The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-13
CONElLAUGH VALLEY.
RELIEF FOR JoHNsTOwN.

ucLOc Tue ItpOIb VI Lub safety VI az
ht one came. To day we copy for tn
Information of the many friends here,
private letter written to Mrs. Charlie
Cooper, which gives many interesting
particulars
JoHNsTowN, Pa, June Sth, 1889.
My DEAR FRIEND 1T has been 81
long since have written letter that
scarcely know how to begin; but think
ing that our friends in Bennington
would like to hear of our welfare, l will
endeavor to write something and will
request you to inform inquiring friends
as we have not time to write to all. NJ
words can express or give any idea o.
the horrible disaster which came upor
the people of Johnstown. The newspa
pers have made many mistakes, but have
not exaggerated in the least as far as
have read them.
On Memorial Day party of ten went
on a picnic and had such a delightful
time. How little did any of that happy
company realize that we would never
again meet together. Three of them are
numbered among the dead Mr.. and
Mrs. Webster, who had been married
only one month, and my sister Carrie
All that night it rained hard and the
rivers rose rapidly. There had been
floods in town before, but none in Wood
did not begin to flow in our street-Ma-
pie Avenue-until about II O'Clock in
the forenoon. How distinctly remem-
Der that we watched the water rise,
thinking every moment that it might
soon recede. Finally father said that
when 1t would reach the first step of our
piazza, which was very high, we would
begin to move the furniture into the
second story. Soon we had to do this,
but had not worked long when a great
noise was heard and we all rushed UP
the stairs but the water was there before
us. Father and pulled mother up over
the newell post, as the water rushed in
with such force that she could not get
around it. Immediately we were forced
to seek safety in the attic. There were
four of us: Father, Mother, Emma (our
working girD, and myself. Emma
screamed and could or would not con.
troll herself. The houses crashing around
us tore ours from its foundation. We
seemed to go up, up, up-every second
was year. The house began to turn
over. rushed to a small window and
raising the sash got out on the gable
Emma followed me, then Father and
Mother came up out of the water. En-
mas hand was caught and she begged
Father to help her get it loose, and while
he was trying to kick and tear away the
tlmbers which held it, the roof parted
and mother was separated from us. The
last we saw of her she was sitting on
some debIis-a part of our house per
haps-her hair hanging, and her eye all
bruised and bleeding. Then a wave
came, the crowding, cracking tImhers
dragged her under, and we were
driven onward expecting never
to see her more. Every mo-
ment | thought would be my last
1t was terrible. / cannot express myself
Many times since have lived over those
fearful moments. We were carried on
the waves as high as a house, then down
and up again-all the time rushing on
ward with terrible velocity, all the time
expecting to be crushed by the falling
tImbers.
AS we neared large stone bridge be-
longing 10 the P. r r our speed began
to slacken and we hoped that it might
be possible to reach the shore by climb
ing and jumping over the debris. From
our roof we got on an immense pile OF
lumber which stood comparatively firm.
There we staid five minutes perhaps, in
danger still but hoping that we might
yet be saved. Several men, one clad
only in shirt, sought safety on lum-
Der pile. From this we reached the
shore, many people coming out on the
debris to help us off before we should be
crushed down under the houses, which
were being pushed upon us. 1t was
raining hard; we were drenched to the
skin. Father had no coat or hat on and
Emma and | wore light dresses. We
took refuge in a brick works where lay
the dead and wounded when taken from
the wrecked houses. That night we
staid at house in Morrelyille. A neigh
Dor of ours who had lost all OF his fami-
ly but the baby, told us that Mother was
rescued in Kernville and was with
friends there. We were rejoiced to hear
this and hoped against hope that the
others of our family would be saved.
We could not get to Kernvile until
the next day. Curtis and his wife had
had very narrow escape. Carrie left
the house at about nine o'clock, and was
seen last with Mr. Heslbine. 1t is sup
posed that they were drowned in the
high water before the reservoir broke
MIR, Heslbne's body was found on Sat.
urday last, but there has been no trace
of Carrie.
The debris near the stone bridge
caught fire and many persons were
burned alive. Our house we think was
destroyed there. We saved nothing
from it. At present we are stopping
with family in Kernvile who lived so
high on the hill that they escaped the
flood. Four destitute families are stay
ing here until they have place to co.
Curtis has lot several miles out in
new Observation-Disclosures on it he and
Harvey intend building little house as
quickly as pos ,ible as we wish to get
away from this place, but not far away.
Johns own will be built uD again, but
it will be many years before its popula
tion will be as great as it was. will be
glad to hear from you and all our
friends. With kindest wishes,
Your friend,
NELLIE j. WILLIAMS.
Hon. j. V. Carney has received the
following from Harvey D. Williams
which will also be read with interest.
1--WE are unable, thus far. to find any
trace of Carrie E. Williams. All others
of Lewis's family are saved, also his
brother Harvey's family, some of them
most miraculously, but the stories are
too long to write. Mrs. Williams was
badly bruised. Where the house stood
is nine of sand. The houses left stand
ing are full of the destitute. Bates and
wife live in Pittsburgh and were not in
the flood"
BENNINGToN's ACTION.
In response to the notices given out in
the churches Sunday large mass meet
ing was held in Free Library Hall Mon
day evening. The audience was called
to order by the Hon. John V. Carney,
ind the meeting was organized by the
election of Col. Olin Scott, chairman, l..
+. Abbott, secretary, and George F.
Graves, treasurer. After speeches from
tie clergy and others present, commit
tees were appointed and an adjourned
me, ting was held Tuesday night to hear
the progress reported. The results have
been that on Tuesday 1866 was raised
and the accessions since promise that
an aggregate of $1,000 will probably be
reached before this week closes.
1t was voted that the funds from
Bennington and SALISBURY be expend-
ed under the direction of Mr.. Lewis
Williams and for the relief first of the
families from this section. Four such
are already known Lewis Williams,
and his son d. Curtis Williams, former
ly of this town; Jos. LaFrance and Ma
poleon Short of SALISBURY, The reason
for this is that the general relief com
rniitaea are nYerhnrdeneh and Mr. Will