Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-18
STOPPED BY. STORMS.
DR.. Riddles Experience of the Great
Pennsylvania Deluge'
A RIDE By RAIL THROUGH WATER,
With Side Notes of the Many Remarkable
Scenes Observed.
HOW ARAILROAD MET AN EMERGENCY

There are few in church circles better known
than Dr.. Matthew B. Riddle, of the Allegheny
Seminary. As has already been stated in THE
DISPATCH, the Doctor was one of those who
had personal experience of the Johnstown
storm. he has already told some of the Pitts.
burg papers part of what he saw, but letter
from him to the Hartford Courdnl is SO graphic
that we quote it below:
ALLEGHENY, June s.
ON Friday morning at O'Clock left New Y ork,
hoping to reach home about the same hour that
evening, by the Chicago limited on the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. On the Wednesday following
DUNE s. about P. NJ. Ihrrived at my house. weary
and saddened, but profoundly grateful that got
home and thai had home to get to. Though 1
was in little danger at any time yet the story Of
that journey may not be without interest TO some
ofmy friends.
Ii rained hard all Friday morning, but at Har-
rtsburg the black clouds hanging over the Blue
Ridge were appalling in their blackness. Enter
ing the valley OF 1.-THE blue Juniatan we found
A TAwNY RIVER OF RAGING WATERS
but as yet harmless. As the afternoon wore
away and the valley narrowed. the signs OF de-
structiOn began. Bridges were crossed that
looked dangerous; houses were seen to which
people were passing waist deep in water. At Ty-
Still we went on, occasionally over tracks under
water, reaching Altoona ten minutes late. Here
we learned there was washout on the mountain,
which would delay us, how long nc one could tell.
Immediately telegraphed home that / need not
be expected that night. The message was deliv
cred in good season, but in q short time came the
cut of from the rest of the world. One train came
in from the east and then bridges went down be-
hind us, while before us was this gorge OF DEATH
though we did not know 1t. We had been halted
on account of lesser break at Lily station; the
dam had not vet burst in fact our train was due
there about the time it gave way.
Without any special anxiety, settled comforta-
my home for four days. In the morning after
breakfast news came of the great disaster. MIR.
Smith, manager Of the Associated Press, who had
been on the ill-fated day express. was the first
eyewitness that appeared in Altoona. A little
later came other passengers, among them one of
my colleagues Prof; Robinson, and young lady
from our street in Allegheny. The story they told
everyone has heard in some form. Exaggeration
seems impossible. By this time the limited from
the west came in. It had been taken past the
bridge and the danger contrary to original or
ders. This precaution, as learn, was due to the
suggestion of a Pittsburg gentleman who had
been at the lake overhauliEg his new cottage. He
had fears that the dam would go.
SIX TRAINS WERE THUS HELD
at Altoona, three each way, and the hundreds of
passengers were taken care of by the Pennsylva-
mia Railroad. Those who preferred slept in the
Pullman cars, others were lodged at the Logan
House, where all were boarded at the expense of
the company. Corporations may have no souls
but ><hen remember that this great company
confronted by the greatest disaster ever known in
the history Of ofrailways. was studiousy careful of
the personal comfort of every passenger holding
ticket near the destroyed district feel as If il
certainly had souls in it. and noble ones, too.
The good traits Of .'thc average American, - lin
whom have much faith, not being mugwumpl
soon began to show themselves. Relief for Johns
town was at once proposed. Five hundred dol
lars were raised in very short time at the hotel
and double that sum in Altoona. Provisions were
sent OF via Ebensburg, thence by wagons. But
NO taTe ~ the east Rere wa
sion, but not even the railroad officials knew how
direction. Yet that delayed crowd was patient
friendly, uncomplaining. One foreigner, an
Englishmsn, said to be a man of ranA,
GRowLED AFTER THE LEoNINE FASHION
of his race, but we had no complaints We were
safe, housed and fed, while thousands were dead,
thousands more homeless and starving. So the
days wore on. On Sunday every available man
was set TO work the road. On Monday the gen
eral superintendent reached Altoona from the
east by skin and wagon and hand mainly. |
That night it was announced that an attempt |
would be made on Tuesday morning to forward |
west bound passengers to Pittsburg, 81 miles of |
the distance by stage or wagon.
