The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-06-19


could be fzced systematically Thus It
IS with our society We want to show
the country the Red Cross Society can
be safely depended on in any calamity,
however great NogroS.
Graphic Description of the Es-
cape Of the Limited Express
[ WAsuISGToS, June 9.-Frank Hatton,
eiitor Of the Washington Past, who was
one Of the passengers on the Chicago lin
ited train at Johnstown, contributes 10
the Pos this morning the following
graphic description Of the manner OF his
escape from death
~when the limited pulled into Johns
town it was found that the place was
flooded. Only a few minutes we're vast
ed there. chen the train moved cautious
ly along. Mineral Point was passed.
From this spot or the speed Of the train
decreased The fury Of the torrent, the
roar q the waters seemed 10 iHunidste
the two great iron monsters that were
dragging the train, Faces blanehed with
/ fear pressed against the windows Of the
ears.
AS great bodies Of water rolled down
the gorges aud over the track, covering
I the cars with spray, terrified passengers
would Jump back, expecting the ears 10
be overturned The speed Of the train
gradually decreased, and then, as if the
engines had given up in despair, the
train stopped Passengers alighted to
ascertain our location Il was found that
We were az the south end Of the bridge
/ which spanned the Coaemaugh, at the
/ little town Of South Fork, and at the
point where South and North Forkseome
! together, and near ! telegraph tower.
Bot no orders came to move forward.
''The water came down the two forks
with terrible force, telling Of the ruin
that was being wrought above. Portions
Of bridges Oushouses, logs, pieces Of fur
niture, and all kinds OF debris went tear
I ing by and on down in the rapidly swell
ing rive- Ten, dfteen. twenty minutes
passed, and there was no movement Of
the train. The rain came down from the
heavens above. while the foods Of the
two forks roared anf dashed as they
joined together, making one mighty and
angry river. People from the town Of
south Fork crossed the bridge and mix
e,l 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 /;
i held within lis confines
What if the reservoir should break g
said citizen
God help Us IL it does, responded an
old woman, the mother Of three boys
who had come out Of the mines with
their faces black with honest toll.
@'Where is the reservoir % asked the
writer Of an old man.
Two miles and half up the south
branch, responded he, pointing in the
direction.
1T needed but a glance at the tOpogra-
ply Of the country 70 show that should
the reservoir, which was described as
three miles long, one and half miles
wide and sixty feet deep, empty It's
mountain Of water down the sides Of the
gorge through which Sonth Fork flowed.
the limited express wouli be destroyed
aid all on board swept into eternity.
Nr. HAiton suggested that the train be
moved across the bridge. The conductor
at first said that he had orders 10 stay
where he was, but he finally consented
to take the train across.
about fifteen minutes after the train
had reached the north side SAYS Mr.
IIatton, @the engiue of the freight train,
which had repnained on the south side,
gave fierce shrek. anil the train started
for the bridge Intnitiveiy every one
knew the dam had broken and the water
Was coming.
The Inhabitants, shrieking and cry
ing. ran for the mountain side. The two
engines on the limited blew their whis-
ties and started with the train up the
track, followed by freight train The
writer was in the rear Of the next 70 the
last car on the limited. The roar Of the
water was almost deafening.
In less time than il has taken % write
this paragraph It had struck the honses
nearest the bridge and they were lifted
high into the air and ;umbled over in
the surging stream. 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 borne off By the
rushing waters
AS the passenger train fed up the
track the back water up the north branch
carriei by It articles Of furniture from
the houses which, a few seconds before,
were standing by the side Of the train
There WAS great excitement among the
pass ngers on the train, bu. it was soen
discovered that the danger was past and
Thank God, we are saved, went up
from the hearts and lips Of all on board
The limited train lay at Wilmore all
night and until late Saturday afternoon,
when it proceeded slowly east, reaching
Altoona shout O'Clock that evening