + +Is Samuel there? Is there any hope? Answer me and end this suspense. + + SARAH. + + _To anybody in Johnstown_: + +Can you give me any information of Adam Brennan? + + MARY BRENNAN. + +Are any of you alive? + + JAMES. + +Are you all safe? Is it our John Burn that is dead? Is Eliza safe? +Answer. + +It is worth repeating again that the majority of these telegrams will +never be answered. + +The Post-office letter carriers have only just begun to make their +rounds in that part of the town which is comparatively uninjured. Bags +of first-class mail matter are alone brought into town. It will be weeks +before people see the papers in the mails. The supposition is that +nobody has time to read papers, and this is about right. The letter +carriers are making an effort, as far as they can, to distribute mail to +the families of the deceased people. Many of the letters which arrive +now contain money orders, and while great care has to be taken in the +distribution, the postal authorities recognize the necessity of getting +these letters to the parties addressed, or else returning them to the +Dead Letter Office as proof of the death of the individuals in question. +It is no doubt that in this way the first knowledge of the death of many +will be transmitted to friends. + +It is fair to say that the best part of the energies of the State of +Pennsylvania at present are all turned upon Johnstown. Here are the +leading physicians, the best nurses, some of the heaviest contractors, +the brightest newspaper men, all the military geniuses, and, if not the +actual presence, at least the attention, of the capitalists. The +newspapers, medical reviews, and publications of all sorts teem with +suggestions. Johnstown is a compendium of business, and misery, and +despair. One class of men should be given credit for thorough work in +connection with the calamity. These are the undertakers. They came to +Johnstown, from all over Pennsylvania, at the first alarm. They are the +men whose presence was imperatively needed, and who have actually been +forced to work day and night in preserving bodies and preparing them for +burial. One of the most active undertakers here is John McCarthy, of +Syracuse, N. Y., one of the leading undertakers there, and a very +public-spirited man. He brought a letter of introduction from Mayor +Kirk, of Syracuse, to the Citizens Committee here. He said to a +reporter:-- + +"It is worthy of mention, perhaps, that never before in such a disaster +as this have bodies received such careful treatment and has such a +wholesale embalming been practiced. Everybody recovered, whether +identified or not, whether of rich man or poor man, or of the humblest +child, has been carefully cleaned and embalmed, placed in a neat coffin, +and not buried when unidentified until the last possible moment. When +you reflect that over one thousand bodies have been treated in this way +it means something. It is to be regretted that some pains were not +taken to keep a record of the bodies recovered, but the undertakers +cannot be blamed for that. They should have been furnished with clerks, +and that whole matter made the subject of the work of a bureau by +itself. We have had just all we could do cleaning and embalming the +bodies." + +The unsightliest place in Johnstown is the morgue in the Presbyterian +Church. The edifice is a large brick structure in the centre of the +city, and was about the first church building in the city. About one +hundred and seventy-five people took refuge there during the flood. +After the first crash, when the people were expecting another every +instant, and of course that they would perish, the pastor of the church, +the Rev. Mr. Beale, began to pray fervently that the lives of those in +the church might be spared. He fairly wrestled in prayer, and those who +heard him say that it seemed to be a very death-struggle with the demon +of the flood itself. No second crash came, the waters receded, and the +lives of those in the church were spared. The people said that it was +all due to the Rev. Mr. Beale's prayer. The pews in the church were all +demolished, and the Sunday-school room under it was flooded with the +angry waters, and filled up to the ceiling with débris. The Rev. Mr. +Beale is now general morgue director in Johnstown, and has the +authority of a dictator of the bodies of the dead. In the Presbyterian +Church morgue the bodies are, almost without exception, those which have +been recovered from the ruins of the smashed buildings. The bodies are +torn and bruised in the most horrible manner, so that identification is +very difficult. They are nearly all bodies of the prominent or +well-known residents of Johnstown. The cleaning and embalming of the +bodies takes place in the corners of the church, on either side of the +pulpit. As soon as they have a presentable appearance, the bodies are +placed in coffins, put across the ends of the pews near the aisles, so +that people can pass around through the aisles and look at them. Few +identifications have yet been made here. In one coffin is the body of a +young man who had on a nice bicycle suit when found. In his pockets were +forty dollars in money. The bicycle has not been found. It is supposed +that the body is that of some young fellow who was on a bicycle tour up +the Conemaugh River, and who was engulfed by the flood. + +The waters played some queer freaks. A number of mirrors taken out of +the ruins with the frames smashed and with the glass parts entirely +uninjured have been a matter for constant comment on the part of those +who have inspected the ruins and worked in them. When the waters went +down, the Sunday-school rooms of the Presbyterian Church just referred +to were found littered with playing cards. In a baby's cradle was found +a dissertation upon infant baptism and two volumes of a history of the +Crusades. A commercial man from Pittsburgh, who came down to look at the +ruins, found among them his own picture. He never was in Johnstown but +two or three times before, and he did not have any friends there. How +the picture got among the ruins of Johnstown is a mystery to him. + +About the only people who have come into Johnstown, not having business +there connected with the clearing up of the city, are people from a +great distance, hunting up their friends and relatives. There are folks +here now from almost every State in the Union, with the exception, +perhaps, of those on the Pacific coast. There are people, too, from +Pennsylvania and States near by, who, receiving no answer to their +telegrams, have decided to come on in person. They wander over the town +in their search, at first frantically asking everybody right and left if +they have heard of their missing friends. Generally nobody has heard of +them, or some one may remember that he saw a man who said that he +happened to see a body pulled out at Nineveh or Cambria City, or +somewhere, that looked like Jack So-and-So, naming the missing one. At +the morgues the inquirer is told that about four hundred unidentified +dead have already been buried, and on the fences before the morgues and +on the outside house walls of the buildings themselves he reads several +hundred such notices as these, of bodies still unclaimed:-- + +A woman, dark hair, blue eyes, blue waist, dark dress, clothing of fine +quality; a single bracelet on the left arm; age, about twenty-three. + +An old lady, clothing undistinguishable, but containing a purse with +twenty-seven dollars and a small key. + +A young man, fair complexion, light hair, gray eyes, dark blue suit, +white shirt; believed to have been a guest at the Hurlburt House. + +A female; supposed to belong to the Salvation Army. + +A man about thirty-five years old, dark-complexioned, brown hair, brown +moustache, light clothes, left leg a little shortened. + +A boy about ten years old, found with a little girl of nearly same age; +boy had hold of girl's hand; both light-haired and fair-complexioned, +and girl had long curls; boy had on dark clothes, and girl a gingham +dress. + + * * * * * + +The people looking for their friends had lots of money, but money is of +no use now in Johnstown. It cannot hire teams to go up along the +Conemaugh River, where lots of people want to go; it cannot hire men as +searchers, for all the people in Johnstown not on business of their own +are digging in the ruins; it cannot even buy food, for what little food +there is in Johnstown is practically free, and a good square meal cannot +be procured for love nor money anywhere. Under these discouragements +many people are giving up the search and going home, either giving their +relatives up for dead or waiting for them to turn up, still maintaining +the hope that they are alive. + +Johnstown at night now is a wild spectacle. The major part of the town +is enveloped in darkness, and lights of all colors flare out all around, +so that the city looks something like a night scene in a railroad yard. +The burning of immense piles of débris is continued at night, and the +red glare of the flames at the foot of the hills seems like witch-fires +at the mouth of caverns. The camp-fires of the military on the hills +above the Conemaugh burn brightly. Volumes of smoke pour up all over the +town. Along the Pennsylvania Railroad gangs of men are working all night +long by electric light, and the engines, with their great headlights and +roaring steam, go about continually. Below the railroad bridge stretches +away the dark, sullen mass of the drift, with its freight of human +bodies beyond estimate. Now and then, from the headquarters of the +newspaper men, can be heard the military guards on their posts +challenging passers-by. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +It is now a week since the flood, and Johnstown is a cross between a +military camp and a new mining town, and is getting more so every day. +It has all the unpleasant and disagreeable features of both, relieved by +the pleasures of neither. Everywhere one goes soldiers are lounging +about or standing guard on all roads leading into the city, and stop +every one who cannot show a pass. There is a mass of tents down in the +centre of the ruins, and others are scattered everywhere on every +cleared space beside the railroad tracks and on the hills about. A corps +of engineers is laying pontoon bridges over the streams, pioneers are +everywhere laying out new camps, erecting mess sheds and other rude +buildings, and clearing away obstructions to the ready passage of supply +wagons. Mounted men are continually galloping about from place to place +carrying orders. At headquarters about the Pennsylvania Railroad depot +there are dozens of petty officers in giddy gold lace, and General +Hastings, General Wiley, and a few others in dingy clothes, sitting +about the shady part of the platform giving and receiving orders. The +occasional thunder of dynamite sounds like the boom of distant cannon +defending some outpost. Supplies are heaped up about headquarters, and +are being unloaded from cars as rapidly as locomotives can push them up +and get the empty cars out of the way again. From cooking tents smoke +and savory odors go up all day, mingled with the odor carbolic from +hospital tents scattered about. It is very likely that within a short +time this military appearance will be greatly increased by the arrival +of another regiment and the formal declaration of martial law. + +On the other hand the town's resemblance to a new mining camp is just as +striking. Everything is muddy and desolate. There are no streets nor any +roads, except the rough routes that the carts wore out for themselves +across the sandy plain. Rough sheds and shanties are going up on every +hand. There are no regular stores, but cigars and drink--none +intoxicating, however--are peddled from rough board counters. Railroads +run into the camp over uneven, crooked tracks. Trains of freight cars +are constantly arriving and being shoved off onto all sorts of sidings, +or even into the mud, to get them out of the way. Everybody wears his +trousers in his boots, and is muddy, ragged, and unshaven. Men with +picks and shovels are everywhere delving or mining for something that a +few days ago was more precious than gold, though really valueless now. +Occasionally they make a find and gather around to inspect it as miners +might a nugget. All it needs to complete the mining camp aspect of the +place is a row of gambling hells in full blast under the temporary +electric lights that gaudily illuminate the centre of the town. + +Matters are becoming very well systematized, both in the military and +the mining way. Martial law could be imposed to-day with very little +inconvenience to any one. The guard about the town is very well kept, +and the loafers, bummers, and thieves are being pretty well cleared out. +The Grand Army men have thoroughly organized the work of distributing +supplies to the sufferers by the flood, the refugees, and contraband of +this camp. + +The contractors who are clearing up the débris have their thousands of +men well in hand, and are getting good work out of them, considering the +conditions under which the men have to live, with insufficient food, +poor shelter, and other serious impediments to physical effectiveness. +All the men except those on the gorge above the bridge have been +working amid the heaps of ruined buildings in the upper part of the +city. The first endeavor has been to open the old streets in which the +débris was heaped as high as the house-tops. Fair progress has been +made, but there are weeks of work at it yet. Only one or two streets are +so far cleared that the public can use them. No one but the workmen are +allowed in the others. + +Up Stony Creek Gap, above the contractors, the United States Army +engineers began work on Friday under command of Captain Sears, who is +here as the personal representative of the Secretary of War. The +engineers, Captain Bergland's company from Willet's Point, and +Lieutenant Biddle's company from West Point, arrived on Friday night, +having been since Tuesday on the road from New York. Early in the +morning they went to work to bridge Stony Creek, and unloaded and +launched their heavy pontoons and strung them across the streams with a +rapidity and skill that astonished the natives, who had mistaken them, +in their coarse, working uniforms of over-all stuff, for a fresh gang of +laborers. The engineers, when there are bridges enough laid, may be set +at other work about town. They have a camp of their own on the outskirts +of the place. There are more constables, watchmen, special policemen, +and that sort of thing in Johnstown than in any three cities of its +size in the country. Naturally there is great difficulty in equipping +them. Badges were easily provided by the clipping out of stars from +pieces of tin, but every one