Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-07-12
TBE LAST ENGINE TO GROSS THE
BRIDGE.
Engineer Hugh Clifford Relates His Ex
perience the Evening of the Great Flood.

Engineer Hugh Clifford Relates His Ex,
perience the Evening of The Great Flood.
D. A. Orr, of Chambersburg was in
Philadelphia dfcw days ago, and touch
ing on the Johnstown horror, from the
scene of Which he had just returned,
said:
/ see that one of your city papers, re-
ferring TO the saving of James Kelly and
dozens of others by the engineman who
dashed through Johnstown in advance of
the flood, says: They fled to the hills
and waited. They saw the unknown en-
gineer fleeing along the track, with the
flood racing behind him; they do not
know nor does any one there know tothis
day who lie was or whether he ran out.
The daring engineer who plucked cour-
age from dangers bold face was Hugh
Clifford, in charge of freight engine No.
64S, ana he kept ahead of the sweep. |
saw him last Monday, and with becoming
modesty he told me his story, running
something like this;
81 was at Conemaugh when the oper-
ator there received message that the
dam had broken. | knew what that might
mean. for | was aware of the enormous
volume of water its banks up to that
time had held in control. | had not a
moment to lose, as thoughts of the people
and friends as far as Lockport, twenty
miles away, that | might save, thickened
upon me. lcaped TO my engine, to
which was attached four freight cars, and
started on my ride with full head of
steam. For the first time in my life
went ahead without orders. heard the
dreadful roar behind me and felt that
mine was race to save many lives. |
was afraid to look back for fear of being
appalled, by what had undertaken.
sped down the grade, my whistle scream
ing and bell ringing, while
called to hundreds, shouting and making
myself heard as best could Get to the
hills The dam has brokenn Along by
the track at Johnstown some workmen
| ieered me and others cried with oaths
Let it breakn But l warned all could.
"Mine was the last engine to cross the
Johnstown bridge. | think was there
about twenty minutes ahead of the flood,
and while my locomotive did its best, in
my fear for the safety of those | had yet
to reach, felt at times that the wheels
were not moving. On / sped past Cam
bria City, Sang Hollow, Ninevah and New
Florence; en- until | reached Lockport,
where my brothers and their families live.
There stopped, alarmed all could, hur-
ried our people to the hills, and soon the
great wave had caught up with me. If l
saved many, as they say did, I am salts
fed. l don't see that deserve praise for
doing what thought was the best to do.
This was not the safest for myself, |
agree, but l thought then rather of the
hundreds l might help than of my own
security
Hugh Clifford who rode down the
valley on his iron steed, unlike Sheridan,
in front of his enemy instead of behind,
on that fateful Friday, was not then
hero for the first time. 1t was this plucky
fellow, then Il fireman only twenty years
of age, who, some eight years ago, avertcd
an awful wreck and loss of life. He
found the freight train he
was on, train of twenty
loaded cars, speeding down the eastern
slope of the Alleghenies at Allegrippus,
deserted by the engineer and crew, all
save Fireman Clifford. The engineer
deemed the train beyond control, and,
signaling danger, jumped from his en-
gimme, and with the remainder of the
crew, except the young fireman, fed.
He might, too, easily and safely have
jumped as did the rest but he knew the
danger and death that it would cause as
it would dash into the Altoona yards un-
manned, Clifford, with a full realization
of his risk, saw that the engine was re-
versed, then ran back the full length of
of the train, breaking each car as he went |
ana soon, tnOugh II seemed hOurS 10 MIN, |
he had brought the train to stand still
and was able to take it safely to Altoona. |
Clifford never fired after that day. The |
next morning he was made an engineer.
And now the hero of Allcgrippus has won
new laurels in the Valley of the Cone
maugh! Paul Revercs ride seems
pleasure galIop when its story is told
along with Hugh Clifford's."
Undertaken Henderson Highly COmpli
mented.
DR.. Formal, of Philadelphia, was in
town Sunday and visited the Morgue.
He has handled thousands of bodies, and |
says that everything here has been done
as well as possible, and he could have no
suggestions to offer.