Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-04
MRS. EENV LOSES ALE.
Her Husband and Seven Children
 Drowned ln the Flood.

JoHNsTowN. June "A pretty. pale, little woman told part of her sad story. as sho nervously ciasped and unclasped her hands and cried in quiet. heart breaking way. Years ago in the Virginia valley, somewhere near Winchester. this sad little soul met and loved @ hard working. intelligent engineer named Fenn. They were married some years ago and came to Johnstown, where they had a neat. comfortable home. Fenn made good wages. their seven children were always well-clad, and their mother lived with her life concentrated upon them. On the afternoon of the flood. Fenn went to the butchers and passed out of this short history into the waters.
 When the food came into the Fenn house the mother gathered her chicks in the parlor and told them not to be afraid. as God was thcre and would guard them. Up came tho torrent and they went to the second floor. and again the little mother talked of hope and bade them be of good cheer, for papa would soon come in a boat and take them away. Up, up end up rose the water. and now Ithe' family were forced to the top story. The Fooms were very low and soon the heads of mother and children were beating against the ceiling.
 Mamma" said tho eldest child, a girl, wouldn't it be better to go out side and die in the open ai17"
 "Yes, dear," said the mother. ''Wen make a raft and all get on together"
 She fought her own and her childrens way to the window and opened 1t. She caught piece of plank and on 1t put the eldest child, with nasty kiss and a "God bless you" Then she let 1t float into the darkness. Six times were these frail barks freighted with precious cargoes and argosies of pious trust. Tho children were heightened, but they made but llt- tie protest. Now came the turn of the last child, Bessie, the 4-year-old. One can fancy wha1 1t meant--the last and dearest. The motheB put her on plank. Add Baltimore
 .'I loved them all," sa,d the mother, "but I had two kisses for Bessie, for che was Toms favorite and was such a good child. She put her arms about my neck and said, You know you said God would take care of me alwayA, mamma will he tehe care of me nowr
 II told her he would and she need not fear, and then she was carried away. lin not afraid, mamma she called out, and heard her. although could not sec her. and that's all.except that the roof was torn off and I aoated of on 1t and some Italians saved me at Kernville. sixteen miles away"
 "And tho children, Mrs. Fenn-I hope they all eecaped2"
 '.We have found two oS them dead, Bessie and George. and there Is not a mark on Bessie's face. They're all gone, every one. eight of them, and am going home to Virginia after all these years to
 rest and try to think
 One man, we'll known to every resident of Johnstown. William Huffman, wae drowned. and SO were twenty-eigh of his relatives. There was himself, wife and ten children, his brother, Gottleib Huff.
 man wife and eight children, his sister. in.law, Mrs. Huffman, and five children, Peter Huffman, another brother. James F. McCansgher had thrilling experience in the water. He saw his wife was safe on land, and thought his only daughter. girl aged about twenty one, was also saved, but just as. he was | making for the shore, he saw her anC l getting within about ten feet of land when the girl said, "Good-by, father, | and expired in his arms.