had to look out for himself when it came to +clubs. Everything goes, from a broomstick to a base ball bat. The bats +are especially popular. + +"I'd like to get the job of handling your paper here," said a young +fellow to a Pittsburgh newspaper man. "You'll have to get some newsman +to do it anyhow, for your old men have gone down, and I and my partner +are the only newsmen in Johnstown above ground." + +The newsdealing business is not the only one of which something like +that is true. + +There has been a great scarcity of cooking utensils ever since the +flood. It not only is very inconvenient to the people, but tends to the +waste of a good deal of food. The soldiers are growling bitterly over +their commissary department. They claim that bread, and cheese, and +coffee are about all they get to eat. + +The temporary electric lights have now been strung all along the +railroad tracks and through the central part of the ruins, so that the +place after dark is really quite brilliant seen from a distance, +especially when to the electric display is added the red glow in the +mist and smoke of huge bonfires. + +Anybody who has been telegraphing to Johnstown this week and getting no +answers, would understand the reason for the lack of answers if he could +see the piles of telegrams that are sent out here by train from +Pittsburgh. Four thousand came in one batch on Thursday. Half of them +are still undelivered, and yet there is probably no place in the country +where the Western Union Company is doing better work than here. The +flood destroyed not only the company's offices, but the greater part of +their wires in this part of the country. The office they established +here is in a little shanty with no windows and only one door which won't +close, and it handles an amount of outgoing matter, daily, that would +swamp nine-tenths of the city offices in the country. Incoming business +is now received in considerable quantities, but for several days so +great was the pressure of outgoing business that no attempt was made to +receive any dispatches. The whole effort of the office has been to +handle press matter, and well they have done it. But there will be no +efficient delivery service for a long time. The old messenger boys are +all drowned, and the other boys who might make messenger boys are also +most of them drowned, so that the raw material for creating a service is +very scant. Besides that, nobody knows nowadays where any one else +lives. + +The amateur and professional photographers who have overrun the town for +the last few days came to grief on Friday. A good many of them were +arrested by the soldiers, placed under a guard, taken down to the Stony +Creek and set to lugging logs and timbers. Among those arrested were +several of the newspaper photographers, and these General Hastings +ordered released when he heard of their arrest. The others were made to +work for half a day. They were a mad and disgusted lot, and they vowed +all sorts of vengeance. It does seem that some notice to the effect that +photographers were not permitted in Johnstown should have been posted +before the men were arrested. The photographers all had passes in +regular form, but the soldiers refused even to look at these. + +More sightseers got through the guards at Bolivar on Friday night, and +came to Johnstown on the last train. Word was telegraphed ahead, and the +soldiers met them at the train, put them under arrest, kept them over +night, and in the morning they were set to work in clearing up the +ruins. + +The special detail of workmen who have been at work looking up safes in +the ruins and seeing that they were taken care of, reports that none of +the safes have been broken open or otherwise interfered with. The +committee on valuables reports that quantities of jewelry and money are +being daily turned into them by people who have found them in the ruins. +Often the people surrendering this stuff are evidently very poor +themselves. The committee believes that as a general thing the people +are dealing very honestly in this matter of treasure-trove from the +ruins. + +Three car-loads of coffins was part of the load of one freight train. +Coffins are scattered everywhere about the city. Scores of them seem to +have been set down and forgotten. They are used as benches, and even, it +is said, as beds. + +Grandma Mary Seter, aged eighty-three years, a well-known character in +Johnstown, who was in the water until Saturday, and who, when rescued, +had her right arm so injured that amputation at the shoulder was +necessary, is doing finely at the hospital, and the doctors expect to +have her around again before long. + +One enterprising man has opened a shop for the sale of relics of the +disaster, and is doing a big business. Half the people here are relic +cranks. Everything goes as a relic, from a horseshoe to a two-foot +section of iron pipe. Buttons and little things like that, that can +easily be carried off, are the most popular. + +[Illustration: SEVENTH STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C., UNDER THE FLOOD.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +A mantle of mist hung low over the Conemaugh Valley when the people of +Johnstown rose on Sunday morning, June 9th; but about the time the two +remaining church bells began to toll, the sun's rays broke through the +fog, and soon the sky was clear save for a few white clouds which sailed +lazily to the Alleghenies. Never in the history of Johnstown did +congregations attend more impressive church services. Some of them were +held in the open air, others in half-ruined buildings, and one only in a +church. The ceremonies were deeply solemn and touching. Early in the +forenoon German Catholics picked their way through the wreck to the +parsonage of St. Joseph's, where Fathers Kesbernan and Ald said four +masses. Next to the parsonage there was a great breach in the walls made +by the flood, and one-half of the parsonage had been carried away. At +one end of the pastor's reception-room had been placed a temporary +altar lighted by a solitary candle. There were white roses upon it, +while from the walls, above the muddy stains, hung pictures of the +Immaculate Conception, the Crucifixion, and the Virgin Mary. The room +was filled with worshipers, and the people spread out into the lateral +hall hanging over the cellar washed bare of its covering. No chairs or +benches were in the room. There was a deep hush as the congregation +knelt upon the damp floors, silently saying their prayers. With a +dignified and serene demeanor, the priest went through the services of +his church, while the people before him were motionless, the men with +bowed heads, the women holding handkerchiefs to their faces. + +Back of this church, on the side of a hill, there gathered another +congregation of Catholics. Their church and parsonage and chapel had all +been destroyed, and they met in a yard near their cemetery. A pretty +arbor, covered with vines, ran back from the street, and beneath this +stood their priest, Father Tahney, who had worked with them over a +quarter of a century. His hair was white, but he stood erect as he +talked to his people. Before him was a white altar. This, too, was +lighted with a single candle. The people stood before him and on each +side, reverently kneeling on the grass as they prayed. Three masses were +said by Father Tahney and by Father Matthews, of Washington, and then +the white-haired priest spoke a few words of encouragement to his +listeners. He urged them to make a manful struggle to rebuild their +homes, to assist one another in their distress, and to be grateful to +all Americans for the helping hand extended to them. Other Catholic +services were held at the St. Columba's Church, in Cambria, where Father +Troutwein, of St. Mary's Church, Fathers Davin and Smith said mass and +addressed the congregation. Father Smith urged them not to sell their +lands to those who were speculating in men's misery, but to be +courageous until the city should rise again. + +At the Pennsylvania station a meeting was held on the embankment +overlooking the ruined part of the town. The services were conducted by +the Rev. Mr. McGuire, chaplain of the 14th Regiment. The people sang +"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," and then Mr. McGuire read the +psalm beginning "I will bless the Lord at all times." James Fulton, +manager of the Cambria Iron Works, spoke encouraging words. He assured +them that the works would be rebuilt, and that the eight thousand +employés would be cared for. Houses would be built for them and +employment given to all in restoring the works. There was a strained +look on men's faces when he told them in a low voice that he held the +copy of a report which he had drawn up on the dam, calling attention to +the fact that it was extremely dangerous to the people living in the +valley. + +One of the peculiar things a stranger notices in Johnstown is the +comparatively small number of women seen in the place. Of the throngs +who walk about the streets searching for dead friends, there is not one +woman to ten men. Occasionally a little group of two or three women with +sad faces will pick their way about, looking for the morgues. There are +a few Sisters of Charity, in their black robes, seen upon the streets, +and in the parts of the town not totally destroyed the usual number of +women are seen in the houses and yards. But, as a rule, women are a +rarity in Johnstown now. This is not a natural peculiarity of Johnstown, +nor a mere coincidence, but a fact with a dreadful reason behind it. +There are so many more men than women among the living in Johnstown now, +because there are so many more women than men among the dead. Of the +bodies recovered there are at least two women for every man. Besides the +fact that their natural weakness made them an easier prey to the flood, +the hour at which the disaster came was one when the women would most +likely be in their homes and the men at work in the open air or in +factory yards, from which escape was easy. + +Children also are rarely seen about the town, and for a similar reason. +They are all dead. There is never a group of the dead discovered that +does not contain from one to three or four children for every grown +person. Generally the children are in the arms of the grown persons, and +often little toys and trinkets clasped in their hands indicate that the +children were caught up while at play, and carried as far as possible +toward safety. + +Johnstown when rebuilt will be a city of many widowers and few children. +In turning a school-house into a morgue the authorities probably did a +wiser thing than they thought. It will be a long time before the +school-house will be needed for its original purpose. + +The miracle, as it is called, that happened at the Church of the +Immaculate Conception, has caused a tremendous sensation. A large number +of persons will testify as to the nature of the event, and, to put it +mildly, the circumstances are really remarkable. The devotions in honor +of the Blessed Virgin celebrated daily during the month of May were in +progress on that Friday when the water descended on Cambria City. The +church was filled with people at the time, but when the noise of the +flood was heard the congregation hastened to get out of the way. They +succeeded as far as escaping from the interior is concerned, and in a +few minutes the church was partially submerged, the water reaching +fifteen feet up the sides and swirling around the corners furiously. The +building was badly wrecked, the benches were torn out, and in general +the entire structure, both inside and outside, was fairly dismantled. +Yesterday morning, when an entrance was forced through the blocked +doorway the ruin appeared to be complete. One object alone had escaped +the water's wrath. The statue of the Blessed Virgin, that had been +decorated and adorned because of the May devotions, was as unsullied as +the day it was made. The flowers, the wreaths, the lace veil were +undisturbed and unsoiled, although the marks on the wall showed that the +surface of the water had risen above the statue to a height of fifteen +feet, while the statue nevertheless had been saved from all contact with +the liquid. Every one who has seen the statue and its surroundings is +firmly convinced that the incident was a miraculous one, and even to the +most skeptical the affair savors of the supernatural. + +A singular feature of the great flood was discovered at the great stone +viaduct about half way between Mineral Point and South Fork. At Mineral +Point the Pennsylvania Railroad is on the south side of the river, +although the town is on the north side. About a mile and a half up the +stream there was a viaduct built of very solid masonry. It was +originally built for the old Portage Road. It was seventy-eight feet +above the ordinary surface of the water. On this viaduct the railroad +tracks crossed to the north side of the river and on that side ran into +South Fork, two miles farther up. It is the general opinion of engineers +that this strong viaduct would have stood against the gigantic wave had +it not been blown up by dynamite. But at South Fork there was a dynamite +magazine which was picked up by the flood and shot down the stream at +the rate of twenty miles an hour. It struck the stone viaduct and +exploded. The roar of the flood was tremendous, but the noise of this +explosion was heard by farmers on the Evanston Road, two miles and a +half away. Persons living on the mountain sides, in view of the river, +and who saw the explosion, say that the stones of the viaduct at the +point where the magazine struck it, were thrown into the air to the +height of two hundred feet. An opening was made, and the flood of death +swept through on its awful errand. