The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-03
Mrs. 4. M. og.e-

When oar ccuntry's historian comes to
Erits the history Of 1889. and 10 depict the
rwlll min and loss Of Ife m the valley Of
the Couemaugh- ocrzsioael by the bursting
Of the South Fork dam one Of MS principal
pages will be devoted TO describing tie hero
ism Of Xrs. II ~ Ogle, who stood AZ her
post in the Western Union Telegraph O1Hee
sending for1h messages of warning 70 the
towns belor. uariI her instrument was about
10 he Submerged by the rapidly rising va
ter, when she despairingly tickel the
WORKS. this Is my last message aad the
next moment was seizzi By the angry waves
and carried away in their resistleSs current
10 a sure aud sudden death.
1Ers- Osle was a woman among ten thous-
and. Just before the great wall Of water broke
over and Hooded Jollnstowa, she cried 10 q
friend qaivering on the roof Of bIiIdIng
opposite. - Let It come Tn not afraid
Mr.. Osle was a native Of Somerset. Her
father vas The lats wiIliam Earl While
qsite young woman she was married 10
Charles Ogie, son Of the hate Congressman Of
the same name who made nzfional repg-
tzfion IN The House of Representative dur
ing the administration Of Mr.. Van Bgrea-
Her husband Wa a member Of the first com
pany to leave Somerset county aHd enlist IN
the civil var. He was killed II the battle OF
Galnes' Mil and his body rests in one Of
the unknown graves on that fafal held- His
widow was ief no estate. zld with three
small children dependent upon her labor she
at once learned the art Of teiegraphy. and
f5r number Of years bad charge Of the Of
ice in this place
From Somerset she removed to Bedford,
and il was while she was in charge Of the
Western Uniou ofFics Al that place that The
management Of the company learned thar
she was one Of the most skillful operators in
their service. and she xsas rendered the Johrs-
town office. one Of the busiest and most in
p0rtant provincial Offices on their Haes. Ac-
cspiiHg this otier. She conducted the com
pany's business AZ that point with such rare
ability and szill that when Il became neces-
sary % establish several branch Offices IN
that kIs--growing town. Mrs Ogie was CIV
en the general superintenie ieucT Of them AL
She vas universally esteemed By the patrons
Of the Office. and no woman in the country
made more substantial friends among the
business classes
She was an especial friend Of the leading
politicians Of both parties in this section Of
the STATE and vas entrusted with the secret
workings Of many campaigns- Her geneT-
Gus, accommodating. and sympathetic na-
ture. endsared her 70 the thousands who had
The pleasure of her seqaaintance.
Mrs. Osie's life was one Of untir.ug ae;ivi-
" bat notwithstanding the urgent and con
stant demands uFon her time. she made her
home 0le Of the sheeriest and most orderly
in the world. H.r children received al OF
mothers thoaghtfuI love, care and training,
and her two boys grew Up to occupy pronli-
aenr and honorable positions IN the flooded
city Her daughter, Minnie, who assisted in
the oiiice was lost in the food
This is my last message r. are words that
burn deep into the hearts of all who read,
ald are destined TO 20 hand in
hand with the story Of the uBpar-
Alleled disaster. and viii furnish an inspira-
tion s5r the BEST moments Of gifted writers
Of this and future generations.
In this issae viii be hOund two touching
poems founded on this theme. The one on
tie Grsr page, from the pen Of Elizabeth
:. uart Phelps, WIS written sor the New York
T. 4--ars.fs,f and fha - Far Fr-r.1 ffa -, Of
Margaret T. Preston, for Harpes's BE=.ar.