Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-07
FROM AN EYE WITNESS.

ful Scenes That BeG&af Descf1ph1OM
 -Safe Return Of E. w. W1lmot- A Run For Life With Wife and Child-A Day Never To Re Forgot ten.
 MT. E. W. Wilmot, formerly of the firm of Wilmot & Warner, of New Haven, was at Johnstown, Penn, at the time of the recent disaster He arrived in this city yes- terday with his wife and small child. MT. Wilmot was on his way here from Zealand, California, whither he went on leaving West Haven sometime ago. A nephew of Mr. Wilmot's, Frank Brown of this city, went to Redland and is now leading man there. MT. Wilmot took dinner with some of his friends at the Fremont yesterday and later went on to his wife's home in Westfeld. At the dinner he detailed many of the varied and fearful experiences through which he had passed recently, tale which was Gsten- ed to with eagerness by those present Some of the chief experiences of these eventful days are given herewith. MT. Wilmot and family were on 8 train on the Pennsylvania railroad that arrived at Johnstown at 10 o'clock the morning of the great disaster. The train was held there, as the ferceness of the storm had rendered it unsafe to proceed further. There was 8 feeling that there was some danger, but lit tie heed was given to it. MT. Wilmot thinks the Pennsylvania road was at fault in not sending its passengers beyond danger. No conductor or other officer of the road warned the passengers in the car which Mir. Wilmot occupied. He was seated in the car when the prolonged, incessant and fearful whis- ting of locomotive in the distance sounded in his ears. The shriek of the whistle grew rapidly nearer, and wondering what the cause of this alarm might be he hastened frOr ha An the road at msddening speed, the whistle open.
 "What is the matter" he exclaimed. ''RUN FOR YOUR LIFE,"
 was the prompt response from those hurry ing by.
 Looking in the direction from which the fleeing locomotive had come he saw in the distance the approach of the torrent,
 ADVANCING IN FIERCE WAVE THIRTY FEET
 HIGH
 with a mass of debris upon it's crest. He paused not to think, but rushing into the car he seized his child and bidding his wife follow leaped from the train. Springing across small stream near the track with Mrs. Wilmot close behind him he rushed up street leading up hill. distant church on the hill caught his eye, and sure that if
  he rushed forward.
 IT WAS RACE FOR LIFE. Others were fleeing on all sides of him, straining every nerve to reach a place of ! safety. A second of time meant everything. The race was successful, and a thoroughly exhausted man he reached the church in \ safety with his wife and child. The roaring ' torrent rushed by at his feet. Trhn place he seemed completely given out. Strength had left him. During all this time there was severe thunder shower, and everyone was drenched. A small house near \ by furnished shelter. The next morning ' MT. Wilmot met the conductor of the train, he had numbered MT. and Mrs. Wilmot ' among the dead, as he had failed to find \ them after long search the night before. CRUSHED LIKE EGG SHELLS. When this fearful torrent struck the houses in it's path, they were crushed like \ egg shells. The scene was overlapping, fearful in the extreme. The loss of life has not been properly estimated, in Mir. Will | mot's opinion, especially among the passen- gers on the train. Instead ot seven being | lost, as reported by the company, he feels sure that twenty five or thirty were lost from ! the train on which he was passenger. He | speaks of two young ladies who left the train at the first alarm, but returned for | their waterproofs, not realizing the danger. | They were swept away and lost. Two la | dies, with whom Mir. Wilmot had been con- versing only few moments before, never left the train.
 WHILE ON HIS FLIGHT FOR LIFE.
 He passed cripple, hobbling along. in g
 vain endeavor to escape the doom which wss
 certain. A look of agony was on the pool
 fellows face that told plainer than words
 could tell how little he expected to escape. Mir. Wilmot says this piteous look will ever ! haunt him.
 | A CAR FULL ROLLED ALONG BY THE AWFUL TORRENT. A car, in which were eight commercial ! travellers, was seen rolling along in the force | of the current. The poor fellows were striv- | ing to keep on the top of the car as it | plunged furiously along. Their case was | hopeless, and they knew it, for with re- \ markable presence of mind they PINNED THEIR BUSINESS CARDS UPON THEIR COATS.
 All were lost. The agonizing cries and | scenes made a never to be forgotten impres. \ sion.
 A weary journey through the mountainous
 district brought him to Altoona, where ht put up at a hotel, finding comfort and rest
 again.
 \ IN THE VALLEY OF DEATH. Later he returned to Johnstown and wa.
 present in the desolated district Wednesday
 Ruin and desolation was on every hand. Tn
 published reports have not exaggerated tn
 matter.
 | WORDS COULD NOT DESCRIBE
 The awful scenes of desolation. The pei
 could not picture the fearful catastrophe
 The stench arising was stiaing. If one would
 sit down they must do so on 8 coffin, s'
 ttfickly scattered over the ground were thes
 receptacles for the unfortunate dead. Tn,
 published reports of the shooting and hang ! ing of thieves were true.
 HORSES DIED IN THEIR TRACKS.
 At one spot where there had been liver!
 stable the horses lay about, some of then
 harnessed to vehicles just as when the foo'
 struck them.
 MR. wILMoT's SECOND MARROW ESCAPE.
 In company with another man he hired
 carriage and driver at great cost to talk
 himself and family over the mountains t'
 the nearest railroad station. The drive
 had imbibed somewhat too freely and destl
 again almost overlook them on this drive
 The horses became manageable, the poll
 strap broke, and down the side of the noun
 tain went the horses on run. Mir. Wilmo
 succeeded in getting the lines from the use
 less driver and in ditching his team. Witt
 difficulty the passengers crswled from thu
 wreck, patched up and finally reached sta
 tion, where they took train for home. MT
 Wilmot has not heard from his baggage ani
 supposes that it was lost.
 | AWFUL EXPERIENCES.
 | The impression made by those awful ex
 periences MT. Wilmot expects never to shak
 off. The scene can never be banished iron
 his mind. He is thankful to get home il
 safety, but will not recover from the effect ! for months.
 MT. Wilmot retains his old home in Wes
 Haven as a summer residence. He will re
 turn to Redland in the fall.
 For BridgepOrt's New ". M. 0. A | Building.
 BRIDGEPORT, June 6.-The following be | IL lal