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +It is characteristic of American hopefulness and energy that before work +was fairly begun on clearing away the wreck of the old city, plans were +being prepared for the new one that should arise, Ph[oe]nix-like, above +its grave. If the future policy of the banks and bankers of Johnstown is +to be followed by the merchants and manufacturers of the city the +prospects of a magnificent city rising from the present ruins are of the +brightest. James McMillen, president of the First National and Johnstown +Savings Banks, said: + +"The loss sustained by the First National Bank will be merely nominal. +It did a general commercial business and very little investing in the +way of mortgages. When the flood came the cash on hand and all our +valuable securities and papers were locked in the safe and were in no +way affected by the water. The damage to the building itself will be +comparatively small. Our capital was one hundred thousand dollars, while +our surplus was upwards of forty thousand dollars. The depositors of +this bank are, therefore, not worrying themselves about our ability to +meet all demands that may be made upon us by them. The bank will open up +for business within a few days as if nothing had happened. + +"As to the Johnstown Savings Bank it had probably $200,000 invested in +mortgages on property in Johnstown, but the wisdom of our policy in the +past in making loans has proven of great value to us in the present +emergency. Since we first began business we have refused to make loans +to parties on property where the lot itself would not be of sufficient +value to indemnify us against loss in case of the destruction of the +building. If a man owned a lot worth $2,000 and had on it a building +worth $100,000 we would refuse to loan over the $2,000 on the property. +The result is that the lots on which the buildings stood in Johnstown, +on which $200,000 of our money is loaned, are worth double the amount, +probably, that we have invested in them. + +"What will be the effect of the flood on the value of lots in Johnstown +proper? Well, instead of decreasing, they have already advanced in +value. This will bring outside capital to Johnstown, and a real estate +boom is bound to follow in the wake of this destruction. All the people +want is an assurance that the banks are safe and will open up for +business at once. With that feeling they have started to work with a +vim. We have in this bank $300,000 invested in Government bonds and +other securities that can be converted into cash on an hour's notice. We +propose to keep these things constantly before our business men as an +impetus to rebuilding our principal business blocks as soon as +possible." + +"What do you think of the idea projected by Captain W. R. Jones, to +dredge and lower the river bed about thirty feet and adding seventy per +cent. to its present width, as a precautionary measure against future +washouts?" + +"I not only heartily indorse that scheme, but have positive assurance +from other leading business men that the idea will be carried out, as it +certainly should be, the moment the work of cleaning away the debris is +completed. Besides that, a scheme is on foot to get a charter for the +city of Johnstown which will embrace all those surrounding boroughs. In +the event of that being done, and I am certain it will be, the plan of +the city will be entirely changed and made to correspond with the best +laid-out cities in the country. In ten years Johnstown will be one of +the prettiest and busiest cities in the world, and nothing can prevent +it. The streets will be widened and probably made to start from a common +centre, something after the fashion of Washington City, with a little +more regard for the value of property. With the Cambria Iron Company, +the Gautier Steel Works, and other manufactories, as well as yearly +increasing railroad facilities, Johnstown has a start which will grow in +a short time to enormous proportions. From a real estate standpoint the +flood has been a benefit beyond a doubt. Another addition to the city +will be made in the shape of an immense water-main to connect with a +magnificent reservoir of the finest water in the world to be located in +the mountains up Stony Creek for supplying the entire city as +contemplated in the proposed new charter. This plant was well under way +when the flood came, and about ten thousand dollars had already been +expended on it which has been lost." + +Mr. John Roberts, the surviving partner of the banking-house of John +Dibert & Company, said: + +"Aside from the loss to our own building we have come out whole and +entire. We had no money invested in mortgages in Johnstown that is not +fully indemnified by the lots themselves. Most of our money is invested +in property in Somerset County, where Mr. Dibert was raised. We will +exert every influence in our power to place the city on a better footing +than was ever before. The plan of raising the city or lowering the bed +of the river as well as widening its banks will surely be carried out. +In addition, I think the idea of changing the plan of the city and +embracing Johnstown and the surrounding buroughs in one large city will +be one of the greatest benefits the flood could have wrought to the +future citizens of Johnstown and the Conemough Valley. + +"I have been chairman of our Finance Committee of Councils for ten years +past, and I know the trouble we have had with our streets and alleys and +the necessity of a great change. In order to put the city in the proper +shape to insure commercial growth and topographical beauty, we will be +ready for business in a few days, and enough money will be put into +circulation in the valley to give the people encouragement in the work +of rebuilding." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +Among the travelers who were in or near the Conemaugh Valley at the time +of the flood, and who thus narrowly escaped the doom that swallowed up +thousands of their fellow-mortals, was Mr. William Henry Smith, General +Manager of the Associated Press. He remained there for some time and did +valuable work in directing the operations of news-gatherers and in the +general labors of relief. + +The wife and daughter of Mr. E. W. Halford, private secretary to +President Harrison, were also there. They made their way to Washington +on Thursday, to Mr. Halford's inexpressible relief, they having at first +been reported among the lost. On their arrival at the Capital they went +at once to the Executive Mansion, where the members of the Executive +household were awaiting them with great interest. The ladies lost all +their baggage, but were thankful for their almost miraculous delivery +from the jaws of death. Mrs. Harrison's eyes were suffused with tears +as she listened to the dreadful narrative. The President was also +deeply moved. From the first tidings of the dire calamity his thoughts +have been absorbed in sympathy and desire to alleviate the sufferings of +the devastated region. The manner of the escape of Mrs. Halford and her +daughter has already been told. When the alarm was given, she and her +daughter rushed with the other passengers out of the car and took refuge +on the mountain side by climbing up the rocky excavation near the track. +Mrs. Halford was in delicate health owing to bronchial troubles. She has +borne up well under the excitement, exposure, fatigue, and horror of her +experiences. + +Mrs. George W. Childs was also reported among the lost, but incorrectly. +Mr. Childs received word on Thursday for the first time direct from his +wife, who was on her way West to visit Miss Kate Drexel when detained by +the flood. Indirectly he had heard she was all right. The telegram +notified him that Mrs. Childs was at Altoona, and could not move either +way, but was perfectly safe. + +George B. Roberts, President of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, was +obliged to issue the following card: "In consequence of the terrible +calamity that has fallen upon a community which has such close relations +to the Pennsylvania Railway Company, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Roberts +feel compelled to withdraw their invitations for Thursday, June 6th." +Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Pugh also felt obliged to withdraw their +invitations for Wednesday, June 5th. + +The Rev. J. A. Ranney, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and his wife were passengers +on one of the trains wrecked by the Conemaugh flood. Mr. Ranney said: + +"Mrs. Ranney and I were on one of the trains at Conemaugh when the flood +came. There was but a moment's warning and the disaster was upon us. The +occupants of our car rushed for the door, where Mrs. Ranney and I became +separated. She was one of the first to jump, and I saw her run and +disappear behind the first house in sight. Before I could get out the +deluge was too high, and, with a number of others, I remained in the +car. Our car was lifted up and dashed against a car loaded with stone +and badly wrecked, but most of the occupants of this car were rescued. +As far as I know all who jumped from the car lost their lives. The +remainder of the train was swept away. I searched for days for Mrs. +Ranney, but could find no trace of her. I think she perished. The mind +cannot conceive the awful sight presented when we first saw the danger. +The approaching wall of water looked like Niagara, and huge engines were +caught up and whirled away as if they were mere wheel-barrows." + +D. B. Cummins, of Philadelphia, the President of the Girard National +Bank, was one of the party of four which consisted of John Scott, +Solicitor-General of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Edmund Smith, +ex-Vice-President of the same company; and Colonel Welsh himself, who +had been stopping in the country a few miles back of Williamsport. + +Mr. Cummins, in talking of the condition of things in that vicinity and +of his experience, said: "We were trout-fishing at Anderson's cabin, +about fourteen miles from Williamsport, at the time the flood started. +We went to Williamsport, intending to take a train for Philadelphia. Of +course, when we got there we found everything in a frightful condition, +and the people completely disheartened by the flood. Fortunately the +loss of life was very slight, especially when compared with the terrible +disaster in Johnstown. The loss, from a financial standpoint, will be +very great, for the city is completely inundated, and the lumber +industry seriously crippled. Besides, the stagnation of business for any +length of time produces results which are disastrous." + +[Illustration: FOURTEENTH STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C., IN THE FLOOD.] + +The first passengers that came from Altoona to New York by the +Pennsylvania Railroad since the floods included five members of the +"Night Off" Company, which played in Johnstown on Thursday night, about +whom considerable anxiety was felt for some time, till E. A. Eberle +received telegrams from his wife, the contents of which he at once gave +to the press. Mrs. Eberle was among the five who arrived. + +"No words can tell the horrors of the scenes we witnessed," she said in +answer to a request for an account of her experiences, "and nothing that +has been published can convey any idea of the awful havoc wrought in +those few but apparently never-ending minutes in which the worst of the +flood passed us. + +"Our company left Johnstown on Friday morning. We only got two miles +away, as far as Conemaugh, when we were stopped by a landslide a little +way ahead. About noon we went to dinner, and soon after we came back +some of our company noticed that the flood had extended and was washing +away the embankment on which our train stood. They called the engineer's +attention to the fact, and he took the train a few hundred feet further. +It was fortunate he did so, for a little while after the embankment +caved in. + +"Then we could not move forward or backward, as ahead was the landslide +and behind there was no track. Even then we were not frightened, and it +was not till about three o'clock, when we saw a heavy iron bridge go +down as if it were made of paper, that we began to be seriously alarmed. +Just before the dam broke a gravel train came tearing down, with the +engine giving out the most awful shriek I ever heard. Every one +recognized that this was a note of warning. We fled as hard as we could +run down the embankment, across a ditch, and for a distance equal to +about two blocks up the hillside. Once I turned to look at the vast wall +of water, but was hurried on by my friends. When I had gone about the +distance of another block the head of the flood had passed far away, and +with it went houses, cars, locomotives, everything that a few minutes +before had made up a busy scene. The wall of water looked to be fifty +feet high. It was of a deep yellow color, but the crest was white with +foam. + +"Three of us reached the house of Mrs. William Wright, who took us in +and treated us most kindly. I did not take any account of time, but I +imagine it was about an hour before the water ceased to rush past the +house. The conductor of our train, Charles A. Wartham, behaved with the +greatest bravery. He took a crippled passenger on his back in the rush +up the hill. A floating house struck the cripple, carried him away and +tore some of the clothes off Wartham's back, and he managed to struggle +on and save himself. Our ride to Ebensburg, sixteen miles, in a lumber +wagon without springs, was trying, but no one thought of complaining. +Later in the day we were sent to Cresson and thence to Altoona." