The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-22
the Johnstown. Pa. Flood.

/ Howard Drulnbau8u, HnueT Qaie o. OHlou
town, June 10Th, will be read with mucl
interest. Mrs. Brumbaugh is daughter o
MIR. Daniel s. Diehl, OF near Uniontown, thi
county, and their description Of the disastrou
flood az Johnstown, Pa. Is thrilling
MUSSRs. EpuoEs Having been urged hJ
a number Of our friends to give some accoun
Of our experiences during the JohnstowI
food for the benefit of your readers, we re
luctantlv aequiesce, and will endeavor L
relate some incidents of our escape. and give
8 general idea of the magnitude 81 the horfcl
in the section of the city in which We resided
II is impossible to give an adequate idea o
the awful calamity. All will agree that j
stands first and alone in the scale of sudden
eaamities. Allow US here to correct an idea
that seems to be generally accepted in this
community That Is in regard to warnings
being given. No sufficient warning to escape
was given Ia any part of the city. Il Is true
that in Woodyale, the part first struck by the
flood, an alarm was given by an engine dashng
down the Pennsylvania Railroad track, but Ii
came so late that not even all who did heed il
had time to reach the hills. But in Johns
town proper We had not a moment's warning.
1t burst upon ms almost instantly. In our
own case an alarm would have been of little
avail. for at least ten feet of water was around
our house before the flood came, so that
escape would practically have been lmpos-
sible. The water in our part OF the city
! began to rise early in the morning, and con
/ tinued until about p. M, when 1t attained
| the height above mentioned. No one was
alarmed. for Johnstown had had a similar
/ food two years before, but it was attended
/ with no more serious results than the loss OF
/ property After > p m. there was no per
/ ceptible rise, and all felt that the water had
reached its ultimate depth, and would soon
recede TO its original channel. But what an
awful fate awaited US
Ii was almost O. clock when We noticed a
lady across the way, at window which faced
in the direction the flood came. throw up her
hands in horror, as an awful look crept over
her face. We Immediately ran to a window
in the back Of our house, just IN time to see
ia the distance a great clogd OF dust, and heav
a terrible rearing and crashing, and even then
the flood was upon us. We saw neighbors
houses crashing from their foundations and
moving away on the angry waters. Werusheh
TO the attic and Just then we felt the tlubers
Of our own house creakiug aud twisting. and
to our horror We felt We were adrit.
As we glanced from the attic window We
saw. struggling in the debris aud water, Mr..
John Rowley and family Of four children
Mrs RowlsY. with her babe, three days old,
in her arssk was the first 70 drift wiihla cur
H.
appeal and command that she released her
hold on the babe Tong enough to alios both
TO be drawn through the narrow window.
One by one they reached the window and
were drawn in, intending the colOred servant.
who had hrayely plunged into the water apart
from the driit and rescued little Anua, who
had A0aiei away. just at ;his time our friend
". Horace Rose drifted TO our window. aud
we promptly drew him IN. From this attic
window we beheld scene which eau never
be blogted from our minds. To the left, in
the midst Of the main channel. hundreds of
houses and debris Of all kind was huriBg
toward the stone bridge On this wrccka-e
could be seen scores OF peuPse ciIug'uZ for
life. aud many. IS The drift was crushed, dis
appeared IN the waters, while iEe others
either escaped from Gie debris or persisted 10
the merciless flames 81 tbe bridge
No one else being Iu saving distance. We
Immediately concluded 80 Eei 10 The fooi.
We had f,.lI onT house move some defiance,
hence We were not long ia deciding iba' The
roof was the safest point. From cor usn roo
sc climbed 30 ihs root 81 5 nslzahpuns huuse
that seemed more secure. 0a lhis rect ne
were anchored fog the night. nos feehas
secure. bat realizing that thus far 80 were
iniyaerlously saved.
The question may ar5sc, why DID W. mol
continue floating Looking ab0a5 as we
could plainly see that AZ soon as The 6ss' great
rush vas over We weTe moved out Of us course
Two great ehanaels c0aid be seen. our abuve
ard another beloa us, aud the clamp Of houses
about Us we're ia VIA, niEht be called a great
eddy. Oar greatest apprehension nos vas
thai. certainly as tht watcr wouid Doe oui,
oar houses, which were al 81 their iounda.
lions, would dnft ,aio ihs channel and al
would be lost. The stone bridge saved "a,
Ii saved Hundreds in cur part % the ciiy.
Had u not been for is holding back the
zaier. and allowinE Il TO Gall gradually. al
would have been swept away. The acPih 81
water 81 this time was Al least thirty feet. gnd
!, remained at this hcight until probably SIX
'c.oc<, when Il began - ial very gr4anaiiy.
and coniinged 10 fall all nixht, b. morning
'hs sepih beng ss''iFs'atss a'''s7' r'S'' er SEQ
feet.
There was uoahing ior O. 70 DO bal wait for
rescue uaiil she uaters zeald fall Asoat
o'clock next morning We cliniaed over roofs
OF houses Aad drim piled rs high the
houses. 10 a point Where boats eoEid reach us
and were rosed thT0agh the terrible current
to she osher shore, beias very ihsukfal that
Ne escaped wilh our lives, and heaving &c rr
= Sigh Tor household goods, etc, that wefe
lost.
Ia Jobns,oWn proper, Which has popala,
fsnn OF eslIN. muE more tnAn t#EhiN eaNG or
thirty baildings are standing that arr no,
injured. East Coaemasgh aud tranklin are
half DESTROYED. Wo0dyale IS eatircly sWePg
away except lev bosses on ihe hillside.
ConemAush Borough Is badly wrecked. NIii-
VILE IS almost entirely swePi away sad
large part OF Cambria CAY Is Eaae.
And now after at tbs has been Told &
gives ouiy a faini idea Of The horror of n all.
That memorable night. 50 sad. 20 terrible. Is
burned 81 the hearts of as al with q cruel
terror, which oniy death can easee. speat
in total darkness, undey a say Which poured
pitilcss FORESTS % rain 90 - unhappy We
TINS. no one cnsld blame Is for feeling almost
thankful for the hght Of the baTn5ug debris,
though We knew that IN those flames many
a dear cue was being chsYrrd beyond yccng
milton. 10 this was added car eousiARi
dread Of being washed ont and doNn 70 The
blazing rubbish. or Of being separated froui
our loved ones Thirty of as on this ore
roof ielt all this. AL this Nc pen can de-
scribe. no tongue caa tell what fris we
waited there.
There was pleadiag prayer, aud there were
aplifted eyes and eiasped hands that told Of
silent prayer there weFe tcars Tor lost ugcs
aad staay grief that knew no oates. there
we're eriss Of dread and means Of despair.
We we're facing death To- Eagepieea long.
miserable hours, and Only lie Sha kaoss all
can kuoa what those hours meant 70 as.
We earnestly hope that our readers vii be
SPARED snch an experience and that our cuuu
try will never realize aa8iher Johustown
Flood