Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-06-14
FRANK HATTON'S STORY.

The ex-Postmaster General Gives An Ac.
count Of the Marrow Escape Of the Chi.
cago Limited.
WASHINGTON, June l0.-Frank Hat.
ton, editor of the Washington Post, who
was one of the passengers on the Chicago
limited train at Johnstown, contributes
to The Post graphic description of the
manner of his escape from death. When
the limited pulled into Johnstown it was
found that the place was flooded. Only
q few minutes were wasted there. Then
the train moved cautiously on.
Mineral Point was passed. From this
spot on, the speed of the train decreased.
The fury Of the torrent, the roar of the
waters seemed to i2timidate the two
great iron monsters that were dragging
the tram. Faces blanced with fear,
pressed against the windows of the car.
1.-THE water
Came Down the Two Forks.
with terrible force, telling of the ruin
that was being being wrought above.
Portions of bridges, outhouses, logs,
pieces of furniture and all kinds of debris
went tearing by and on down in the
rapidly swelling river. Ten, fifteen,
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 rolled and dashed as they
joined together, making one mighty
and angry river. People Of the town Of
South Fork crossed the bridge and mixed
with 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 it
held within its confines.
"What if the reservoir should breakF'
said citizen.
"God Help Us hit Does,"
responded an old woman, the mother of
three boys who had just 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 South
branch responded he, pointing in the di'
rection.
ut needed but glance at the topo
| graphy of the country to show that
| should the reservoir, which was de-
scribed - thres. miles long, one and q
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 express would
be destroyed and
All on Board swept into Eternity.
Mr.: Hatton suggested that the trair
be moved across tho bridge. The con
ductor at first said that he had orders tt
stay where he was, but finally consented
| to take the train across. about fifteer
minutes after the limited had reached
the north side," says Mr.. Hatton," tht
engine of the freight train
which had remained on the soutl
side, gave a fierce shrek and th,
train started for the bridge. Intui
lively every, one knew the dam hat
!. oxen and the water was coming.
1.-The inhabitants,
Shrieking and Crying,
ran for the mountain side. The tw,
engines on the limited blew thei
whistles and started with the train vi
the track, followed by a freight train.
s'The writer was in the rear of tn
next to the last car on the limited. Tn
roar Of the writer's was almost deafen
ing. In less time than it has taken t.
write this paragraph, it had struck tn
houses nearest the bridge. and they wer
| r. Lifted High Into the Air
and tumbled over in the surging stream
The engine of the escaping freigh
train, which had given the alarm, hat
hardly reached the north side when th'
bridge went dou'n and the freight car,
were borne Of BY the rushing waters
AS the passenger tain fed up the track
the hack water up the north branch car
ried by it articles Of furniture from th,
houses, which few seconds before wer'
standing by the side Of the train.
''There was great excitement among
the passengers on the train, but It wa
soon discovered that the danger was pas
and /. -gsj q. ...
''ThAnk God We Are Safe
went up from the hearts and lips Of al
on board.
s.The limited train lay at Wilmofe Il
night and until late Saturday afternoon
/ when it proceeded slowly east, reaching
4 Altoona about O'Clock that evening.