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +No travelers in an upheaved and disorganized land push through with more +pluck and courage than the newspaper correspondents. Accounts have +already been given of some of their experiences. A writer in the New +York _Times_ thus told of his, a week after the events described: + +"A man who starts on a journey on ten minutes' notice likes the journey +to be short, with a promise of success and of food and clothes at its +end. Starting suddenly a week ago, the _Times's_ correspondent has since +had but a small measure of success, a smaller measure of food, and for +nights no rest at all; a long tramp across the Blue Hills and Allegheny +Mountains, behind jaded horses; helping to push up-hill the wagon they +tried to pull or to lift the vehicle up and down bridges whose +approaches were torn away, or in and out of fords the pathways to which +had disappeared; and in the blackness of the night, scrambling through +gullies in the pike road made by the storm, paved with sharp and +treacherous rocks and traversed by swift-running streams, whose roar was +the only guide to their course. All this prepared a weary reporter to +welcome the bed of straw he found in a Johnstown stable loft last +Monday, and on which he has reposed nightly ever since. + +"And let me advise reporters and other persons who are liable to sudden +missions to out-of-the-way places not to wear patent leather shoes. They +are no good for mountain roads. This is the result of sad experience. +Wetness and stone bruises are the benisons they confer on feet that +tread rough paths. + +"The quarter past twelve train was the one boarded by the _Times's_ +correspondent and three other reporters on their way hither a week ago +Friday night. It was in the minds of all that they would get as far as +Altoona, on the Pennsylvania Road, and thence by wagon to this place. +But all were mistaken. At Philadelphia we were told that there were +wash-outs in many places and bridges were down everywhere, so that we +would be lucky if we got even to Harrisburg. This was harrowing news. It +caused such a searching of time-tables and of the map of Pennsylvania as +those things were rarely ever subjected to before. It was at last +decided that if the Pennsylvania Railroad stopped at Harrisburg an +attempt would be made to reach the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at +Martinsburg, West Virginia, by way of the Cumberland Railroad, a train +on which was scheduled to leave Harrisburg ten minutes after the arrival +of the Pennsylvania train. + +"It was only too evident to us, long before we reached Harrisburg, that +we would not get to the West out of that city. The Susquehanna had risen +far over its banks, and for miles our train ran slowly with the water +close to the fire-box of the locomotive and over the lower steps of the +car platform. At last we reached the station. Several energetic +Philadelphia reporters had come on with us from that lively city, +expecting to go straight to Johnstown. As they left the train one cried: +'Hurrah, boys, there's White. He'll know all about it.' White stood +placidly on the steps, and knew nothing more than that he and several +other Philadelphia reporters, who had started Friday night, had got no +further than the Harrisburg station, and were in a state of wonderment, +leaving them to think our party caught. + +"As the Cumberland Valley train was pulling out of the station, its +conductor, a big, genial fellow, who seemed to know everybody in the +valley, was loth to express an opinion as to whether we would get to +Martinsburg. He would take us as far as he could, and then leave us to +work out our own salvation. He could give us no information about the +Baltimore and Ohio Road. Hope and fear chased one another in our midst; +hope that trains were running on that road, and fear that it, too, had +been stopped by wash-outs. In the latter case it seemed to us that we +should be compelled to return to Harrisburg and sit down to think with +our Philadelphia brethren. + +"The Cumberland Valley train took us to Hagerstown, and there the big and +genial conductor told us it would stay, as it could not cross the +Potomac to reach Martinsburg. We were twelve miles from the Potomac and +twenty from Martinsburg. Fortunately, a construction train was going to +the river to repair some small wash-outs, and Major Ives, the engineer +of the Cumberland Valley Road, took us upon it, but he smiled pitifully +when we told him we were going across the bridge. + +"'Why, man,' he said to the _Times's_ correspondent, 'the Potomac is +higher than it was in 1877, and there's no telling when the bridge will +go.' + +"At the bridge was a throng of country people waiting to see it go down, +and wondering how many more blows it would stand from foundering +canal-boats, washed out of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, whose lines +had already disappeared under the flood. A quick survey of the bridge +showed that its second section was weakening, and had already bent +several inches, making a slight concavity on the upper side. + +"No time was to be lost if we were going to Martinsburg. The country +people murmured disapproval, but we went on the bridge, and were soon +crossing it on the one-foot plank that served for a footwalk. It was an +unpleasant walk. The river was roaring below us. To yield to the +fascination of the desire to look between the railroad ties at the +foaming water was to throw away our lives. Then that fear that the tons +of drift stuff piled against the upper side of the bridge, would +suddenly throw it over, was a cause of anything but confidence. But we +held our breath, balanced ourselves, measured our steps, and looked far +ahead at the hills on the Western Virginia shore. At last the firm +embankment was reached, and four reporters sent up one sigh of relief +and joy. + +"Finding two teams, we were soon on our way to Martinsburg. + +"The Potomac was nine feet higher than it was ever known to be before, +and it was out for more than a mile beyond the tracks of the Cumberland +Valley Railroad at Falling Waters, where it had carried away several +houses. This made the route to Martinsburg twice as long as it otherwise +would have been. To weary, anxious reporters it seemed four times as +long, and that we should never get beyond the village of Falling Waters. +It confronted us at every turn of the crooked way, until it became a +source of pain. It is a pretty place, but we were yearning for +Johnstown, not for rural beauty. + +"All roads have an end, and Farmer Sperow's teams at last dragged us +into Martinsburg. Little comfort was in store for us there. No train had +arrived there for more than twenty-four hours. Farmer Sperow was called +on to take us back to the river, our instructions being to cross the +bridge again and take a trip over the mountains. Hope gave way to utter +despair when we learned that the bridge had fallen twenty minutes after +our passage. We had put ourselves into a pickle. Chief Engineer Ives and +his assistant, Mr. Schoonmaker joined us a little while later. They had +followed us across the bridge and been cut off also. They were needed at +Harrisburg, and they backed up our effort to get a special train to go +to the Shenandoah Valley Road's bridge, twenty-five miles away, which +was reported to be yet standing. + +"The Baltimore and Ohio officials were obdurate. They did not know +enough about the tracks to the eastward to experiment with a train on +them in the dark. They promised to make up a train in the morning. +Wagons would not take us as soon. A drearier night was never passed by +men with their hearts in their work. Morning came at last and with it +the news that the road to the east was passable nearly to Harper's +Ferry. Lots of Martinsburg folks wanted to see the sights at the Ferry, +and we had the advantage of their society on an excursion train as far +as Shenandoah Junction, where Mr. Ives had telegraphed for a special to +come over and meet us if the bridge was standing. + +"The telegraph kept us informed about the movement of the train. When we +learned that it had tested and crossed the bridge our joy was modified +only by the fear that we had made fools of ourselves in leaving +Harrisburg, and that the more phlegmatic Philadelphia reporters had +already got to Johnstown. But this fear was soon dissipated. The +trainman knew that Harrisburg was inundated and no train had gone west +for nearly two days. A new fear took its place. It was that New York +men, starting behind us, had got into Johnstown through Pittsburg by way +of the New York Central and its connections. No telegrams were penned +with more conflicting emotions surging through the writer than those by +which the _Times's_ correspondent made it known that he had got out of +the Martinsburg pocket and was about to make a wagon journey of one +hundred and ten miles across the mountains, and asked for information as +to whether any Eastern man had got to the scene of the flood. + +"The special train took us to Chambersburg, where Superintendent +Riddle, of the Cumberland Valley Road, had information that four +Philadelphia men were on their way thither, and had engaged a team to +take them on the first stage of the overland trip. A wild rush was made +for Schiner's livery, and in ten minutes we were bowling over the pike +toward McConnellsburg, having already sent thither a telegraphic order +for fresh teams. The train from Harrisburg was due in five minutes when +we started. As we mounted each hill we eagerly scanned the road behind +for pursuers. They never came in sight. + +"In McConnellsburg the entire town had heard of our coming, and were out +to greet us with cheers. They knew our mission and that a party of +competitors was tracking us. Landlord Prosser, of the Fulton Hotel, had +his team ready, but said there had been an enormous wash-out near the +Juniata River, beyond which he could not take us. We would have to walk +through the break in the pike and cross the river on a bridge tottering +on a few supports. Telegrams to Everett for a team to meet us beyond the +river and take us to Bedford, and to the latter place for a team to make +the journey across the Allegehenies to Johnstown settled all our plans. + +"As well as we could make it out by telegraphic advices, we were an hour +ahead of the Philadelphians. Ten minutes was not, therefore, too long +for supper. Landlord Prosser took the reins himself and we started +again, with a hurrah from the populace. As it was Sunday, they would +sell us nothing, but storekeeper Young and telegraph operator Sloan +supplied us with tobacco and other little comforts, our stock of which +had been exhausted. It will gratify our Prohibition friends to learn +that whisky was not among them. McConnellsburg is, unfortunately, a dry +town for the time being. It was a long and weary pull to the top of +Sidling Hill. To ease up on the team, we walked the greater part of the +way. A short descent and a straight run took us to the banks of Licking +Creek. + +"Harrisonville was just beyond, and Harrisonville had been under a +raging flood, which had weakened the props of the bridge and washed out +the road for fifty feet beyond it. The only thing to do was to unhitch +and lead the horses over the bridge and through the gully. This was +difficult, but it was finally accomplished. The more difficult task was +to get the wagon over. A long pull, with many strong lifts, in which +some of the natives aided, took it down from the bridge and through the +break, but at the end there were more barked shins and bruised toes than +any other four men ever had in common. + +"It was a quick ride from Everett to Bedford, for our driver had a good +wagon and a speedy team. Arriving at Bedford a little after two o'clock +in the morning, we found dispatches that cheered us, for they told us +that we had made no mistake, and might reach the scene of disaster +first. Only a reporter who has been on a mission similar to this can +tell the joy imparted by a dispatch like this: + +"'NEW YORK--Nobody is ahead of you. Go it.' + +"At four o'clock in the morning we started on our long trip of forty +miles across the Alleghenies to Johnstown. Pleasantville was reached at +half-past six A. M. Now the road became bad, and everybody but the +driver had to walk. Footsore as we were, we had to clamber over rocks +and through mud in a driving rain, which wet us through. For ten miles +we went thus dismally. Ten miles from Johnstown we got in the wagon, and +every one promptly went to sleep, at the risk of being thrown out at any +time as the wagon jolted along. Tired nature could stand no more, and we +slumbered peacefully until four half-drunken special policemen halted us +at the entrance to Johnstown. Argument with them stirred us up, and we +got into town and saw what a ruin it was." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +Nor was the life of the correspondents at Johnstown altogether a happy +one. The life of a newspaper man is filled with vicissitudes. Sometimes +he feeds on the fat of the land, and at others he feeds on air; but as a +rule he lives comfortably, and has as much satisfaction in life as other +men. It may safely be asserted, however, that such experiences as the +special correspondents of Eastern papers have met with in Johnstown are +not easily paralleled. When a war correspondent goes on a campaign he is +prepared for hardship and makes provision against it. He has a tent, +blankets, heavy overcoat, a horse, and other things which are +necessaries of life in the open air. But the men who came hurrying to +Johnstown to fulfill the invaluable mission of letting the world know +just what was the matter were not well provided against the suffering +set before them. + +The first information of the disaster was sent out by the Associated +Press on the evening of its occurrence. The destruction of wires made it +impossible to give as full an account as would otherwise have been sent, +but the dispatches convinced the managing editors of the wide-awake +papers that a calamity destined to be one of the most fearful in all +human history had fallen upon the peaceful valley of the Conemaugh. All +the leading Eastern papers started men for Philadelphia at once. From +Philadelphia these men went to Harrisburg. There were many able +representatives in the party, and they are ready to wager large amounts +that there was never at any place a crowd of newspaper men so absolutely +and hopelessly stalled as they were there. Bridges were down and the +roadway at many places was carried away. + +Then came the determined and exhausting struggle to reach Johnstown. The +stories of the different trips have been told. From Saturday morning +till Monday morning the correspondents fought a desperate battle against +the raging floods, risking their lives again and again to reach the +city. At one place they footed it across a bridge that ten minutes later +went swirling down the mad torrent to instant destruction. Again they +hired carriages and drove over the mountains, literally wading into +swollen streams and carrying their vehicles across. Finally one party +caught a Baltimore and Ohio special train and got into Johnstown. + +It was Monday. There was nothing to eat. The men were exhausted, hungry, +thirsty, sleepy. Their work was there, however, and had to be done. +Where was the telegraph office? Gone down the Conemaugh Valley to +hopeless oblivion. But the duties of a telegraph company are as +imperative as those of a newspaper. General Manager Clark, of +Pittsburgh, had sent out a force of twelve operators, under Operator +Munson as manager _pro tem._, to open communications at Johnstown. The +Pennsylvania Railroad rushed them through to the westerly end of the +fatal bridge. Smoke and the pall of death were upon it. Ruin and +devastation were all around. To get wires into the city proper was out +of the question. Nine wires were good between the west end of the bridge +and Pittsburgh. The telegraph force found, just south of the track, on +the side of the hill overlooking the whole scene of Johnstown's +destruction, a miserable hovel which had been used for the storage of +oil barrels. The interior was as dark as a tomb, and smelled like the +concentrated essence of petroleum itself. The floor was a slimy mass of +black grease. It was no time for delicacy. In went the operators with +their relay instruments and keys; out went the barrels. Rough shelves +were thrown up to take copy on, and some old chairs were subsequently +secured. Tallow dips threw a fitful red glare upon the scene. The +operators were ready. + +Toward dusk ten haggard and exhausted New York correspondents came +staggering up the hillside. They found the entire neighborhood infested +with Pittsburgh reporters, who had already secured all the good places, +such as they were, for work, and were busily engaged in wiring to their +offices awful tales of Hungarian depredations