The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-06-07
A Passengers Experience q.

n Passengers experience
Mrs. NJ. j. BIaidsdell, OF Pelican Rapids.
Minnesota, was a passenger on first section
OF Cay express, caught in the avalanche OF
waters at Conemaugh last Friday. She bad
written an account OF her experience TO send
TO her friends at nome, but. as there IS no
mail connection west. she furnished copy
for publication in the Altoona Tribune
which we repubIish.
ut is Impossible 10 picture 10 you the
horror OF this great calamity. i am at pres
ent IN an extreme nervous state from the
fact that have Just escaped with my life,
The shock to my nervous system is such
that many days will elapse before It will
pass away. AS was one OF the last on the
train saved, owe my life, under the proyi-
dence of God, TO a noble. manly brakeman.
Eis name is Frank Brady.
"Had we known from the shrlll blasts of
the locomotive whistle that disaster was
coming, we would have at once understood
the signal and instantly sought salty IN
flight 10 higher ground. On hearing the
whistle, some Immediately rushed off the
train others waited, among the number.
1t was raining hard. aad not being well. did
not wish to get wet If 1t could be avoided
We had a mark on a window on house
and were watching the rise and fall Of the
water as shown bv this mark. put on my
cap and Just fixed IL when / saw that the
car was fast emptying of its passengers l
grasped nv little satchel, leaving my large
one on the car floors but as | cast my eye
on the marker on the window l saw the
waters had reached nearly 10 the top of the
house.
81 rushed ont OF the car and as / reached
the platform, poor cripple on crutches
stood there trying 70 get of. II was a crit
ical moment with me, and l saw that unless
/ passed him speedily / would be lost 10 the
flood Oh, God / could not push him
over 10 save myself Anticipating my di-
lemma, he threw himself back and fell to
the ground. / said, God help you, my
friend l shall never, never forget that
look in his eyes. Home and everything
dear seemed to be centered there. Some
one came to his rescue. hHt / flew around
the end OF the other trains that stood along |
side. right in the face OF the angry food.
l came to a ditch. jumping right into it
without considering its depth or riskina the /
chances OF getting across it. / was out of
breath and fell exhausted 1 got up again /
took hold OF me. fell again. completely
exhausted. he helped me out on the firm
ground, and / went on more deaG than |
alive. The spray from the avalanche OF
waters was all over me, and I was as wet as
a drowned rat. The water 10 the ditch was
waist high my clothes were very heavy,
and in my fainting and frightened condition
1 realized on reaching the safe ground what
aD extremely narrow escape / had from be-
ing drowned Those who witnessed my
desperate struggles for life we're sure /
could not succeed.
THE poor crippled man had friend who
took him in his arms and carried him some
distance; but the vast roaring tumoling cat
aract of waters rushed down upon then
ard he was compelled to drop his precious
burden and escape for his life. He was be-
bind me and as I was not a rod ahead of the
food his danger was great. / saw him Sat
urday morning. he having sought me out.
learned that the Gead body OF this poor Grip
pied man had been recovered ] hope this
may be so but there is so much excitement
prevailing everywhere that we hear every
thing but Of one thing he assured that this
calamity Is one that cannot be exaggerated.
The whole truth will meyer be known.
81 stopped IN COnemaugh with the fore
man of the round house. He says Johns
town with its suburbs is place of 80 OGO
inhabitants, and thinks the loss OF life will
reach l5 600 in the track OF the flood. A
friend told him that he saw the young
ladies that were carried away by the flood.
They locked themselves in each others en-
brace and then cast themselves into the
hOifinU L. Eafd hat hs
might have saved them IL they had remained
on their frail support i cannot picture to
You the horror of the moment. It was
the most frightful sight l ever saw. Hotels
and houses riding down on the crest of the
flood people all over tie houses and cars
the screams OF women aud children. and
whole streets of touses rushing madly down
upon WOotvale and Joanstown. The noise
OF the roaring and rushing waters rings In
my ears even now. A part of three streets
are gone, and the round house and its store
of locomotives, the tower, the large COM
/ pany boarding house, the stores-all but
| two-present a scene of desolatIon rarely
/ witnessed. L cried to God tor help in the
| midst OF the destruction and / believe He
sent thst brave and manly brakeman to my
| rescue. oh. can words express the terrible
/ sin of such death trap as that reservoir
/ There Is much Indignation among the peo-
| pie over such criminal neglect"