Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-06-10

The Ex-rOstmnstcr General Relates His
Experiences on the Limited Express.
WAsHTNGTON, June 10. Frank Hatt0n,
editor of The Washington Post. who
was one Of the passengers on the Chicago
limited train at Johnstown, contributes
to The Post graphic description of the
manner Of his escape from death.
When the limited pulled into Johns
town il was found that the place was
flooded Only q few minutes were
wasted there. Then the train moved
cautiously on till Mineral Point was
passed. From this point ON the speed of
the train decreased The fury of the
torrent, the roar Of the waters, seemed
to intinlidate the two great iron monsters
that were dragging the train. Faces
blanched with fear pressed against the
windows of the cars.
The Terrifying Torrent.
AS great bodies OF water rolled down
the georges and over the track. covering
the cars with spray. terrified passengers
would jump back expecting the cars to
be overturned. The speed OF the train
gradually decreased, and then, as IL the
engine had given up in despair, the train
stopped and passeng gers alighted to ascer-
tain our location. 1t was found that we
were at the south end of the bridge that
SPAWNED the Conemaugh at the little
town of South Fork and at the point
where South and North Forks come to-
getller and near telegraph tower. but
no orders came to move forward.
Waiting im the Rain.
The water came down the two forks
with terrible force. telling of the ruin
tliat was being wrought above. Por-
tiofls of bridges, outhouses, logs, pieces
OF furniture, and all kinds of debris
went tearing by and on down in the
rapidly swelling river. Ten, fifteen,
twenty minutes passed, and there was
no movement of the train. The roar
came down from the heavens above,
while the floods Of the two forks reared
asd dashed as they joined together,
making one mighty and angry river.
People from the town of South Fork
'0ssed the bridge and mixed with the
passengers. Then the latter did not
know Of the reservoir two miles above
them, which was getting ready to let
loose the vast body of water which it
held within its confines.
IF the Reservoir should Break"
ssWhat if the reservoir should break"
said citizen.
'.God help us if it does, . responded an
old woman, the mother of three BOYS
who had just come out of themines with
their faces black with the Crime of
honest toll.
Where is the reservoir" asked the
writer of an old man.
1.-TWO miles and half up the South
branch, responded he, pointing in the
direction. 1t needed but glance at the
topography of the country to show that
should the reservoir, which was described
as three miles long, one and a half miles
wide and sixty feet deep, empty its
mountain of water down the sides of the
gorge through which South Fork flowed,
the limited express would be destroyed
and all on board swept into eternity.
The Flood Comes Down.
Mr.. Hatton suggested that the train
be moved across the bridge. The cons
ductor at first said that he had orders to
stay where he was, but he finally con-
scented to take the train across.
about fifteen minutes after the linz
tied had reached the north side, says
Mr.. Hatton, the engine of the freight
train, which had renamed ON the south
side, gave fierce shrek and the train
started for the bridge Intuitively every
one knew the dam had broken and the
water was coming. The inhabitants,
shrieking and crying. ran for the noun
tain side. The two engines on the linn
tied blew their whistles and started with
the train up the track, followed BY
freight train. The writer was in the
rear Of the next TO the last car on the
limited. The roar of the water was
deafening. In less time than it has
taken to write this paragraph it had
struck the houses nearest the bridge and
they were lifted high into the air and
tumbled over into the surging stream.
steamirg Through the Storm.
The engine of the escaping freight
train which had given the alarm had
hardly reached the north side when the
bridge went down and the freight cars
were,b borne off by the rushing waters. As
the passenger train He'd up the track the
back water up the North branch carried
by it articles Of furniture from the houses
which a few seconds before were stand
ing by the side Of the train. There was
great excitement among the passengers
on the train, but it was soon discovered
that the danger was past, and Thank
God, we are savedr went up from the
hearts and lips Of all on board. The
limited train lay at Wilmore all night