Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-06-20
Not a Minute to Spare.
The Narrow Escape of the Limited
Express.
Crossed the Bridge Just in Time.

uAb Otcu 50 AuAAg ANPNAtNN 'N+ . = -
papers that there is little left to be told of
the sad event.
The writer was on the Limited express
which left Chicago at 8 O'Clock in the eve
ming of the Both of May. 1t was raining
at Chicago when the train left, and during
the night there was a heavy rainfall. The
train reached Pittsburg on time, and as
IL advanced eastward the swollen and
madIy rushing streams bore evidence of
the heavy storm of the night before.
Great waterfalls came tearing down the
sides of the mountains and over the tracks.
Passengers became alarmed, but most of
them, who had travelled before, put their
faith in the magnificent roadbed of the
Pennsylvania road, its splendid equip
ment, and its superior management.
When the train .resched Johnstown, and
not until then, did the people on board
become convinced of the tremendous
rainfall The inhabitants of the town
were IN a state of panic. The streets
were flooded. The water in many places
had reached the second stories of houses.
Small dwellings and out-hOnses had
been swept away.
The train remained but a few minutes,
aud then pulled out for the east. Pas
sepRers aboard, who knew the top
! ography OF the country and the streams
ahead, asked: "Why is this train permit
| ted to 90 ahegdY" And this is a question
| that the management of the railroad
company will find some difficulty in
nsWering. But the train went on leav.
/ ing behind the flooded city of Johnstown,
| with the Inhabitants so soon to be swal
| lowed up by the flood. The roar and the
rush of the waters increased. Timid
people in the train became more alarmed.
"Why don't they stop until the food and
/ danger are pastf" was asked in trembling
voice by the women. But the train went
on, slowing up at places of supposed
/ danger. Mineral Point was passed. From
! this SPOT on the speed of the train de-
creased. The fury of the torrent, the
roar of the waters seemed TO intimidate
the two great iron monsters that were
dragging the train. Faces blanched
with fear pressed against the windows OF
the cars.
As great bodies of water rolled down
the gorges and over the track, covering
the cars with spray, terrified passer gera
would Jump ack expecting the cars TO be
overturned. The speed of the train
! gradually decreased, and then, as if the
engines had given up in despair, the train
stopped. Passengers alighted TO asoer-
tain our location. Ii was found that we
were at the south end of the bridge which
! spanned the C0nemaugh at the little town
of South Fork, and at the point where
South and North Forks come together
and near telegraph tower. But no orders
came TO move forward.
The 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 down in the rapidly swell NJ
river.
Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed, anc
there was no movement on the tram
The rain came down from the heavens
above, while the floods of the two fork.
roared and dashed as they joined togeth'
err, making one mighty and angry river
People from the town of South ForE
crossed the bridge an mixed with TIT
passengers. Then the latter did not know
of the reservoir two miles above then
which was getting ready to let loose tn,
vast body of water which it held within
its confines.
"What if the reservoir should break p
said a citizen.
God help Us if it does" responded Al
old woman, the mother OF three bovs whC
had Just come out of the mines, will
their faces black with the CRIME of homes
toll.
"Where is Che reservoir" asked tn
writer Of an old man.
1.-TWO miles and half up the Soutl
Branch res pouded he, pointing in the di
rection.
Ii needed but glance of the topogra
ply of the country to show that shoui'
the reservoir, which was described as thre
miles long, one and half miles wide, an,
, sixty feet deep, empty its mountain o
water down the sides of the gorg
through which South Fork flowed, tn
O. limited express would be destroyed an,
all on on I'd swept into eternity.
'Why don't you move this train acros
the bridge and around the mountain OIL
! the other slider" was asked of the con
ductor.
Cannot leave here without orders" "a
the response.
in the name of God, why do you per
3 NIT the train. loaded with men, womel
and children, 10 stand here waiting 70
orders from the officials of railroa,
, company that is pscalyzed for miles, wa
+ asked.
/ All on board the train we're full.
s. aroused to their danger. II was plsil
that sholld the reservoir break Their
. was no escape. But the train did no
/ move.
rs the bridge unsafe" was asked. Il
! ia Is danger Gus to run the train owe
E the bridge, notify the passengers an,
= let them seek places Of safety" vas tn
f. next appeal made 70 the Jrsinmeu.
5 Thoroughly alarmed themselves, IN
D trainmen decided not 20 wait longer 70
s orders that never came. Slowly the trail
5 pulled ont and over the bridge, many o
t the passengers alghting and walking
The bridge trembled and swayed wit
its burden, but the train passed satel
over.
A glance at the map viii show VIVA
! danger the trsiu was in IS it lay on n
south side. II was in a pocket ana Their
4 was no escape bad the reservoir broke
b while il stood there.
, on the north side the train stoppe
with its resr car few rods from th
bridge. Along either side of the trsc
wee houses OF Sonth ForB. From IA
. a Na.. f4as q p