upon dead bodies, and +lynching affairs which never occurred. One paper had eighteen men there, +and others had almost an equal number. The New York correspondents were +in a terrible condition. Some of them had started from their offices +without a change of clothing, and had managed to buy a flannel shirt or +two and some footwear, including the absolutely necessary rubber boots, +on the way. Others had no extra coin, and were wearing the low-cut shoes +which they had on at starting. One or two of them were so worn out that +they turned dizzy and sick at the stomach when they attempted to write. +But the work had to be done. Just south of the telegraph office stands a +two-story frame building in a state of dilapidation. It is flanked on +each side by a shed, and its lower story, with an earth floor, is used +for the storage of fire bricks. The second-story floor is full of great +gaps, and the entire building is as draughty as a seive and as dusty as +a country road in a drought. The Associated Press and the _Herald_ took +the second floor, the _Times_, _Tribune_, _Sun_, _Morning Journal_, +_World_, Philadelphia _Press_, Baltimore _Sun_, and Pittsburgh _Post_ +took possession of the first floor, using the sheds as day outposts. +Some old barrels were found inside. They were turned up on end, some +boards were picked up outdoors and laid on them, and seats were +improvised out of the fire-bricks. Candles were borrowed from the +telegraph men, who were hammering away at their instruments and turning +pale at the prospect, and the work of sending dispatches to the papers +began. + +Not a man had assuaged his hunger. Not a man knew where he was to rest. +All that the operators could take, and a great deal more, was filed, and +then the correspondents began to think of themselves. Two tents, a +colored cook, and provisions had been sent up from Pittsburgh for the +operators. The tents were pitched on the side of the hill, just over the +telegraph "office," and the colored cook utilized the natural gas of a +brick-kiln just behind them. The correspondents procured little or +nothing to eat that night. Some of them plodded wearily across the +Pennsylvania bridge and into the city, out to the Baltimore and Ohio +tracks, and into the car in which they had arrived. There they slept, +in all their clothing, in miserably-cramped positions on the seats. In +the morning they had nothing to wash in but the polluted waters of the +Conemaugh. Others, who had no claim on the car, moved to pity a night +watchman, who took them to a large barn in Cambria City. There they +slept in a hay-loft, to the tuneful piping of hundreds of mice, the +snorting of horses and cattle, the nocturnal dancing of dissipated rats, +and the solemn rattle of cow chains. + +[Illustration: SEVENTH STREET, WASHINGTON, DURING THE FLOOD.] + +In the morning all hands were out bright and early, sparring for food. +The situation was desperate. There was no such thing in the place as a +restaurant or a hotel; there was no such thing as a store. The few +remaining houses were over-crowded with survivors who had lost all. They +could get food by applying to the Relief Committee. The correspondents +had no such privilege. They had plenty of money, but there was nothing +for sale. They could not beg nor borrow; they wouldn't steal. Finally, +they prevailed upon a pretty Pennsylvania mountain woman, with fair +skin, gray eyes, and a delicious way of saying "You un's," to give them +something to eat. She fried them some tough pork, gave them some bread, +and made them some coffee without milk and sugar. The first man that +stayed his hunger was so glad that he gave her a dollar, and that +became her upset price. It cost a dollar to go in and look around after +that. + +Then Editor Walters, of Pittsburgh, a great big man with a great big +heart, ordered up $150 worth of food from Pittsburgh. He got a German +named George Esser, in Cambria City, to cook at his house, which had not +been carried away, and the boys were mysteriously informed that they +could get meals at the German's. He was supposed to be one of the dread +Hungarians, and the boys christened his place the Café Hungaria. They +paid fifty cents apiece to him for cooking the meals, but it was three +days before the secret leaked out that Mr. Walters supplied the food. If +ever Mr. Walters gets into a tight place he has only to telegraph to New +York, and twenty grateful men will do anything in their power to repay +his kindness. + +Then the routine of Johnstown life for the correspondents became +settled. At night they slept in the old car or the hay-mow or elsewhere. +They breakfasted at the Café Hungaria. Then they went forth to their +work. They had to walk everywhere. Over the mountains, through briers +and among rocks, down in the valley in mud up to their knees, they +tramped over the whole district lying between South Fork and New +Florence, a distance of twenty-three miles, to gather the details of the +frightful calamity. Luncheon was a rare and radiant luxury. Dinner was +eaten at the café. Copy was written everywhere and anywhere. + +Constant struggles were going on between correspondents and policemen or +deputy sheriffs. The countersign was given out incorrectly to the +newspaper men one night, and many of them had much trouble. At night the +boys traversed the place at the risk of life and limb. Two _Times_ men +spent an hour and a half going two miles to the car for rest one night. +The city--or what had been the city--was wrapped in Cimmerian darkness, +only intensified by the feeble glimmer of the fires of the night guards. +The two correspondents almost fell through a pontoon bridge into the +Conemaugh. Again they almost walked into the pit full of water where the +gas tank had been. At length they met two guards going to an outlying +post near the car with a lantern. These men had lived in Johnstown all +their lives. Three times they were lost on their way over. Another +correspondent fell down three or four slippery steps one night and +sprained his ankle, but he gritted his teeth and stuck to his work. One +of the _Times_ men tried to sleep in a hay-mow one night, but at one +o'clock he was driven out by the rats. He wandered about till he found a +night watchman, who escorted him to a brick-kiln. Attired in all his +clothing, his mackintosh, rubber boots, and hat, and with his +handkerchief for a pillow, he stretched himself upon a plank on top of +the bricks inside the kiln and slept one solitary hour. It was the third +hour's sleep he had enjoyed in seventy-two hours. The next morning he +looked like a paralytic tramp who had been hauled out of an ash-heap. + +Another correspondent fell through an opening in the Pennsylvania bridge +and landed in a culvert several feet below. His left eye was almost +knocked out, and he had to go to one of the hospitals for treatment. But +he kept at his work. The more active newspaper men were a sight by +Wednesday. They knew it. They had their pictures taken. They call the +group "The Johnstown Sufferers." Their costumes are picturesque. One of +them--a dramatically inclined youth sometimes called Romeo--wears a pair +of low shoes which are incrusted with yellow mud, a pair of gray stained +trousers, a yellow corduroy coat, a flannel shirt, a soft hat of a dirty +greenish-brown tint, and a rubber overcoat with a cape. And still he is +not happy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +The storm that filled Conemaugh Lake and burst its bounds also wrought +sad havoc elsewhere. Williamsport, Pa., underwent the experience of +being flooded with thirty-four feet of water, of having the Susquehanna +boom taken out with two hundred million feet of logs, over forty million +feet of sawed lumber taken, mills carried away and others wrecked, +business and industrial establishments wrecked, and a large number of +lives lost. The flood was nearly seven feet higher than the great high +water of 1865. + +Early on Friday news came of the flood at Clearfield, but it was not +before two o'clock Saturday morning that the swelling water began to +become prominent, the river then showing a rise averaging two feet to +the hour. Steadily and rapidly thereafter the rise continued. The rain +up the country had been terrific, and from Thursday afternoon, +throughout the night, and during Friday and Friday night, the rain fell +here with but little interruption. After midnight Friday it came down in +absolute torrents until nearly daylight Saturday morning. As a result of +this rise, Grafins Run, a small stream running through the city from +northwest to southeast, was raised until it flooded the whole territory +on either side of it. + +Soon after daylight, the rain having ceased, the stream began to +subside, and as the river had not then reached an alarming height, very +few were concerned over the outlook. The water kept getting higher and +higher, and spreading out over the lower streets. At about nine o'clock +in the forenoon the logs began to go down, filling the stream from bank +to bank. The water had by this time reached almost the stage of 1865. It +was coming up Third Street to the Court-house, and was up Fourth Street +to Market. Not long after it reached Third Street on William, and +advanced up Fourth to Pine. Its onward progress did not stop, however, +as it rose higher on Third Street, and soon began to reach Fourth Street +both at Elmira and Locust Streets. No one along Fourth between William +and Hepburn had any conception that it would trouble them, but the +sequel proved they were mistaken. + +Soon after noon the water began crossing the railroad at Walnut and +Campbell Streets, and soon all the country north of the railroad was +submerged, that part along the run being for the second time during the +day flooded. The rise kept on until nine o'clock at night, and after +that hour it began to go slowly the other way. By daylight Sunday +morning it had fallen two feet, and that receding continued during the +day. When the water was at its highest the memorable sight was to be +seen of a level surface of water extending from the northern line of the +city from Rural Avenue on Locust Street, entirely across the city to the +mountain on the south side. This meant that the water was six feet deep +on the floors of the buildings in Market Square, over four feet deep in +the station of the Pennsylvania Railroad and at the Park Hotel. Fully +three-quarters of the city was submerged. + +The loss was necessarily enormous. It was heaviest on the lumbermen. All +the logs were lost, and a large share of the cut lumber. + +The loss of life was heavy. + +A general meeting of lumbermen was held, to take action on the question +of looking after the lost stock. A comparison as to losses was made, but +many of those present were unable to give an estimate of the amount they +had lost. It was found that the aggregate of logs lost from the boom was +about two hundred million feet, and the aggregate of manufactured lumber +fully forty million feet. The only saw-mill taken was the Beaver mill +structure, which contained two mills, that of S. Mack Taylor and the +Williamsport Lumber Company. It went down stream just as it stood, and +lodged a few miles below the city. + +A member of the Philadelphia _Times_' staff telegraphed from +Williamsport:-- + +"Trusting to the strong arms of brave John Nichol, I safely crossed the +Susquehanna at Montgomery in a small boat, and met Superintendent +Westfall on the other side on an engine. We went to where the Northern +Central crosses the river again to Williamsport, where it is wider and +swifter. The havoc everywhere is dreadful. Most of the farmers for miles +and miles have lost their stock and crops, and some their horses and +barns. In one place I saw thirty dead cattle. They had caught on the top +of a hill, but were drowned and carried into a creek that had been a +part of a river. I could see where the river had been over the tops of +the barns a quarter of a mile from the usual bank. A man named Gibson, +some miles below Williamsport, lost every animal but a gray horse, which +got into the loft and stayed there, with the water up to his body. + +"A woman named Clark is alive, with six cows that she got upstairs. +Along the edges of the washed-out tracks families with stoves and a few +things saved are under board shanties. We passed the saw-mill that, by +forming a dam, is responsible for the loss of the Williamsport bridges. +The river looked very wild, but Superintendent Westfall and I crossed it +in two boats. It is nearly half a mile across. Both boats were carried +some distance and nearly upset. It was odd, after wading through mud +into the town, to find all Williamsport knowing little or nothing about +Johnstown or what had been happening elsewhere. Mr. Westfall was beset +by thousands asking about friends on the other side, and inquiring when +food can be got through. + +"The loss is awful. There have not been many buildings in the town +carried off, but there are few that have not been damaged. There is +mourning everywhere for the dead. Men look serious and worn, and every +one is going about splashed with mud. The mayor, in his address, says: +'Send us help at once--in the name of God, at once. There are hundreds +utterly destitute. They have lost all they had, and have no hope of +employment for the future. Philadelphia should, if possible, send +provisions. Such a thing as a chicken is unknown here. They were all +carried off. It is hard to get anything to eat for love or money. Flour +is needed worse than anything else.' + +"I gave away a cooked chicken and sandwiches that I had with me to two +men who had had nothing to eat since yesterday morning. The flood +having subsided, all the grim destitution is now uncovered. Last night a +great many grocery and other stores were gutted, not by the water, but +by hungry, desperate people. They only took things to eat. + +"A pathetic feature of the loss of life is the great number of children +drowned. In one case two brothers named Youngman, up the river, who have +a woolen mill, lost their wives and children and their property, too, by +the bursting of the dam. Everything was carried away in the night. They +saved themselves by being strong. One caught in a tree on the side of +the mountain across the river and remained there from Saturday night +until late Sunday, with the river below him." + +Among the many remarkable experiences was that of Garrett L. Crouse, +proprietor of a large kindling-wood mill, who is also well known to many +Philadelphia and New York business men. Mr. Crouse lives on the north +side of West Fourth Street, between Walnut and Campbell. On Saturday he +was down town, looking after his mill and wood, little thinking that +there was any flood in the western part of the city. At eleven o'clock +he started to go