Ebensburg branch road along the crest of the |
Alleghenies. We were warned that women and |
children would have the preference in case thee
was not transportation for all So we sped around
the Horse Shoe Bend, by AllegrippuS through the |
long tunnel tlat pierces the back bone Of the
summit TO Ebensburg. But the conveyances were |
Altoona, and had about decided to accept, when |
one of my pupils drove up with a span of stout |
horses and spring wagon, This he said six of us
Blairsville, whittier the company line of wagons
was dispatched. 1t happened that party of six, |
all known to me. could be formed, and off we |
started, to 20 as we pleased.
Just before starting an acquaintance came up
in the day express, and he was searching for her
body. He had walked Is miles from Johnstown. |
car in which she had Travelled. The conductor / |
knew and where ne was; this much could do for |
Our route now lay along the old northern |
pike, y over which stages ran before the railroad
-Four miles an hour was the rate Of speed. but
some spots on that road can never forget About /
fifteen miles out we crossed the crest of the Laurel
Ridge, the first range west of the Alleghenies
Here view was given us, so wide so varied SO
CHARGED WITH MELANCHOLY INTEREST,
that it remains the most vivid picture of that er-
tire journey. Behind me was the backbone form
ing the horizon from north to south. Over it was
banked just then dense storm cloud black as
night suggesting all the fearful possibilities of
such phenomenon. Of to the southwest almost
fifteen miles away, was rift in the dark curtain
But under that rift lay Johnstown and the gorge
Of the COnemaugh, down which the waters had
rushed. dealing death and destruction. Before us
the north and northwest lay a broad LANDSCAPE of
many hills and valleys, away below us. 1t was the
/
water flowed into the Allegheny, and Just beyond
the rvulets collected to form the north branch of
the SusQuehanna. which breaks through the |
range Of Lock Haven. In better circum-
stances want to look at that scenery.again. The
old stage coach travellers more lovely views
than we Of this generation. The road wound over
the hills, for reason that we all felt to escape
the hoods and mud About 6 O'Clock we entered |
In heavy rain, the hamlet of Armagh. Here was
] country tavern, relic of the stage-coach days.
rhe landlord assured us he could accommodate us
over night that tt was only two miles to the Cone
naugh river, and railway station on the oppo-
lite bank, from which trains were running
iladly enough we stopped. The company's trsy-
elers pushed on, 13 miles further, and we rested
Next morning our driver took us over two miles |
by length, but half dozen, measured
~ depth and other eccentricities. At the river
We began TO encounter the desolation. The ferrv-
mans house lay ON its side, his household effects
catered around it. and his little farm utterly de-
troyed. On the other side we walked half mile |
ushed, and at Nineveh found a railway station |
N outpost of the army of undertakers and labor |
RS Here were piles of collins waiting to be used,
'nasea tor the purpose by the WestmOreland
Iouhty committee. A plain board told all thar |
vas known Of each victim. Many were unknown, |
urlosity, but in the hope of fdentffvfn9 the lost
~ Mh0n some OF us knew. 1t was a CHASTITY |
lgnt Mhlle we waited two hours for the train
a me- more oooles were brought In and five or six
CARRIED OFF FOR RUDE BURIAL.
ude in form, but not in heart. Some friction
here had been. possibly little thievinV. but the
ccounts OF lynching, ETC., are fabrications, AT
Ist the train came, and at O'Clock was home,
We days and six hours from New York
Few Jared SO well l. and yet owing to the fart
lat was to preach in Pittsburg on Sunday, and
le failure of my telegram to reach the proper per-
ln, a large congregation was put In some alarm
bout me: Ihis Is my story. The impression of