Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-20
Not a Minute to Spare.
The Narrow Escape of the Limited
Express.
Crossed the Bridge Just in Time.

Inc story CT the great flood which
swept over Central Pennsylvania on the
31st of May and the 1st of June with its
terrible record of death and destruction,
has been so fully reported through the
| papers that there is little left TO be told OF
! ne sad event.
The writer was on the Limited express
which left Chicago at O'Clock in the eve
ming OF the Both of May. 1t was raining
| az Chicago when the train left, and during
the night there was heavy rainfall. The
train reached Pittshurg on time, ana as
it advanced eastward the swollen and
madiy rushing streams bore evidence Of
the heavy storm of the night before.
| Great waterfalls came tearing down the
sides of the mountains and over the tracks.
Passengers became alarmed, but most of
them, who had travelled before, put their
| faith in the magnificent roadbed of the
Pennsylvania road, its splendid equip
ment, and its superior management.
When the train Preached Johnstown, and
not until then, did the people on board
become convinced of the tremendous
rainfall. The Inhabitants of the town
were in state of panic. The streets
were flooded. The water IN many places
had reached the second stories of houses.
Small dwellings, and out-houses had
been swept away.
The train remained but few min utes,
and then pulled out tor the east. Pas
sengers aboard, who knew the top
ograPby of the country and the streams
ahead, asked: "Why is this train permit
ted to go ehead?" And this is a question
| that the management of the railroad
company will find some difficulty in
answering. But the train went on leav-
ing behind the flooded city of Johnstown,
with the inhabitants SO soon to be swal-
lowed up by the food. The roar and the
rush of the waters increased. Timid
people in the train became more alarmed.
Why don'6 they stop until the flood and
danger are past?" was asked in trembling
voice by the women. But the train went
on, slowing up at places of supposed
danger. Mineral Point was passed. From
this spot on the speed of the train de-
creased. The fury of the torrent, the
| roar of the waters seemed TO intimidate
the two great iron monsters that were
| dragging the train. Faces blanched
| with fear pressed against the windows OF
the cars.
As great bodies of water rolled down
the gorges and over the track, covering
the oars with spray, terrified passe1 gers
wonld jump tack expecting the cars 30 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 asoer-
tain our location. II was found that we
were at the south end of the bridge which
spanned the Conemaugh at the little town
of South Fork, and at the point where
South and North Forks come together,
I nh PuE rlar
came 70 move forward.
The water came down the two forks
with terrible force, telling of the ruin that
was being wrought above. Portions OF
bridges, outhouses, logs, pieces of furni-
ture, and all kinds Of debris went tearing
by and On down il the rapidly swelling
river.
! Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed, and
| there was no movement on the train.
The rain came down from the heavens
above, while the floods of the two forks
roared and dashed as they joined togeth-
er, making one mighty and angry river.
People from the town of South Fork
crossed the bridge an 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
it's confines.
"What 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 the mines, 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 III the di-
rection.
It needed but glance of the topogra-
ply Of the country to show that should
| the reservoir, which was described as three
miles long, one and 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 b0 .rd swept into eternity.
"Why don't you move this train across
the bridge and around the mountain on
the other slider" vas asked of the con
ductor.
"Cannot leave here without ORDERS" vas
the response.
GIN the. name of God, why do you per-
nit the train, loaded with men, women
and children, to stand here waiting for
orders from the officials of a railroad
company that is paralyzed for miles," was
asked.
All on board the train we're fully
| aroused to their danger. 1t was plain
that should the reservoir break there
was no escape. But the train did not
move.
''Is the bridge unsafe" was asked. eff
it is danger Gus to run the train over
the bridge, notify the passengers and
let them seek places of safety" was the
next appeal made to the trainmen.
Thoroughly alarmed themselves, the
trainmen decided not to wait longer for
orders that never came. Slowly the train
pulled out and over the bridge, many of
the passengers alighting and walking.
The bridge trembled and swayed with
its burden, but the train passed safely
over.
glance at the map will show what
danger the train was in as it lay on the
south side. 1t was in pocket, and there
was no escape had the reservoir broken
while it stood there.
On the north side the train stopped
with its rear car few rods from the
bridge. Along either side of the track
were houses of South Fork. From the
doors and win iows and over the gates ap-
peared the terror stricken faces of wom-
en- and children. Rushing up and down
from the bridge were men and women,
crying and wringing their hands. Charles
Resides graphic pen picture Of the food
in England, in one of the chapters of his
novel Put Yourself in His lace" comes |
as near describing the scene az the little |
town of Sough Fork on that day as human !