home, and sauntered leisurely up Fourth Street. He soon +learned the condition of things and started for Lycoming Street, and +was soon in front of the Rising Sun Hotel, on Walnut Street, wading in +the water, which came nearly to his neck. Boats passing and repassing +refused to take him in, notwithstanding that he was so close to his +home. The water continued to rise and he detached a piece of board-walk, +holding on to a convenient tree. In this position he stayed two hours in +the vain hope that a boat would take him on. + +At this juncture a man with a small boat hove in sight and came so close +that Mr. Crouse could touch it. Laying hold of the boat he asked the +skipper how much he would take to row him down to Fourth Street, where +the larger boats were running. + +"I can't take you," was the reply; "this boat only holds one." + +"I know it only holds one, but it will hold two this time," replied the +would-be passenger. "This water is getting unpleasantly close to my +lower lip. It's a matter of life and death with me, and if you don't +want to carry two your boat will carry one; but I'll be that one." + +The fellow in the boat realized that the talk meant business, and the +two started down town. At Pine Street Mr. Crouse waited for a big boat +another hour, and when he finally found one he was shivering with cold. +The men in the boat engaged to run him for five dollars, and they +started. + +It was five o'clock when they reached their destination, when they rowed +to their passenger's stable and found his horses up to their necks in +the flood. + +"What will you charge to take these two horses to Old Oaks Park?" he +asked. + +"Ten dollars apiece," was the reply. + +"I'll pay it." + +They then rowed to the harness room, got the bridles, rowed back to the +horses and bridled them. They first took out the brown horse and landed +her at the park, Mr Crouse holding her behind the boat. They returned +for the gray and started out with her, but had scarcely left the stable +when her head fell back to one side. Fright had already exhausted her. +They took her back to the house porch, when Mr. Crouse led her upstairs +and put her in a bed-room, where she stayed high and dry all night. On +Sunday morning the folks who were cleaning up were surprised to see a +gray horse and a man backing down a plank out of the front door of a +Fourth Street residence. + +It was Garrett Crouse and his gray horse, and when the neighbors saw it +they turned from the scene of desolation about them and warmly applauded +both beast and master. This is how a Williamsport man got home during +the flood and saved his horses. It took him five hours and cost him +twenty-five dollars. + +Mr. James R. Skinner, of Brooklyn, N. Y., arrived home after a series of +remarkable adventures in the floods at Williamsport. + +"I went to Williamsport last Thursday," said Mr. Skinner, "and on Friday +the rain fell as I had never seen it fall before. The skies seemed +simply to open and unload the water. The Susquehanna was booming and +kept on rising rapidly, but the people of Williamsport did not seem to +be particularly alarmed. On Saturday the water had risen to such a +height that the people quit laughing and gathered along the sides of the +torrent with a sort of awe-stricken curiosity. + +"A friend of mine, Mr. Frank Bellows, and myself went out to see the +grand spectacle, and found a place of observation on the Pennsylvania +Railroad bridge. Great rafts of logs were swept down the stream, and now +and then a house would be brought with a crash against the bridge. +Finally, one span gave way and then we beat a hasty retreat. By wading +we reached the place of a man who owned a horse and buggy. These we +hired and started to drive to the hotel, which is on the highest ground +in the city. The water was all the time rising, and the flood kept +coming in waves. These waves came with such frequency and volume that we +were forced to abandon the horse and buggy and try wading. With the +water up to our armpits we got to an outhouse, and climbing to the top +of it made our way along to a building. This I entered through a window, +and found the family in the upper stories. Floating outside were two +canoes, one of which I hired for two dollars and fifty cents. I at once +embarked in this and tried to paddle for my hotel. I hadn't gone a +hundred feet when I capsized. Going back, I divested myself of my coat, +waistcoat, shoes, and stockings. I tried again to make the journey, and +succeeded very well for quite a distance, when the canoe suddenly struck +something and over it went. I managed to hold the paddle and the canoe, +but everything else was washed away and lost. After a struggle in the +water, which was running like a mill-race, I got afloat again and +managed to lodge myself against a train of nearly submerged freight +cars. Then, by drawing myself against the stream, I got opposite the +hotel and paddled over. My friend Bellows was not so fortunate. The +other canoe had a hole in it, and he had to spend the night on the roof +of a house. + +"The trainmen of the Pennsylvania road thought to sleep in the cars, but +were driven out, and forced to take refuge in the trees, from which they +were subsequently rescued. The Beaver Dam mill was moved from its +position as though it was being towed by some enormous steam tug. The +river swept away everything that offered it any resistance. Saturday +night was the most awful I ever experienced. The horrors of the flood +were intensified by an inky darkness, through which the cries of women +and children were ceaselessly heard. Boatmen labored all night to give +relief, and hundreds were brought to the hotel for safety. + +"On Sunday the waters began to subside, and then the effects were more +noticeable. All the provision stores were washed out completely, and one +of the banks had its books, notes, and greenbacks destroyed. I saw rich +men begging for bread for their children. They had money, but there was +nothing to be bought. This lack of supplies is the greatest trouble that +Williamsport has to contend with, and I really do not see how the people +are to subsist. + +"Sunday afternoon Mr. C. H. Blaisdell, Mr. Cochrane, a lumberman and +woodman, a driver, and myself started in a wagon for Canton, with +letters and appeals for assistance. The roads were all washed away, and +we had to go over the mountains. We had to cut our way through the +forests at times, hold the wagon up against the sides of precipices, +ford streams, and undergo a thousand hardships. After two days of travel +that even now seems impossible, we got into Canton more dead than alive. +The soles were completely gone from my boots, and I had on only my +night-shirt, coat, and trousers, which I had saved from the flood. A +relief corps was at once organized, and sent with provisions for the +sufferers. But it had to take a roundabout way, and I do not know what +will become of those poor people in the meantime." + +Mr. Richard P. Rothwell, the editor of the New York _Engineering and +Mining Journal_, and Mr. Ernest Alexander Thomson, the two men who rowed +down the Susquehanna River from Williamsport, Pa., to Sunbury, and +brought the first news of the disaster by flood at Williamsport, came +through to New York by the Reading road. The boat they made the trip in +was a common flat-bottom rowboat, about thirteen feet long, fitted for +one pair of oars. There were three men in the crew, and her sides were +only about three inches above the water when they were aboard. The third +was Mr. Aaron Niel, of Phoenixville, Pa. He is a trotting-horse owner. + +Mr. Thomson is a tall, athletic young man, a graduate of Harvard in '87. +He would not acknowledge that the trip was very dangerous, but an idea +of it can be had from the fact that they made the run of forty-five +miles in four and one-half hours. + +"My brother, John W. Thomson, myself, and Mr. Rothwell," he said, "have +been prospecting for coal back of Ralston. It began to rain on Friday +just after we got into Myer's Hotel, where we were staying. The rain +fell in torrents for thirty-two hours. The water was four or five feet +deep in the hotel when the railroad bridge gave way, and domestic +animals and outhouses were floating down the river by scores. The bridge +swung around as if it were going to strike the hotel. Cries of distress +from the back porch were heard, and when we ran out we found a parrot +which belonged to me crying with all his might, 'Hellup! hellup! +hellup!' My brother left for Williamsport by train on Friday night. We +followed on foot. There were nineteen bridges in the twenty-five miles +to Williamsport, and all but three were gone. + +"In Williamsport every one seemed to be drinking. Men waited in rows +five or six deep in front of the bars of the two public houses, the Lush +House and the Concordia. We paid two dollars each for the privilege of +sleeping in a corner of the bar-room. Mr. Rothwell suggested the boat +trip when we found all the wagons in town were under water. The whole +town except Sauerkraut Hill was flooded, and it was as hard to buy a +boat as it was to get a cab during the blizzard. It was here we met +Niel. 'I was a raftsman,' he said, 'on the Allegheny years ago, and I +may be of use to you,' and he was. He sat in the bow, and piloted, I +rowed, and Mr. Rothwell steered with a piece of board. Our danger was +from eddies, and it was greatest when we passed the ruins of bridges. We +started at 10.15, and made the run to Montgomery, eighteen miles, in one +and a quarter hours. In places we were going at the rate of twenty miles +an hour. There wasn't a whole bridge left on the forty-five miles of +river. As we passed Milton we were in sight of the race-track, where +Niel won a trot the week before. The grand stand was just toppling into +the water. + +"I think I ought to row in a 'Varsity crew now," Mr. Thomson concluded. +"I don't believe any crew ever beat our time." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +There was terrible destruction to life and property throughout the +entire Juniata Valley by the unprecedented flood. Between Tyrone and +Lewistown the greatest devastation was seen and especially below +Huntingdon at the confluence of the Raystown branch and the Juniata +River. During the preceding days of the week the rain-filled clouds +swept around the southeast, and on Friday evening met an opposing strata +of storm clouds, which resulted in an indescribable down-pour of rain of +twelve hours' duration. + +The surging, angry waters swept down the river, every rivulet and +tributary adding its raging flood to the stream, until there was a sea +of water between the parallel hills of the valley. Night only added to +the terror and confusion. In Huntingdon City, and especially in the +southern and eastern suburbs, the inhabitants were forced to flee for +their lives at midnight on Thursday, and by daybreak the chimneys of +their houses were visible above the rushing waters. Opposite the city +the people of Smithfield found safety within the walls of the State +Reformatory, and for two days they were detained under great privations. + +Some conception of the volume of water in the river may be had from the +fact that it was thirty-five feet above low-water mark, being eight feet +higher than the great flood of 1847. Many of the inhabitants in the low +sections of Huntingdon, who hesitated about leaving their homes, were +rescued, before the waters submerged their houses, with great +difficulty. + +Huntingdon, around which the most destruction is to be seen of any of +the towns in the Juniata Valley, was practically cut off from all +communication with the outside world, as all the river bridges crossing +the stream at that point were washed away. There was but one bridge +standing in the county, and that was the Huntingdon and Broad Top +Railroad bridge, which stood isolated in the river, the trestle on the +other end being destroyed. Not a county bridge was left, and this loss +alone approximated $200,000. + +The gas works were wrecked on Thursday night and the town was left in +darkness. + +Just below where the Juniata and Raystown branch meet, lived John Dean +and wife, aged seventy-seven each, and both blind. With them resided +John Swaner and wife. Near by lived John Rupert, wife and three small +children. When the seething current struck these houses they were +carried a half mile down the course of the stream and lodged on the ends +amid stream. + +The Ruperts were soon driven to the attic, and finally, when it became +evident that they must perish, the frantic mother caught up two bureau +drawers, and placed her little children in them upon the angry waves, +hoping that they might be saved; but all in vain. + +The loss of life by the flood in Clinton County, in which Lock Haven is +situated, was heavy. Twenty of those lost were in the Nittany Valley, +and seven in Wayne Township. Lock Haven was very fortunate, as the +inhabitants there dwelling in the midst of logs on the rivers are +accustomed to overflows. There were many sagacious inhabitants who, +remembering the flood of 1865, on Saturday began to prepare by removing +their furniture and other possessions to higher ground for safety. It +was this full and realizing sense of the danger that gave Lock Haven +such immunity from loss of life. + +The only case of drowning in Lock Haven was of James Guilford, a young +man who, though warned not to do so, attempted to wade across the main +street, where six feet of the overflowed river was running, and was +carried off by the swift current. The other dead include William Confur +and his wife and three children, all carried off and drowned in their +little home as it floated away, and the two children of Jacob Kashne. + +Robert Armstrong and his sister perished at Clintondale under peculiarly +dreadful circumstances. At Mackeyville, John Harley, Andrew R. Stine, +wife and two daughters, were drowned, while the two boys were saved. At +Salona, Alexander M. Uting and wife, Mrs. Henry Snyder were drowned. At +Cedar Springs, Mrs. Luther S. Eyler and three children were drowned. The +husband was found alive in a tree, while his wife was dead in a +drift-pile a few rods away. At Rote, Mrs. Charles Cole and her two +children were drowned, while he was saved. Mrs. Charles Barner and her +children were also drowned, while the husband and father was saved. This +is a queer coincidence found all through this section, that the men are +survivors, while the wives and children are victims. + +The scenes that have been witnessed in Tyrone City during the time from +Friday evening, May 31st, to Monday evening, June 3d, are almost +indescribable. On Friday afternoon, May 31st, telephone messages from +Clearfield gave warning of a terrible flood at that place, and +preparations were commenced by everybody for high