Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-08-03

papers accounts al the terrible disaster;
but when we arrived on the spot. we soon
realized that the half had not been told,
and VIC now more than ever realize that
our pen is unequal to the task Of ,lescrib.
ing Johnstown after the flood. Here fell
the heaviest blow Of the nineteenth cen,u.
~. ON Friday, May 3ist. 1880. I, was
indeed 4 ''black Friday" for .Johnstown.
AS we stood on the platform Of the sta
tion at Johnstown and looked down In
the valley. we saw before us n most pitifnl
sight. Where once stood bcauiifrl homes
and elegant places Of business is now
covered with every description Of debris.
We walked slowly, pensively down into
the valley Of death. down to the banks
and over the little stream which played
such an important part in the wholesale
destruction of life and property. We
crossed over II into the city proper or
what was once city. for II Is now moth.
ing but mass 0ftimbcrs, household goods.
tin roofs. wrecked cars. piles of brick and
mortar with here aud there building
which was staunchcr than the rest stand.
ing, and showing high upon its walls The
water mark of the flood All along the
streets have been erected booths Of pine
boards which are being used Ms lemonade
stands. etc. The place seems full Of busy
men who with teams are removing the
wreckagc tn the hanks Of Stony Creek,
others are digging away the accumulation
of mud and timbers from the spot where
once stood their home. and are yet anxi-
ously looking Tor the mother. father. WIFE
brother or child that Is still missing and
Of which no trace has been found Not
far from the depot on our walk we noticed
two sad looking women standing by some
men who were nj work digging into what
appeared 10 bc n cellar oi private resi-.
dcncc. Soon one NJ the workmen nn.
earihcd something bright. which when
brought TO view proved to bca silver cake
basket il was quietly handed to one of the
women. she took il and we left her still
looking for remnants of what once helped
to made comfortable home. Perhaps
the remains Of someone for whom she has
donncd that sombre garb may bc iiscov.
cred III the cellar and then will cOmc more
hcartachcs. more tears -hui we must go
on. Now we stand by church which
has partly escaped destruction. II Is u
Presbyterian Church. We walk inside
and examine il, the floors are yellow and
the walls likewise showing the stains OF
claycy water. Brother Tylor. Of the
E"ssOn Gd.stt, goes up To the pulpit aud
reverently opens the good book. then
thoughtfully and tcndcrly closes il, we
pass out oi the house Of Cod and are again
in the street searching rs we walk along
for some little relic To take home with us.
Soon we reach another building that has
been lcft in fair condition. on the sidewalk
in front of il stands a remnant of a hand
some "Chickcring" piano. the top was
gone and the instrument was a wreck, as
we walked up Ia examine u We were Join
ed by strange but fair young lady. who
told us that the instrument was her prop.
erty.. and afterward gave us an account
Of her terrible experience in the ilood-
DO you see thu, little window In the
garnet of the brick house which stands
opposite us" she said Yes we saw il.
We'll she continued. -four hundred 81
MS escaped death through that window.
aud IL Is s0 small that We ran hardly real.
izc how we managed To get in IL" She
was cheerful and thankful and said we
might take parts Of the piano home with
us rs relies. We thanked Miss Felt. for
that was the young ladv's name, and turn
ed our steps toward other scenes. do
you see That large building over there "
said our guide We looked and saw "
large three'slory hnilding, which he in.
formed us had hcen washed about half n
mile from lis former site and strange tn
relate j, was only slightly damaged. What
has become Of the precious little ones that
once occupied these little cradles an,i beds
we see scattered about MS: No one knew,
some perhaps had been rescued. some per.
haps lay under the very mass upon which
We stood. Walking on. we soon found
ourselves m front Of rOughly.buili pine
building, from the top of which fioaied
n strcamer, hearing the Red Cross. This
was the headquarters of the socIciy of
which Miss Barton is the head, II is ,lo.
ing noble work in the distribution of
supplies 10 the unforiunntcs. This socic.
~ knows M politics nor creed. but helps
all who are in need. God grant thu, il
may increase In members and continue Ia
follow Christ's commands 10 lo unto 9th
ers as NE would have them do by us
We have mot space nor descriptive
power Ia tell you all We saw in Johns.
town. hut We shall never forget Il as long
ns We live. We brnugh, back To Snow
Hill several relics which we prize very
highly. Although they have no intrinsic
value. they will serve to remind us II the
many blessings which We are receiving
daily and do not properly appreciate
The MEssESGEI party left Cresson ON
Tuesday anil made Tor Atlantic City.
where Mr. and Mrs. Pnrncll and Mr. and
Mrs. Vincent enjoyed the sights for the
remainder Of the week. Arriving home
saturday night
THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.
The following gentlemen We're present
and represented the papers affixed To their
names
X. u. Iloiicckcr, Times, Smyrna, Del
]. Barton Chcyney, Erery E~ning. vii.
mingion. Del +. Eden Bach. Ercry Ercn.
ing. Wilmington, Del; Harold Sudcll,
STIR, New Castle. Del; Il. =. Fletcher,
Ledger, Newark. Del; G. J. Freeman,
Ne~ Era. Middlciown. Del. =. VI. Dunn
aud II. G. Carpenter. Inirr, Dover. Del.
las Harrnll IlsLg,rar,1u nnvnr Hi .