The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-05-27
THE RIDE TO SAVE LIFE.

\ correspondent to the Graphic
gives detail of his interview with
Cheney, the gatekeeper, and Graves,
the milkman, whose quick spreading
of the news of the disaster saved so
many lives
Mr. Cheney is about thirty-seven
years of age, tall, gaunt Yankee
with a red beard He lives on the
edge of the dam wall. His business
has been to raise the dam gate and
let out the water in quantities to run
the mills below.
George Cheney had hardly recov-
cred from his excitement when | ask
ed him to tell me how the reservoir
came to break
Glow did the reservoir look early
in the morning George ?" asked.
"Well," " said George, as he stood
in his shirt sleeves and chewed the
ends of his fiery beard, an tell you
all about it. You see, it had been
raining all Friday night. The water
fairly poured. The ground was soak
ed through and through. Hundreds
of little streams were pouring into
the pond About half-past six Sat
urday morning we heard the water
rushing from the dam. We were at
breakfast.
Father | said, something is 60
ing wrong with tbc dam. 1t don't
sound right"
run out and see, George, said
father"
Il ran out and saw Il small stream
rushing out alongside the big iron
pipe where we let out the water to
supply the factories. 1t had worn out
around the tube The tube is cour
feet in diameter. As | stood there
the stream kept growing larger.
shouted; My God, father the dam is
going to break"
Then jump on the horse, George
quick, and ride down the stream.
Tell 'em to fly. Quick"
Quick as lightning" said George,
Il strobe across horse, took a lath
stick in my hand, and ran towards
Williamsburg. | ran for my life.
Behind ! saw the stream grow larger.
1t rOared like train Of cars. Then
it rumbled like thunder. turned
my head around anu saw in the dis
tance the bank OF granite, like big
hill, move out. On | rode, pellmell,
for Williamsburg three miles. 1t
was about half-past seven when |
struck the town. As | galloped in |
saw George Sellman, who has the |
button factory in Williamsburg"
"Sez |, George, she is coming
the reservoir"
"No; it can't be so. Cheney, scz
George"
But twenty feet of the bank has
slid out already" sez /.
MY God J" sez Spellman "if that
is the case, start right off for Leeds.
Tell 'em to fly for their lives. Rum"
Collins Graves, the milkman, stood
there, and, jumping on his horse, be
dashed of towards SkinnersvilIe. 1t
was a race with the food, but Collins
reached Skinnersville five minutes
ahead.
Run! Save your lives The water
S coming!n shouted Collins.
At lIaydenville Collins was two
minutes ahead, but be shouted and
galloped through the village. Now
:ame the race between Collins and
he food for Leeds. But twas no
lse. The food leaped by him like a
rain of cars, and Collins ran up the
)ank and rested.
How did the flood look, Collins ?u
asked the hero milkman an hour
afterwards.
at was great sea, sir, thirty feet
high. 1t boiled over the top of the
rees. Houses were riding on the top
If the foam. People were shrieking .
md screaming. Horses and cattle
we're struggling and sliding out of
ight 1t made noise like thunder. ,
ran my horse up the hill to get ,
way from it. As it PASSED it was I
tornado of water. The bip trees fell I