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

cars, and almost everything, some men
holding boards for us 70 walk on, and
landed In Dean Canan's attic, getting In
through the narrow window. Here ne
found eighty.two persons who had gotten
there before u.s. The water was notquite
to the third story In this house, and all
night we expected every moment that It,
too, would go but, IL being large, sub
stantial building. and not having been
struck by any heavy body, the force Of
the backwater did not move IL from its
foundation. In all our perilous ride TO
this place there was not O scream from one
Of Us, nor a loud word spoken, nor a tear
shed-in fact there have been no tears Of
any account shed since. IL was too great
terror and shock for tears
"After the agony VIC had passed
through we hoped we we're safe IN this
attic but then the fire broke out,
and 80 fierce was II that by It's light
we could see and know one another's
faces, and suffered from the added fear
that II might spread over She entire town,
not knowing who Of our neighbors and
friends were being consumed in its angry
flames. OF course | had my absent
daughter and her children constantly in
mind, and everybody was in state OF
feyerish 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 II he would 90 to
sleep when he awakened there would be
something for him to eat-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 tho hills, and he saw on the wreck
age at some distance a man with a 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.. Henrie
asked him for the bread, he put It on the
end of long pole and reached II to him.
This bread was broaken into small bits
and given to the people. When a small
piece was handed to my daughter and
me, remembering what we had told our
little boy, we could not cat it, but kept
1t until he should waken.
For all the blessings Of lifetime l
was never SO thankful as when we got
INTO that attic.
About 0 o'clock we endeavored to get
out of this crowded place, and plank
W4s reached across from our window e
the window Of the large building next to
us, and we walked over the plank, through
houses and over houses, until we got TO
the hill, when we went to the house of
acquaintances Of Dean Canaan, 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 roof 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 to find them,
but fell from exhaustion, and could get
no further for some time. But Maggie,
delighted to hear that her sister was alive,
ran on, and, when she embraced Kate
and told her that we were all living, Kate
sank in dead faint, and it was hours
before we could restore her to con-
sciousness. This meeting was near a
Mrs. Roses, and she called them in and
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 long
time she could not apeak understandingly,
even now, che has not regained her
strength.
"After my little grandson heard mt
pray that night, he said Grandmother
don't be afraid, we won't be drowned.
did not reply to the child at the time, bu
a few days afterward asked him why hi
thought we would not be drowned wher
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.. Cawson's brother
from East Liberty, found rs. Fortu
nately, he came searching over TIN
Kernville hill. Had he gone arouno
on the other side of the river, no on
can tell how long before he could hav
reached us, there being no way 0
crossing the river only away below
and consequently, all communication
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 SAM
Hollow, seven miles distant, all the tract