The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-14

tecoiveus saying tne south Fork dam mad
broken. A soon as he heard this the people
In the station. numbering 200, made rush
for bill. l certainly think l saw 1000
bodies go over the bridge. The first house
that came down struck the bridge ans ut
once took fire. and as fast ms the others cam.
down they were consumed believe am
rafc IN saying saw Thousand bodies burn.
1t reminded mo Of q lot Of flies on fly paper
struggling to get away, with NO hope aud at
chance to save them. have no idea that
ilad the bridge been blown up the Ioss Of Iif.
would have been any less They would have
foatcd little further with the same
certain death. Then again, it wns i,upossi-
ble for any one to have reached tho bridge
10 order to blow it up, for the water ca,ne so
tass that no one could have done it taw
nfteen to eighteen bodies go over the bridge
at the slime time. l offered man $50 I'd
row me across the river, but could get no
one to go, and finally had to buy boat
and get across that way" From under the
large brick school house, 12i bodies were
taken lust night and to-day, and In every
corner ana placc tho bodies IRE being found
and buried as fast as possible. The necessity
for speedy burial IL becoming manifest. and
the stencil arising from the bodies is sickcn.
ing. Eumbcr Of bodies have been found
With bullet holes In them, showing conc!u-
stvely that in their muddeniny fright, sui.
eide was resorted to by many.
AHERo's RIDE
nameless Paul Revere lies somewhere
among the nameless dead. Who he Is may
never be known, but his ride will be famous
in local history. Mounted OH n grand, big
bay horse. he came riding down the pike
which passes through Concmaugh to Johns
town like some angel of wrath of old, shout
ing his portentious warning to sRun for your
lives to tho hils!" "lsun to tho hills!" The
people crowded out OF their houses along the
thickly settled streets awe struck ind won-
dering. Nobody knew tho man, and some
thought he was maniac and laughed. On
at deadly pace no rode, and
shrilly rang out bis awful cry. In u
few moments, however. there came cloud
OF ruin down the broad streets, down the
narrow alleys. sgrinding, twisting, hurling,
overturning, crashing, annihilating the weak
and the strong. On and on raced tho rider,
md on and OH rushed the wave Dczans of
people took heed OF the warning and ran up
to the hills To the faithful rider 1t was an
unequal contest. Just as he turned across
the railroad bridge the mighty wave fell
upon him. horse und rider all went out into
chaos together A few feet further on
several cars OF the Pennsylvania railroal
train from Pitsburg were caught up and
hurried into the cauaron, and the fate of the
town reached the hero who turned neither
to right or left for safety for himself, but
rode on to death for his townsmcn.
ONE ny ONE TO THEIR DEATH.
JoIINsTowN, June 3.-A pretty, pale, little
woman told part Of her sad story to-day, Us
she nervousy claspcd or unciaspcd he.
hands aud cried IN quiet, Misunderstanding
way. Her name was Mrs Fem. On the
afternoon of the flood Fem went to the
butchers ana passed ont of this short history
In the waters. When the flood came into the
Feno house, the mother gathered her chicks
IN the parior and told them not to be afraid,
as God was there and wou!d guard them. Up
came the torrent and they Went to the SEC
ond floor, and again the little mother talked
of hole, and badc them be of good chcel,
for papa-hcavcn rest hm-would come soon
III boat and take them away. Up up and
up rose tho water, and now the family
were forced to the top story. The
ROOMS were very low, and soon the
heads of the moh and children were beat
ing against the ceiling. Mamma" said the
eldest child, girl, wouldn't it be better to
go outside and die in tho oren airy" YES,
dear" said the mother. swell make II raft
and all 20 down together" Sio fought her
own and her chidrcns' way to the window
amd opened 1t. She caught n piece of plank
and Oh it put the lest Guild, with has,y
kiss and God bless YOU" Tnem she lei it
float awav into TIN darkness and the roar of
the waves. Six times were these frall barEs
freigh.ed with precious carsoes ami uryo-
sizes of pious trust The children we're
frightened, but obedience was pars of their
creed, and they made but little protest. Now
came the turn of tho last Guild, Bessie the
four year-Od One can fancy what IL meant.
The last and dearest. 1a.re was scarce
breathing space in the room now, anu ii
haste was no: used death would come there
at once. On broat plank, Bessie was
fastened securely and was kissed. as had been
tine others. II loved them ali; oh, loved
them all, sad the mother; shut had two
kisses for Bessie. tor she was Ton's iavoritc
and was such Il good child She put her
arms about my neck mud said: You know
you sad God would take care of mo always,
matnina. Will he take care OF me hOw?' |
told her he would and she need not fear. and
then she was carried away. Pm not afr: id.
mamma, she called out and heari her, al
though could not sce her--nnd tEa.'s all;
except that tho roof was torn of and
fca'cd off on it, and some Italians saved me
at kernyille. sixteen miles from here"
"And the children, Mrs Fem? l hope thev
ali escaped"
@iou have found two of them dead, Bessie
anu George. and there is not u mark on Bcs-
sizes lace, and oh / am so tired. They're all
gone, every one. eight of them. aud l nm
gOin. home to Virginia after uli these years
10 rest nnd try to think"