Connecticut western news., 1889-06-12
EscaDe of the Limited Express.

Frank Hatton. editor of the Washington Post, who was one of the passengers on he Chicago limited train at Johnstown contrib utes to the Post the following graphic de- scription of the manner of his escape from death:
 When the limited pulled into Johnstown it was found that the place was flooded. Only a few minutes were wasted there. then the train moved cautiously along. Mineral Point was passed. From this spot on the speed of the train decrcnscd The fury of the torrent, the roar of the waters seemed to in- timidate tue 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 cars with spray, terrified passengers would jump back, expecting the cars to be overturned. The speed Of the train gradually decreased. and then, as if tine cngiurs had given up in despair, the train stopped Passengers alighted to ascertain our location. It was found tlut we were at the south end or the bridge which spanned tue Conemeugh at the little town of South Fork, and at the point where South and North Forks come toget her and near telegraph tower. But no orders came to move forward.
 .'The water came down in two forks with terrible force telling of the ruin that was being wrought above Portions of bridges, outhouses logs, pieces of furniture. and all kinds of debris weut tearing by and on down in the rapidly swelling river Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed. and there was no movement of the train. The rain came down from the heavens above, while the floods of the two forks roarcd and dashed as they joined together making one mighty and angry river. People from the town of South Fork crossed the bridge and mixed wit h the passengers. Then the latter did not know of the reservoir two miles above them which was getting rendy to let loose the vast body of water which it held within it's confines.
 What if the reservoir should break? ?" said a citizen.
 God help ne if it fioes," responded an old woman, the mother of three boys who had rome out of tho mines with their faces black
 with honest toi
 "'Where is the rcsrrvor?' asked the writer of an old man.
 1.-Two mles and n hall up tho sonth branch. responded he, pointing 'n the d'rec' tion.
 'lt needed but glance at the topography of the country to show that should the reser voir wl,cl, was described as three miles long, one and Il half miles wide and sixty feet sides of the gorge through which South Fork flowed, the limited express would be destroy ed and all on board swept into eternity" MT. Hntton suggested that the train be
 moved across the bridge. The conductor at
 first said that Ne had orders to stay where he wus but he fiunlIy consent ed to take the trai D across.
 About fifteen minutes after the limited had reached the north side, says MT. Hat.
 ton, "the engine of the freight train, which
 had remained on the south side, gave fierce shrick, and and the train started for the
 bridge lntuitively every one knew the dam had broken and the water was coming. ''rhe inhabitants, shrieking and crying, rnn for the mountain side. The tw o engines on tn. limited blew their whistles md started with tls train up the track followed by a | freight trnin The writer was in the rear Of tho next to the last ear on the limited. The ronr of the water wns almost dealening. "In less time tliun it has taken to write this mragrnph it. had struck the houses l nearest the bridge and they were lifted high l into the air and tun,hled over in the surging stream. The cngiue of the escaping freight trmin which hnd given the alarm had hardly reached the north side when the bridge went down and the freight cars were borne of by the rushing waters. "As the passenger train fled up the track | the buck water up the north branch carried | by it articles of furniture from the houses l which. Il few seconds before, were standing by l the side of tho train. There was grent excite ment among the passengers on the train, | but it was soon discovered that the danger | wns past and n Thank God, we are saved l went up from the hearts and lips of all on | board.
 .The limited train lay at Wilu,ore all night | and until late Saturday afternoon, when it proceesled slowly enst, renchiug Altoona T o,,.l.,.L thnt nvrujOu