The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1889-11-23
THE HEARTHSTONE.
THE HERO OF JoHNsrowN.
Mary. f.. Ed,

Mary. E. Eddy.
Listen, awhile, dear children,
To story sad and true,
Of a city in valley,
With river running through.
Twas nestled among the mountains
That lowered SO steep and high,
Covered with dark green forests
That seemed to touch the sky.
In gorge above the city
Was dam, built high and wide,
Which held in check the streamlets
That came from the mountain side.
A magnificent body of water
Was confined in this ravine;
For, stretching league from the stone
work,
A beautiful lake was seen.
Three days of rain in Johnstown
Soaked this region through and
through;
And yet the rain fell in torrents,
While the river still higher grew.
Did the people fear the temptest,
Or Conemaugh's angry roar?
All, no! why should they be frightened?
They had seen high water before.
A lonely watcher stood gazing
At the great dam by his side;
The restless waters were rising,
Though the wastegates were open wide
The darkness was swiftly gath'ring,
More heavily fell the rain;
He looked at the valley below him,
Then back at the lake again.
See yonder, that stream overhowing
And undermining the wall!
1t will flood the towns of the valley,
Its waters will cover them all.
Oh, word must be sent to the city
For the people to leave while they may;
If they stay in their homes they will perish,
For the dam will soon break away.
He looked toward the door of the gate
house.
There a large, bay horse calmly stood,
Daniel Portion, mounted, was watching
The ever increasing flood.
"Be quick! tell the people of Johnstown
To flee with their children and wives
Away from the ill-fated city,
And unto the hills for their livesp'
Down, down on the Conemaugh turn
pike,
Sped Periton on his bay,
Warning the people of danger
Which up at the great dam lay
He hastes through the streets of the city,
And ever this warning he gives
'Flee for your lives to the mountains,
Oh quickly flee for your lives?"
A few give heed to his warnings,
But many walk carelessly by,
And thinking the man demented,
Gaze at him with curious eye.
But on and still on speeds the rider,
The people must all be told;
He has no thought for his danger,
This, hero SO brave and bold
He throws one glance toward the
mountains,
The dan-it cannot hold long.
Oh horror! crash, and the waters
Toward the city, come rushing along!
He reaches the brink of the river,
To the other shore he must ride,
But the bridge is fast being covered
The crossing must quickly be tried.
Through the valley, the river is coming;
Death rides on the turbulent wave,
And is plunging the frightened people
Beneath to watery grave.
The flood gates of heaven seem open,
And groans and cries fill the air;
But the rushing torrents comes faster,
1t heeds not their walls OF despair.
1t carries them on to destruction,
And laughs at their terror in glee;
1t minds not the shrieks of the people,
But buries them deep in the sea.
The deluge is nearing our hero.
And strong is the current and swift,
As it strikes the bridge in its fury,
And against it It's hurting the drift.
He urges his good horse onward,
And thinks of the lives he must save;
But the bridge gives way, and the rider
Is swept to billowy grave!
Brave hero, your life-work is over,
Your duty was fearlessly done,
You have given your life for the city,
And glory renowned you have won.
Next day, the sun in its journey,
Through the bright blue heaven o'er
head;
Looked down on ruined city
On city Of the dead.
Looked down on our noble young hero,
And the many he tried to save,
Who gave little heed to his warning,
And perished under the wave.