The Washington critic., 1889-06-04
STORIES or TIE STORM.

some time, when lie was struck with
some floating timber and borne under
meath the water When he came IN he
was struck again, and ut last he was
caught by lightning. rod and held
there for over two hours, when lie was
finally rescued.
A Terrible Experience.
Mrs. Ann 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
q woman with their heads lust above
the water, crying: For Gods sake
either kill us outright or rescue u.s.
Mrs. Williams cried for help for the
drowning people, but none came, and
she saw them give up one by one.
Died In His Arms.
james p McCanagh had q terrible
experience in the water. He saw his
wife was safe on land, and thought his
only daughter, girl aged about 81, was
also saved, but Just as he was making
for the shore he saw her and went to
her rescue. He succeeded In getting
within about ten feet Of land, when the
girl said: Goodbye, fatler,' and ey.
pired in his arms before he reached the
shore.
A Nameless Hero.
Just as on May 10, 1874, Collins
Graves rode at laundering speed down
the valley Of Mill River, Mass, to
warn the imperiled people Of the burst
ing OF the great reservoir, SO nameless
hero attempted similar heroic and
humane task in the valley of the Cone
meugh on Friday afternoon, but, un-
like Graves, his life was sacrificed to
his courage. Who he was may never
be known, but his ride will be forever
famous In local history. Mounted on
big bay horse he came whirling down
the pike which passes through Cone
maugh to Johnstown, 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 street awe struck and
wondering, Nobody knew the man
and some thought he was maniac and
laughed. On at quick pace he rode,
and shrilly rang out his awful cry
On and on raced the rider, and on and
on rushed the wave Dozens of people
took heed of the warning and ran up
the hills. Poor, faithful rider II
was an unequal contest. Just as he
turned across the railroad bridge the
mighty wave fell upon him, and horse.
rider and bridge all went out into
chaos together
Strung Up In a Tree.
Quite an exciting scene took place in
the borough of Johnstown Sunday
night. A Hungarian was discovered
by two men In the act of blowing up
the safe in the First National Bank
building with dynamite A cry was
raised, and in few minutes crowd
had collected, and the cry of Lynch
himl" was raised, and in less time than
it takes to tell II the man was strung up
to o tree In what was once about the
central portion of JohnstOwn. Not
content with this, the Vigilance +, Com
mittee riddled the mans body with
bullets. He remained hanging to the
tree for several hours, when some per
son cut him down and buried him with
the other dead
Mrs. Fenn's Awful Loss.
A pretty, pale little woman told part
of her sad story as she neryously
clasped and unclasped her hands and
cried in heart breaking way. Years
ago in the Virginia Valley, somewhere
near Winchester, this sad little soul met !
and loved hard working, intelligent
man named Fem. They were married
some years ago, came to Johnstown,
where they had neat comfortable
home. Fem made good wages, their
seven children were always we'll clad,
and their mother lived with her life
concentrated upon them. On the after
noon of the flood Fem went
to the butchers and passed out
OF this short history in the waters
When the flood came into the
Fem house the mother gathered
her chicks in the parlor and told them
not TO be afraid, as God was there and
would guard them. Up came the tor
rent and they went to the second floor,
and again the little mother talked of
hope and bade them to be Of good cheer,
for papa, Heaven rest him, would come
soon in boat and take them away.
Up. up and up rose the water, and now
the family were forced to the top story.
The rooms were very low, and soon the
heads Of the mother and children were
beating against the ceiling, Mamma"
said the eldest child, q girl, wouldn't
1t be better to go outside and die in the
open arr"
Yes, dear" said the mother. We'll
make raft and all 60 down together"
She fought her own and her chill
dren's way to the window and opened
it. She caught piece of plank and on
it put the eldest child with a hasty kiss
and "G0d bless you" Then she let
II float away into the darkness and the
roar of the waves. Six times these frail
barks were freighted with precious car
goes and argosies Of pious trust. The
children were frightened, but obedience
was part of their creed and they made
but little protest Now came the turn
of the last child, Bessie, the 4-year-old.
No one can fancy what II meant The
last and dearest There was scarce
breathing space in the room now, and
II haste was not used death would come
there at once. To broad plank Bessie
was fastened securely, and was
blessed, as had been the others.
She put her arms about my neck
and said, You know you said God |
would take care Of me always, mamma,
VIII He take care of me now?'
81 told Bessie He would and she need |
not fear, and then she was carried
away. I'm not afraid, mamma, she
called out, and / heard her, although / |
could not see her-and that all, except |
that the roof was torn off and / floated |
off on IL and some Italians saved me at |
Kernville, sixteen miles from here"
And the children, Mrs. Fem, | hope
they all escaped?"
I'VE have found two Of them dead
Bessie and George--and there Is not
mark on Bessies face, and Oh, am SO
tired They're all gone, every one