Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-20

freight train, which had given the alarm,
had hardly reached the north side when
the bridge went Gown and the freight
cars were borne of by the rushing waters.
As the passenger rein filed &C the track
the back water up the North Branch car
ried by it articles Of furniture from the
houses which few seconds before were
standing by the side of the train.
There was great excitement among
the passengers on the train, but il was
soon discovered that the danger was
passed, and q "Thank God, We are saved"
went up from the hearts and lips of all on
board.
The limited train lay at Wilmore all
night and until late Sunday afternoon,
when 1t proceeded slowly east, reaching
Altoona about O'Clock that evening.
The next day passenger on the i'll fated
day express trains who had escaped com
menced TO arrive, and by Sunday noon
there was great crowd.
The railroad company did everything
possible to care for its belated passengers,
so far as their personal comfort was con-
cerned. They were fed aud lodged at
the Logan House and on the cars. The
reports from Johnstown were heart sick
en1ng. OF course, the first thought OF the
saved was to get word to friends at home,
but 1t was soon learned that the wires
were down on ell sides and that it was i'm
possible to get messages off. John D.
Van Horne, of the Western Union Com
pany, who was on one of the wrecked ex~
press trains, end who narrowly escaped,
took charge of the telegraph Office. All
the dispatches sent the day before from
points between Altoona and Johnstown
had reached the former Office. Mr.. Van
Horne immediately set about getting
them off. He sent squad of men east
on a track bicycle with instructions to
send the dispatches FROM the first point
where through wire could be struck.
This party reached Harrisburg some time
Wednesday. Mr.. Van Horne was frank
with ali in-comers, and told them that
it was impossible TO get messages of,
but that he would do the best he could.
The belated passengers were patient
and uncom klaining, and had the com pany
exerted itself as it should have done, and
permitted and aided in getting messages
TO and from friends of the passengers, it
would have been much better. By Tues
day the situation had changed so chat the
people aboard the trains were as anxious
to hear from home as those at home had
been two days before to hear from the
passengers.
The9rebuilding of bridges and tracks
was insignificant compared TO relieving
the minds of loving wives, parents and
children. The passengers knew that mes
sages had been sent and received, and
they thought that in matter of human
lty there should be no such thing as rank,
no difference tetween the emigrant coach
and the palace car. They would have
waited patiently for days the REQ oening
of the road could they have heard from
home.
When the black clouds OF grief which
have enveloped the country for days have
rolled away some one is quite likely to
ask, "Why did the managers of the rail-
road company mass its trains in the mar
row strip between Johnstown and South
Forkf' and ''Why were the day express
trains permitted TO remain for hours at
Johnstown, when all the time the food
was increasing, and with the knowledge
the railroad officials had of the location
of the reservoir"
If il was known that these trains could
not proceed farther east without increas-
ing the dangers why were they not run
back west from Johnstowu to places of
comparative safety Il will not do TO say
that the limited was saved by sending it
east from Johnstown. Had it remained
south of the river at South Fork it and
all on board would have been destroyed.
A glance at the map will convince the
reader of the truth of the statement No
credit is due the railroad management
that it and it's passengers were saved. No
official order was given for its crossing
the bridge.
To one acquainted with the situation it
does seem that the trains with all On board
might have been saved. Whose fault was
it that they were rot?
Those who witnessed the scenes
at YOUNGSTOWN and South Fork will
never be able to obliJerate them from
their minds. They will take them to the
grave. Friendships were formed during
those terrible days of suffering and agony
that will last always, and the manly men
and the womanly women who stood by
each other there will carry with them
always feelings OF the tenderest regard
for each other.
FRANK HATToN.