The Red Cloud chief., 1889-06-21

mother was to break the arms, and the res
cuers resolved to let them lie in death a
they had in life.
William Gaffney lost fourteen relatives,
Including his wife and two children.
Several of the bodies he recovered. and un-
aided performed the mournful duty of dig
ging their graves and burying them In
speaking Of the matter he said: Il never
thought that I could perform such . sad
duty. but l had to do it and I did it No
one has any idea of tho feelings of a man
who acts as undertaken. g~rave-digger and
pall-bearer for his own family"
Mamma. mammal" cried . child She
had recognized . body that no one else
could, and in . moment the corpse wa
ticketed, boxed and delivered to laborers,
who bore it away to join the long funeral
procession.
No hearses were seen In JOhnstown. Rel
atives recognized their dead, secured the
cOfins and got them carried the best way
they could to the g~raveyaxda A prayer,
some tears and q few more Of the dead thou
sands were buried in Mother Earth.
Mrs. Ogle was the Western Union tele-
graph operator at Johnst0wn for twenty
years. Her daughter, Minnie, was her A.
sistant She was at her post when the flood
came. Her last message was one of warn
ing to those lower down in the valley. She
could lave escaped with her daughter and
two other assistants had she selfishiy mind
ed the first warnings that came over the
wire. but she ordered that no one leave
the Office until the valley wa warned All
~herOically stood their ground and were lost
A wealthy young Philadelphia named
Ogle recently became engaged to . Johns
town lady. Miss Carrie DiehL They were to
be welded in the middle of June, and both
parties were preparing for the ceremony.
The lover heard of the terrible flood, but,
knowing that the residence of his dear one
was up in the hills, felt little fear for her
safety. To make sure, however, he
started for JOhnstown. NeaA the Fourth
street morgu he met Mr.. Diehl
Thank God You are safe!" he exclaimed,
then added: rs Ohrrie well?' ''She was
visiting in the valley when the wave came"
was the mOurnful reply. then he beckoned
the young man to enter the chamber Of
death A moment later Mr.. Ogle was kneel-
ing beside q rough bier and was kissing the
cold, white face. From the lifeless finger
he slipped q thin, gold ring, and in it's place
put ono of his own. Then he stole quietly
out-one of the thousands made to mourn
by the bursting of the South Fork dam.
The most pathetic case yet brought to
light Is that Of James Elgfn- He had come
to Johnstown 10 attend the wedding Of his
sister Ellen He knew of the fact that Q
disaster had taken place, but
had no idea that his family Wa involved.
His agony may be imagined rather
than described whom learning on his
arrival that his mother and three sisters
had beer drowned and his father demented
over the terrible afliction The old gen
tleman was crying like . child and asking
those he met: Did you see them? Did
you see them 60 down; they will come hack
for the wedding tonight. She has gone for
her bridal wreath"
Squire Fisher and his wife had an inter.
esttng family Of seven children. Their
house withstood tho attack Of tho wave,
q locomotive wa swept down. struck
The residence, and all. save one, . boy Of
u, were lost This lad . few days later,
Dverpowered by his grief. committed sud.
eide BY hurting himself from IL tcr q Q