The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-06-13

edifce. They remained there until the
building took fire, when they made their
way from roof to roof to the hill back Of
JOhnstown. r.
Michael R0nesen, an 1rishman, tells a
most wonderful story of his escape. He
fioated 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
Tommy Brown, little Sl4-year-old
youngster, his mother, brother and the g.
weeks-old baby were in the upper floor of
their house when the crash came. After
many efforts the lad succeeded in getting
the family on the roof and they tore down
the stream with the current The roof was
parted in a few minutes and Tommy saw
HIS sick mother and brother 90 down In
the water. He made an effort to save
them, but they were too far out, and he
was compelled to turn his attention to the
babe. The pair tloated to the mills in Mill
vile, where they landed on a heap OF
debris.
mo one will ever know the real horrors
OF this accidant unless ha saw the burning
people and debris beside the stone bridge"
remarked Rev. Father Trautmein; the
horrible nature of the affair can not be
realized by any person who did not witness
the scene. AS soon as possible after the
first great crash occurred fastened to the
building. thousand persons were
struggling in the ruins and i'm
ploring for Gods sake to release
them. Frantic husbands and fathers
stood at the edge OF the furnace that was
S10 tn n Loo
Grating human victims. Every one was
anxious to save his own relatives, and
raved, cursed and blasphelned until the mir
appeared to tremble. One man. who was
trying to steer float upon which his wife
sat on a Mattress lost his hold, and in mo-
ment the craft swept into "A sea of flame and
never again appeared. The agony of
that man was simply heartrending.
He raised his arms to Heaven and
screamed in his mental anguish, and
only ceased that to tear his hair and moan
like one distracted One young woman
was found under the dead body Of a rela-
tive. A force of men attempted to ex-
tricate her. and succeeded in releasing
every limb but one leg. For three hours
they labored, and every moment the flames
crept nearer and nearer: I was on the
point several times of ordering the men to
CIOiD ucI leg OIL IL WOufl rive Deen muCn
better to save her life even at that loss than
have her burn to death. Fortunately it was
not necessary, but the young ladys escape
from mutilatiOn or death she will never
realize.
George Irwin was rescued from the limbs
OF an apple-tree after having remained
there for two hours. He was carried for
miles on the breast of the foaming stream,
finally striking the tree, which circumstance
saved his life. While there many unfort-
unates were swept by him and their frantic
cries for the aid he was powerless to render
are, he says, still ringing III his ears One
woman and two children were floating
along in apparent safety when they struck
the corner of a building and all went down
together.
Two men were eating in restaurant
when they saw the epallid faces of people
who were fleeing down the street They
sprang through the back door, through an
alley and up the side of hill, but SO swift
was the progress OF the wave that they had
to wade through water up to their waists
before reaching the high ground They
had little more than block to go, and tho