Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-09-27

cars, and almost everything, some men
holding boards for us TO walk on, and
landed in Dean Canan's attic, getting in
through the narrow window. Here we
found eightY-twO persons who had gotten
there before us. The water was not quite
to the third story in this house, and al
night we expected every moment that it,
too, would goi but, it beng large, sub
stantlal building. and not having been
struck by any heavy body, the force of
the backwater did not move it from its
foundation. In all our perilous ride to
this place there was not scream from one
of US, nor loud word spoken, nor a tear
shed-in fact there have been no tears of
any account shed since. Il was too great
a terror and shock for tears
"After the agony we had passed
through, we hoped we were safe IN this
attic; but then the fire broke out,
and so fierce was it that by It's light
we could see and know one another's
faces, and suffered from the added fear
that it might spread over she entire town,
not knowing who Of our neighbors and
friends were being consumed in its angry
flames. OF course l had my absent
daughter and her children constantly in
mind, and everybody was in state of
teYeTish excitement, aggravated by fatigue
and want Of food, for no one had had any
supper, and no one thought of it until
near midnight, when the children cried
for bread. Our little boy cried so pit.
eOusly that we told him il he would 20 70
sleep when he awakened there would be
something for him to est-not knowing
how it would come or that ii would come.
At last the poor child fell asleep, but for
the rest of Us it was long, sleepless
night.
"When daylight began to dawn, Mr..
Henrie looked out for some way to get
us to the hills, and he saw on the wreck
age at some distance man with loaf Of
bread which he said was for an aged
lady but when he was told that she had
already gone TO the hills, and Mr.. Honrie
asked him for the bread, he put it on the
end of long pole and reached it to him.
This bread was hroaken into small bits
and given to the people. When small
piece was handed 70 my daughter and
me, remembering what we had tcld our
little boy, We could not eat it, but kept
/ it until he should waken.
For all the blessings OF lifetime l
was never so thankful as when we got
INTO that attic.
About 9 o'clock we endeavored to get
on. of this crowded place, and a plank
W..a reached across from our window %
the window of the large building next to
us, and we walked over the plank, through
houses and over houses, until we got 10
the hill, when we went to the house of
acquaintance Of Dean Canar, German
family by the name of Whal. Here food
WAS offered us, but l had no appetite,
thinking that my daughter and her chill
dren were drowned after We saw them
sitting on the root the night before. But
very soon word came to US that they had
been rescued, and were near Us on the
hill. | started to run down 10 iind them,
but fell from exhaustion, and could get
no further for some time. Blu, Maggie,
delighted to hear that her sister was alive,
ran on, and, when she embraced Kate
and told her that We We're all living, Kate
sank in a dead faint, and twas hours
before we could restore her to con-
sciousness. This meeting was near i
Mrs. Roses. and she called them in sni
showed every kindness, bringing the best
she had in the house to put on Kate, who
had lost everything but the wet clothes
she had on. From fright, exposure and
cold her jaws were set, and for d long
time she could not apeak Unders;auGingly
even now, she has not regaiued hel
strength.
After my little grandson heard mt
pray that night he said GrauJ-motLer
don't be afraid, We won't be drowned
did not reply to the child at the time, bu
few days afterward asked him why h'
thought we would not be drowned whe,
we were so near il, and he said Yol
always told me if l said my prayers
would be saved, not understanding tina
meant his soul instead Of his body
Perhaps such faith as that saved US.
Before noon Mr.. Clawson's brother
from East Liberty, found rs. Fortu
natcly be came searching over III
Kenville hill. Had he gone aroun,
on the other side of the river, no on
can tell how long before he could hav
. reached US, there being no way o
crossing the river only away below
and, consequently, all communicated
with the other side was cut of. Their
was no choice as to what was best to b
done with daughter Kate and he
children as there being no place for then
to stay so the next morning Mr.. Claw
= son started with them and Miss Greer
for East Liberty. The nearest poin
where they could take the train was San!
Hollow. seven miles distant, all the tract