water, although no +one anticipated that it would equal in height that of 1885, which had +always in the past served as high-water mark in Lock Haven. + +All of that Friday rain descended heavily, and when at eight o'clock in +the evening the water commenced rising, the rain was falling in +torrents. The river rose rapidly, and before midnight was over the top +of the bank. Its rapid rising was the signal for hasty preparations for +higher water than ever before witnessed in the city. As the water +continued rising, both the river and Bald Eagle Creek, the vast scope of +land from mountain to mountain was soon a sea of foaming water. + +The boom gave away about two o'clock Saturday morning, and millions of +feet of logs were taken away. Along Water Street, logs, trees, and every +conceivable kind of driftwood went rushing by the houses at a fearful +rate of swiftness. The night was one to fill the stoutest heart with +dread, and the dawn of day on Saturday morning was anxiously awaited by +thousands of people. + +In the meantime men in boats were busy during the night taking people +from their houses in the lower portions of the city, and conveying them +to places of imagined security. + +When day dawned on June 1st, the water was still rising at a rapid rate. +The city was then completely inundated, or at least all that portion +lying east of the high lands in the Third and Fourth Wards. It was +nearly three o'clock Saturday afternoon before the water reached the +highest mark. It then was about three feet above the high-water mark of +1885. + +At four o'clock Saturday evening the flood began to subside, slowly at +first, and it was nearly night on Sunday before the river was again +within its banks. Six persons are reported missing at Salona, and the +dead bodies of Mrs. Alexander Whiting and Mrs. William Emenheisen were +recovered at Mill Hall and that of a six-year old child near by. The +loss there is terrible, and the community is in mourning over the loss +of life. + +G. W. Dunkle and wife had a miraculous escape from drowning early +Saturday A. M. They were both carried away on the top of their house +from Salona to Mill Hall, where they were both rescued in a remarkable +manner. A window in the house of John Stearn was kicked out, and Mr. and +Mrs. Dunkle taken in the aperture, both thus being rescued from a watery +grave. + +Near by a baby was saved, tied in a cradle. It was a pretty, +light-haired light cherub, and seemed all unconscious of the peril +through which it passed on its way down the stream. The town of Mill +Hall was completely gutted by the flood, entailing heavy loss upon the +inhabitants. + +The town of Renovo was completely wrecked. Two spans of the river bridge +and the opera-house were swept away. Houses and business places were +carried off or damaged and there was some loss of life. At Hamburg seven +persons were drowned by the flood, which carried away almost everything +in its path. + +Bellefonte escaped the flood's ravages, and lies high and dry. Some +parts of Centre County were not so fortunate, however, especially in +Coburn and Miles Townships, where great destruction is reported. Several +persons were drowned at Coburn, Mrs. Roust and three children among the +number. The bodies of the mother and one child were recovered. + +James Corss, a well-known resident of Lock Haven, and Miss Emma Pollock, +a daughter of ex-Governor Pollock of Philadelphia, were married at the +fashionable Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia, at noon of +Wednesday, June 5th. The cards were sent out three weeks before, but +when it was learned that the freshet had cut off Lock Haven from +communication with the rest of the world, and several telegrams to the +groom had failed to bring any response, it was purposed to postpone the +wedding. The question of postponement was being considered on Tuesday +evening, when a dispatch was brought in saying that the groom was on his +way overland. Nothing further was heard from him, and the bride was +dressed and the bridal party waiting when the groom dashed up to the +door in a carriage at almost noon. + +After an interchange of joyful greetings all around, the bride and groom +set out at once for the church, determined that they should not be late. +On the way to the church the bride fainted. As the church came into view +she fainted again, and she was driven leisurely around Rittenhouse +Square to give her a chance to recover. She got better promptly. The +groom stepped out of the carriage and went into the church by the vestry +way. The carriage then drove round to the main entrance, and the bride +alighted with her father and her maids, and, taking her proper place in +the procession, marched bravely up the aisle, while the organ rang out +the well-remembered notes of Mendelssohn's march. The groom met her at +the chancel, the minister came out, and they were married. A reception +followed. + +The bride and groom left on their wedding-journey in the evening. Before +they went the groom told of his journey from Lock Haven. He said that +the little lumber town had been shut out from the rest of the world on +Friday night. He is a widower, and, accompanied by his grown daughter, +he started on his journey on Monday at two o'clock. They drove to +Bellefonte, a distance of twenty-five miles, and rested there on Monday +night. They drove to Leedsville on Tuesday morning. There, by hiring +relays of horses and engaging men to carry their baggage and row them +across streams, they succeeded in reaching Lewistown, a distance of +sixty-five miles, by Tuesday night. At Lewistown they found a direct +train for Philadelphia, and arrived there on Wednesday forenoon. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +The opening of the month of June will long be remembered with sadness +and dismay by thousands of people in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland +and the two Virginias. In the District of Columbia, too, it was a time +of losses and of terror. The northwestern and more fashionable part of +Washington, D. C., never looked more lovely than it did on Sunday, but +along a good part of the principal business thoroughfare, Pennsylvania +avenue, and in the adjacent streets to the southward, there was a dreary +waste of turbid, muddy water, that washed five and six feet deep the +sides of the houses, filling cellars and basements and causing great +inconvenience and considerable loss of property. Boats plied along the +avenue near the Pennsylvania Railroad station and through the streets of +South Washington. A carp two feet long was caught in the ladies' +waiting-room at the Baltimore and Potomac station, and several others +were caught in the streets by boys. These fish came from the Government +Fish Pond, the waters of the Potomac having covered the pond and allowed +them to escape. + +Along the river front the usually calm Potomac was a wide, roaring, +turbulent stream of dirty water, rushing madly onward, and bearing on +its swift-moving surface logs, telegraph poles, portions of houses and +all kinds of rubbish. The stream was nearly twice its normal width, and +flowed six feet and more deep through the streets along the river front, +submerging wharves, small manufacturing establishments, and lapping the +second stories of mills, boat-houses and fertilizing works in +Georgetown. It completely flooded the Potomac Flats, which the +Government had raised at great expense to a height in most part of four +and five feet, and inundated the abodes of poor negro squatters, who had +built their frame shanties along the river's edge. The rising of the +waters has eclipsed the high-water mark of 1877. The loss was enormous. + +The river began rising early on Saturday morning, and from that time +continued to rise steadily until five o'clock Sunday afternoon, when the +flood began to abate, having reached a higher mark than ever before +known. The flood grew worse and worse on Saturday, and before noon the +river had become so high and strong that it overflowed the banks just +above the Washington Monument, and backing the water into the sewer +which empties itself at this point, began to flow along the streets on +the lower levels. + +By nightfall the water in the streets had increased to such an extent as +to make them impassable by foot passengers, and boats were ferrying +people from the business part of the town to the high grounds in South +Washington. The street cars also continued running and did a thriving +business conveying pleasure-seekers, who sat in the windows and bantered +one another as the deepening waters hid the floor. On Louisiana avenue +the produce and commission houses are located, and the proprietors +bustled eagerly about securing their more perishable property, and +wading knee-deep outside after floating chicken-coops. The grocery +merchants, hotel men and others hastily cleared out their cellars and +worked until the water was waist-deep removing their effects to higher +floors. + +Meanwhile the Potomac, at the Point of Rocks, had overflowed into the +Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the two became one. It broke open the +canal in a great many places, and lifting the barges up, shot them down +stream at a rapid rate. Trunks of trees and small houses were torn from +their places and swept onward. + +The water continued rising throughout the night, and about noon of +Sunday reached its maximum, three feet six inches above high-water mark +of 1877, which was the highest on record. At that time the city +presented a strange spectacle. Pennsylvania avenue, from the Peace +monument, at the foot of the Capitol, to Ninth street, was flooded with +water, and in some places it was up to the thighs of horses. The cellars +of stores along the avenue were flooded, and so were some of the main +floors. In the side streets south of the avenue there was six to eight +feet of water, and yawls, skiffs and canoes were everywhere to be seen. +Communication except by boat was totally interrupted between North and +South Washington. At the Pennsylvania Railroad station the water was up +to the waiting-room. + +Through the Smithsonian and Agricultural Department grounds a deep +stream was running, and the Washington Monument was surrounded on all +sides by water. + +A dozen lives lost, a hundred poor families homeless, and over +$2,000,000 worth of property destroyed, is the brief but terrible record +of the havoc caused by the floods in Maryland. Every river and mountain +stream in the western half of the State has overflowed its banks, +inundating villages and manufactories and laying waste thousands of +acres of farm lands. The losses by wrecked bridges, washed-out roadbeds +and land-slides along the western division of the Baltimore and Ohio +Railroad, from Baltimore to Johnstown, reach half a million dollars or +more. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, that political bone of contention +and burden to Maryland, which has cost the State many millions, is a +total wreck. The Potomac river, by the side of which the canal runs, +from Williamsport, Md., to Georgetown, D. C., has swept away the locks, +towpaths, bridges, and, in fact, everything connected with the canal. +The probability is that the canal will not be restored, but that the +canal bed will be sold to one of the railroads that have been trying to +secure it for several years. The concern has never paid, and annually +has increased its enormous debt to the State. + +The Western Maryland Railroad Company and the connecting lines, the +Baltimore and Harrisburg, and the Cumberland Valley roads, lose heavily. +On the mountain grades of the Blue Ridge there are tremendous washouts, +and in some sections the tracks are torn up and the road-bed destroyed. +Several bridges were washed away. Dispatches from Shippensburg, +Hagerstown and points in the Cumberland Valley state that the damage to +that fertile farming region is incalculable. Miles of farm lands were +submerged by the torrents that rushed down from the mountains. Several +lives were lost and many head of cattle drowned. At the mountain town of +Frederick, Md., the Monocacy river, Carroll creek and other streams +combined in the work of destruction. + +Friday night was one of terror to the people of that section. The +Monocacy river rose rapidly from the time the rain ceased until last +night, when the waters began to fall. The back-water of the river +extended to the eastern limit of the city, flooding everything in its +path and riding over the fields with a fierce current that meant +destruction to crops, fences and everything in its path. At the +Pennsylvania Railroad bridge the river rose thirty feet above low-water +mark. It submerged the floor of the bridge and at one time threatened it +with destruction, but the breaking away of 300 feet of embankment on the +north side of the bridge saved the structure. With the 300 feet of +embankment went 300 feet of track. The heavy steel rails were twisted by +the waters as if they had been wrenched in the jaws of a mammoth vise. +The river at this point and for many miles along its course overflowed +its banks to the width of a thousand feet, submerging the corn and wheat +fields on either side and carrying everything before it. Just below the +railroad bridge a large wooden turnpike bridge was snapped in two and +carried down the tide. In this way a half-dozen turnpike bridges at +various points along the river were carried away. The loss to the +counties through the destruction of these bridges will foot up many +thousand dollars. + +Mrs. Charles McFadden and Miss Maggie Moore, of Taneytown, were drowned +in their carriage while attempting to cross a swollen stream. The horse +and vehicle were swept down the stream, and when found were lodged +against a tree. Miss Moore was lying half-way out of the carriage, as +though she had died in trying to extricate herself. Mrs. McFadden's body +was found near the carriage. At Knoxville considerable damage was done, +and at Point of Rocks people were compelled to seek the roofs of their +houses and other places of safety. A family living on an island in the +middle of the river, opposite the Point, fired off a gun as a signal of +distress. They were with difficulty rescued. In Frederick county, Md., +the losses aggregate $300,000. + +The heaviest damage in Maryland was in the vicinity of Williamsport, +Washington county. The railroads at Hagerstown and Williamsport were +washed out. The greatest loser is the Cumberland Valley Railroad. Its +new iron bridge across the Potomac river went down, nothing being left +of the structure except the span across the canal. The original cost of +the bridge was $70,000. All along the Potomac the destruction was great. +At and near Williamsport, where the Conococheague empties into the +Potomac, the loss was very heavy. + +At Falling