Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-06-11
THE ESCAPE OF THE LIMITED.
Editor Frank HattOn Graphically Desori BET
Thrilling Incident OF the Flood.

Editor Frank HattOn Graphically Desori bes
Thrilling Incident Of the Flood.
WASHINGTON, June 1O.-Frank Hatton,
editor Of the Washington Post who was
one Of the passengers on the CnicOeo
limited train at Johnstown, contributes to
the Post this morning graphic description
of the manner of his escape from death.
When the limited pulled into Johnstown,
1t wel found that the place was flooded.
Only few moments we're wasted there.
Then the train moved cautiously on.
Mineral Point was passed. From this
point on the speed of the train decreased.
The fury of the torrent, the roar of the
wsterr, seemed to intimidate the two
great iron monsters that were
dragging the train. Faces blanched
with fear pressed against the
windows of the car As great bodies of
water rolled down the gorges and over the
track, covering the cars with spray, terri
fed passengers would jump back, expect.
ing the cars to be overturned The speed
of the train gradually decreased, and then.
as il the engines had given MP in despair.
the train stopped. Passengers alighted to
ascertain our situation. Ii was found that
We were at the south end of the bridge
which spanned the COnemeugh at the lit
tie town of South Fork, and at the point
where South and North Forks come to.
gether, and near a telegraph towe.. But
no orders came TO move forward.
Tine water came down the two forks
with terrible force, telling of the ruin that
was being wrought above Portions of
bridges, outhouses, logs, pieces of furni
ture and all kinds of debris went tearing
by and on and down in the rapidly swell
mg river Ten, ffeen, twenty minutes
passed and there was no movement of the
train. The rain came down from the
heavens above, while the floods of the two
forks rol Ped and dashed as they Joined to-
gether. making one mighty and angry
river. People from the town of South
Fork crossed the bridge aud ras-eS --s4L
the passengers. Then the latter did not
know of the reservoir two miles above
them, which was getting ready to let loose
the vast body of water which il held with
in its confines.
d" What If the reservoir should break?'
said a citizen.
d" God help us if it does, responded an
old woman, the mother Of three boys who
had lust come out of the mines, with their
faces black with the CRIME Of honest toll.
" Where Is the reservoir asked the
writer Of an old man. Two miles and
half Up the Sonth branch, responded he,
pointing in the direction.
1T needed buta glance at the topography
of the country 10 show that should the
reservoir. which WAS described at three
miles long, one and a half miles wide, and
sixty feet deep, empty its mountain OF
water down the sides of the gorge through
which South Fork flowed, the limited ex
press would be destroyed and all on board
swept into eternity.
Mr.. Hatton suggested that the train be
moved across the river. The conductor at
first said that he had orders to stay where
he was, but he finally consented to take
the train across.
"About fifteen minutes after the limited
had reached the north side, says Mr.. Hat
ton. ''the engineer on the freight train,
which had remained on the south side,
gave a fierce shrek and the train started
for the bridge. Iutuitively every one knew
tine dam had broken and the water was
coming.
The inhabitants, shriekiug and crying,
ran for the mountain side. The two en-
zines on the limited blew their whistles
and started with the train up the track,
followed by a freight train.
ssTbe writer was in the rear Of the next
10 the last car on the limited The roar
of the waters was almost deafening. In
less time than it has taken to write this
naragrsph it had struck the houses nearest
Inc bridge, and they were lifted high into
the air and tumbled over in the surglnR
stream. The engineer of the escaping
fraigbt train. which had given the alarm,
mad hardly reached the north side when
tbe bridge went down and the freight cars
were borne of by the raging waters As
the passenger tram filed up the track, the
bsckwater of the North Branch carried by
IT. articles of furniture from the houses
which A few seconds before we're standing
bv the side of the train.
"There was great excitement among the
MESSENGERS on the train, but it was soon
discovered that the danger was past and a
Thank God, we are safe went up from
the hearts and lips of all on board.
"The limited train lay at WilmOre all
NIGHT and until late Saturday afternoon,
when il proceeded slowly east, reaching
Attoona about 7 O'Clock that evening"