Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-20

they could to the graveyards. A PRAYER
some tears and few more of the dead thou
sands were buried in Mother Earth.
Mrs. Ogle was the Western Union tele-
graph operator at Johnstown for twenty
years. Her daughter, Minnie, was her as
s1stant She was at her post when the flood
came. Her last message was one Of warn
ing to those lower down in the valley She
could have escaped with her daughter and
two other assistants had she selfishIy mind
ed the first warnings that came over the
wire, but she ordered that no one leave
the office until the valley was warned All
herOically stood their ground and were lost
wealthy young Philadelphia named
Ogle recently became engaged to a Johns
town lady, Miss Carrie DiehL They were to
be welded in the middle of June, and both
parties were preparing for the ceremony.
The lover heard of the terrible flood, but
knowing that the residence of his dear one
was up in the hills, felt little fear for her
safety. To make sure, however, he
started for Johnstown. Near the Fourth
street morgue he met Mr.. DiehL
THANK God you are safe!" he exclaimed
thep added: us Carrie welI?" ''She was
visiting in the valley when the wave came"
was the mournfui reply. then he beckoned
the young man to enter the chamber of
death A moment later Mr. Ogle was kneel-
ing beside a rough bier and was kissing the
cold white face. From tho Hfeless finger
he slipped a thin, gold ring, and in it's place
put one of his own. Then he stole quietly
out-one of the thousands made to mourn
by the bursting of the South Fork dam
The most pathetic case yet brought to
light is that of James Elgfn- He had come
to YOUNGSTOWN to attend the wedding of his
sister Ellen. He knew of the fact that
terrible disaster had taken place, but
had NO idea that his family was involved
His agony may be imagined rather
than described when learning on his
arrival that his mother and three sisters
had been drowned and his father demented
over the terrible affection The old gen.
tleman was crying like child and asking
those he met: Did you see them? Did
you see them go down; they will come back
for the wedding might. She has gone for
her bridal wreath"
At Sang Hollow a man named Duncan sat
on the roof of a house and saw his father
and mother die In the attic below him,
whom he was poweriess to help, and the
poor fellow stood there the picture of
despair.
Squire Fisher and his wife had an inter-
esttng family of seven children Their
house withstood the attack of the wave,
but locomotive was swept down. struck
the residence, and all. save one, a boy of
"a, were lost. This lad a few days later,
overpowered by his grief, committed sui
eide by hurting himself from the top of a
building.
Under the ruins of a house, bent double
beneath the overpowering weight of sew
eraI huge timbers, was a woman. evidently
mother. In her arms she held her chill
dren tightly clasped, seeking even in death
to ward off the cruel blows she
could not avoid In her right
arm was little boy and girl
and a two-year-old girl baby was held in
her left arm, this baby held three mar
bles clenched in its chubby hand, and the
girl still chung to a waxen doll baby Near
by was a small toy tool-chest probably the
boys The mother had seized them at the
first intimation OF danger, snatchiog them
up as they were at play
Mrs Lindsay, the wife of = prominent
Johnstown merchant, being asked what she
had lost, said: THE kindest-hearted hus-
band that ever graced a home would still
be with me had he not sacrificed his life in
the rescue of others. For ten minutes be-
fore the dreadful torrent came down upon
Us he had been carrying people from
the houses across the street 20 the second
floor OF our own house He crossed the
street the seventh time to rescue lady,
but failed to return That in all / know.
My heart viii burst With grief"
DIR. Matthews n hero. Several Of his
ribs were crushed In by falling timber and
his pains were most severe, jet through II
II attended the sick