Waters, where only a few days before a cyclone caused death +and destruction, two houses went down in the angry water, and the little +town was almost entirely submerged. In Carroll County, Md., the losses +reached several hundred thousand dollars. George Derrick was drowned at +Trevanion Mills, on Pipe creek. Along the Patapsco river in Howard +county great damage was done to mills and private property. Near +Sykesville the water undermined the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad track +and a freight train was turned over an embankment. William Hudson was +standing on the Suspension Bridge, at Orange Grove, when the structure +was swept away, and he was never seen again. + +Port Deposit, near the mouth of the Susquehanna river, went under water. +Residents along the river front left their homes and took refuge on the +hills back of the town. The river was filled with thousands of logs from +the broken booms up in the timber regions. From the eastern and southern +sections of the State came reports of entire fruit farms swept away. Two +men were drowned in the storm by the capsizing of a sloop near +Salisbury. + +A number of houses on the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers near Harper's +Ferry were destroyed by the raging waters which came thundering down +from the mountains, thirty to forty feet higher than low-water mark. +John Brown's fort was nearly swept away. The old building has withstood +a number of floods. There is only a rickety portion of it standing, +anyhow, and that is now covered with mud and rubbish. While the crowds +on the heights near Harper's Ferry were watching the terrible work of +destruction, a house was seen coming down the Potomac. Upon its roof +were three men wildly shouting to the people on the hills to save them. +Just as the structure struck the railroad bridge, the men tried to catch +hold of the flooring and iron work, but the swift torrent swept them all +under, and they were seen no more. What appeared to be a babe in a +cradle came floating down behind them, and a few moments later the body +of a woman, supposed to be the mother of the child, swept by. Robert +Connell, a farmer living upon a large island in the Potomac, known as +Herter Island, lost all his wheat crop and his cattle. His family was +rescued by Clarence Stedman and E. A. Keyser, an artist from Washington, +at the risk of their lives. The fine railroad bridge across the +Shenandoah, near Harper's Ferry, was destroyed. The Ferry Mill Company +sustained heavy losses. + +Along the South Mountains, in Washington and Alleghany counties, Md., +the destruction was terrible. Whole farms, including the houses and +barns, were swept away and hundreds of live stock killed. Between +Williamsport, Md., and Dam No. 6 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal +twenty-six houses were destroyed, and it is reported that several +persons were drowned. The homeless families are camping out on the +hills, being supplied with food and clothing by the citizens of +Williamsport. + +Joseph Shifter and family made a narrow escape. They were driven to the +roof of their house by the rising waters, and just a minute before the +structure collapsed the father caught a rowboat passing by, and saved +his wife and little ones. + +The town of Point of Rocks, on the Potomac river, twelve miles eastward +of Harper's Ferry, was half-submerged. Nearly $100,000 worth of property +in the town and vicinity was swept away. The Catholic Church there is +500 feet from the river. The extent of the flood here may be imagined +when it is stated that the water was up to the eaves of the church. + +The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal has been utterly lost, and what formerly +was the bed of the canal is now part of the Potomac river. There were +but few houses in Point of Rocks that were not under water. The +Methodist Church had water in its second story. The two hotels of which +the place boasts, the American and the St. Charles, were full of water, +and any stranger in town had to hunt for something to eat. + +Every bridge in Frederick county, Md., was washed away. Some of these +bridges were built as long ago as 1834, and were burned by the +Confederate and Union forces at various times in 1864, afterward being +rebuilt. At Martinsburg, W. Va., a number of houses were destroyed. +Little Georgetown, a village on the Upper Potomac, near Williamsport, +Md., was entirely swept away. + +Navigation on Chesapeake Bay was seriously interrupted by the masses of +logs, sections of buildings and other ruins afloat. Several side-wheel +steamers were damaged by the logs striking the wheels. Looking southward +for miles from Havre de Grace, the mouth of the Susquehanna, and far out +into the bay the water was thickly covered with the floating wood. +Crowds of men and boys were out on the river securing the choicest logs +of hard wood and bringing them to a safe anchorage. By careful count it +was estimated that 200 logs, large and small, were swept past Havre de +Grace every minute. At that rate there would be 12,000 logs an hour. It +is estimated that over 70,000,000 feet of cut and uncut timber passed +Havre de Grace within two days. Large rafts of dressed white pine boards +floated past the city. The men who saved the logs got from 25 cents to +$1 for each log for salvage from the owners, who sent men down the river +to look after the timber. Enough logs have been saved to give three +years' employment to men, and mills will be erected to saw up the stuff. + +Not within the memory of the oldest inhabitants had Petersburg, +Virginia, been visited by a flood as fierce and destructive as that +which surprised it on Saturday and Sunday. The whole population turned +out to see the sight. + +The storm that did such havoc in Virginia and West Virginia on Thursday +reached Gettysburg on Saturday morning. The rain began at 7 o'clock +Friday morning and continued until 3 o'clock Saturday. It was one +continuous down-pour during all that time. As a result, the streams were +higher than they had been for twenty-five years. By actual measurement +the rain-fall was 4.15 inches between the above hours. Nearly every +bridge in the county was either badly damaged or swept away, and farmers +who lived near the larger streams mourn for their fences carried away +and grain fields ruined. Both the railroads leading to the town had +large portions of their embankments washed out and many of their bridges +disturbed. On the Baltimore and Harrisburg division of the Western +Maryland Railroad the damage was great. At Valley Junction 1000 feet of +the embankment disappeared, and at Marsh creek, on the new branch of the +road to Hagerstown, four divisions of the bridge were swept away. + +But at Pine Grove and Mount Holly perhaps the greatest damage was done. +The large Laudel dam, which supplies the water to run the forge at Pine +Grove furnace, and which covers thirty acres of land, burst. It swept +away part of the furnace and a house. The occupants were saved by men +wading in water up to their waists. Every bridge, with one exception, in +Mount Holly was swept away by the flood occasioned by the breaking of +the dam which furnished water for the paper mills at that place. + +The water at Elmira, N. Y., on Saturday night was from a foot to a foot +and a half higher than ever before known. The Erie Railroad bridge was +anchored in its place by two trains of loaded freight cars. The water +rose to the cars, which, with the bridge, acted as a dam, and forced the +water back through the city on the north side of the Chemung river, +where the principal business houses are located. The water covered the +streets to a depth of two or three feet, and the basements of the stores +were quickly flooded, causing thousands of dollars of damage. The only +possible way of entering the Rathbone House, the principal hotel of the +city and on the chief business street, was by boats, which were rowed +directly into the hotel office. On the south side of the river the +waters were held in check for several hours by the ten-foot railroad +embankment, but hundreds of families were driven into the upper stories +of their houses. Late in the evening, two thousand feet of the +embankment was forced away, and the water carried the railroad tracks +and everything else before it. An extensive lumber yard in the path of +the rushing water was swept away. Many horses were drowned, and the +people living on the flats were rescued with great difficulty by the +police and firemen. + +A terrible rain-storm visited Andover, N. Y. All the streams were +swollen far above high-water mark, and fields and roads were overflowed. +No less than a dozen bridges in this town were carried away, and newly +planted crops were utterly ruined. The water continued to rise rapidly +until 4 o'clock. At that hour the two dams at the ponds above the +village gave away, and the water rushed wildly down into the village. +Nearly every street in the place was overflowed, and in many cases +occupants of houses were driven to the upper floors for safety. Owen's +large tannery was flooded and ruined. Almost every rod of railroad track +was covered and much of it will have to be rebuilt. The track at some +points was covered fifteen feet with earth. + +At Wellsville, N. Y., the heavy rain raised creeks into rivers and +rivers into lakes. Never, in the experience of the oldest inhabitant, +had Wellsville been visited with such a flood. Both ends of the town +were submerged, water in many cases standing clear to the roofs of +houses. + +Canisteo, N. Y., was invaded by a flood the equal of which had never +been known or seen in that vicinity before. Thursday afternoon a +drizzling rain began and continued until it became a perfect deluge. +The various creeks and mountain rills tributary to the Canisteo river +became swollen and swept into the village, inundating many of the +streets to the depth of three feet and others from five to seven feet. +The streets were scarcely passable, and all stores on Main and the +adjacent streets were flooded to a depth of from one to two feet and +much of the stock was injured or spoiled. Many houses were carried away +from their foundations, and several narrow escapes from death were made. + +One noble deed, worthy of special mention, was performed by a young man, +who waded into the water where the current was swift and caught a baby +in his arms as it was thrown from the window of a house that had just +been swept from its foundation. + +The Fire Department Building, one of the most costly blocks in town, was +undermined by the flood and the greater part fell to the ground with a +crash. The town jail was almost destroyed. + +The inundation in the coal, iron and lumber country around Sunbury, +Penn., occasioned much destruction and suffering, while no less than +fifty lives were lost. The Susquehanna, Allegheny, Bald Eagle, +Sinnamahoning and Huntingdon Railways suffered greatly, and the losses +incurred reach, in round numbers, $2,000,000. In Clearfield, Clinton, +Lycoming, Elk, Cameron, Northumberland, Centre, Indiana, McKean, +Somerset, Bedford, Huntingdon, Blair and Jefferson counties the +rain-storm was one of unprecedented severity. The mountain streams grew +into great rivers, which swept through the country with irresistible +fury and force, and carried devastation in all directions. + +The destruction in the Allegheny Valley at and near Dubois, Red Bank, +New Bethlehem and Driftwood was immense, hardly a saw-mill being left +standing. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + +Corrections + +The use of larger or small capitals for "P.M." and "A.M." varies and +have been left intact. Several apparent errors were noted, but have been +allowed to stand, and are included in this list. The spelling of +'Pittsburgh' frequently omits the final 'h'. Both variants are retained. +Variants in other place names are retained as well. + +An apparent confusion on p. 279: "_Fonda, N. Y., June 5._--The people of +Johnstown, N. Y...." is retained. Fonda and Johnstown N.Y. were and are +neighboring communities. + +In lists of contributions, missing or incorrect punctuation has been +rendered consistent. + +The following corrections were made where the errors are clearly +inadvertent. Several instances of possibly nonstandard spelling have +been noted with 'sic', which have been retained. + +p. viii | 13[7] | Completed page number. + | | +p. 17 | Franks[]town Turnpike | Missing hyphen at page + | | break. + | | +p. 43 | here and there[.] Each | Added stop. + | | +p. 97 | [']To the hills | Added single quote. + | | +p. 101 | as soon as [we] were in it | Added 'we'. + | | +p. 129 | The Pitt[t]sburg lady | Removed extra 't'. + | | +p 135 | so we [we] did not pay much | Removed redundant 'we'. + | | +p. 149 | especially the [woman], fainted. | sic + | | +p. 151 | that were intrusted to us.["] | Closing quote added. + | | +p. 177 | and Mary, nineteen years." | Added missing quote. + | | +p. 182 | SITE OF THE HU[R]LBURT | Elsewhere spelled + | | Hurlburt. + | | +p. 204 | the Hotel Hurlbu[r]t | Elsewhere spelled + | | Hurlburt. + | | +p. 224 | train was on a sid[]ing | Missing hyphen on + | | line break. + | | +p. 225 | to[-]day | Missing hyphen added. + | | +p. 287 | amounted to $687,872[,/.]68 | Comma replaced with + | | decimal. + | | +p. 294 | Thomas Garner & Co[.] | Period added. + | | +p. 297 | Saugerties[,] N. Y., $850; | comma added. + | | +p. 301 | débris / debris | Both the accented and + | | unaccented spellings + | | are retained, here and + | | elsewhere. + | | +p. 306 | nine hundred men [a]t work | Added missing 'a'. + | | +p. 317 | was discovered w[h]ere anybody | Added missing 'h'. + | | +p. 319 | there was ample water t[e/o] cover | Corrected typo. + | | + | amount of water i[n/t] contained | Corrected typo. + | | +p. 320 | ninety million cubic feet[.] | Added missing '.' + | | +p. 321 | Ho[u/a]ng-ho | Changed to agree with + | | other instances. + | | +p. 322 | But the b[r]each grew | Corrected typo. + | | +p. 327 | A large rock was split assunder | sic + | | +p. 328 | and caused great dam[s/a]ge | Corrected typo. + | | +p. 329 | the Danube again o[u/v]erflowed | Corrected typo. + | | + | its turbulent waters i[u/n]to | Corrected typo. + | | +p. 332 | At Whitehall, [N.G./N.Y.] | Corrected typo. + | | + | one hundred and nin[e]ty feet | Corrected typo. + | | +p. 358 | Baltimore and Ohio Rail[a/r]oad | Corrected typo. + | | +p. 377 | turned in[]to them by people | sic + | | +p. 407 | Allegehenies | sic + | | +p. 414 | draughty as a seive | sic + | | +p. 434 | ever beat our time[.]" | Added '.' + | | +p. 458 | [Caniesto/Canisteo] river | Corrected typo. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Johnstown Flood, by +Willis Fletcher Johnson + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41271 *** |