The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-31
A GRAPHIC STORY.

A GRAPHIC STORY.
How the Limited Express Escaped
Destruction In the Great Dis
aster.
Frank Hatton, editor OF the Wash
iugton Post, who was one of the pas
sengers on the Chicago limited train
at Jobnstown, contributes to the Post
a graphic description Of his escape
from death. He says: when the
train pulled into Johnstown 1t was
found that the place was flooded. Only
a few minutes were wasted there, then
the train moved cautiously on. Mineral
Point was passed; from this point on
the speed of the train decreased, the
fury Of the torrent the roar OF the
waters seemed to intimidate the two
great iron monsters that were drag
cling the train. Faces. blsnched with
fear, pressed against the windows of
the car. As great bodies OF water
rolled down the gorges and over the
track, covering the cars with spray,
terrified passengers would jump back
expecting the cIrs to be overturned.
The speed of the train gradually de-
creased and then, as If the engines had
given up in despair, the train stopped.
Passengers alighte1 to ascertain orr
location. 1t was found that we were
at the south end of the bridge which
spanned the Conemaugh at the little
town of South Fork and at the point
where South and North Forks come to-
gether and near telegraph tower.
But no orders came to move forward.
The water came down with terrible
force, telling OF the ruin that was
being wrought above. Portions OF the
bridge, outhouses, logs, pieces OF fur
niture and all kinds of debris went
tearing by and on down In the rapidly
swelling river. Ten, fifteen, twenty
minutes passed, and there were no
movements 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 from 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 break!
said citizen. God help us If it does.
responded 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 direction. 1t needed
but glance at the topography of the
country to show that should the rescr-
voir, which was described as three
miles long, one and one-halt miles
wide and sixty feet deep, empty its
mountain of water down the sides OF
the gorge through which the South
Fork flowed. the limited express would
be destroyed and all on board swept
into eternity"
Mr.. Hatton suggested that the train
be moved across the bridge. The
conductor at first said that he had
orders to stay where he was, but he
finally consented to take the train
across. About fifteen minutes after
the limited had reached the north
side," says Mr.. Hatton, "the engine OF
the freight train which had remained
on the south side, gave fierce shrek
and the train started for the bridge.
Intuitively every one knew the dam
had broken and the water was coming.
The inhabitants, shrieking and crying,
ran for the mountain side. The two
engines on the limited blew their whis-
ties and started with the train up the
track, followed by freight train.
The writer was in the rear OF the
next to the last car on the limited.
The roar of the waters was almost
deafening. In less time than it has
taken to write this paragraph it had
struck the houses nearest the bridge
and they were lifted high in the air
and tumbled over into the surging
stream. The engine Of the escaping
freight train which had given the
alarm had hardly reached the north
side when the bridge went down and
the freight cars were borne off by the
rushing waters. As the passenger
train fed up the track the backwater
of the north branch carried by it
articles of furniture from the houses
which a few seconds before were
standing by the side of the train.
There was great excitement among
the passengers on the train, but it was
soon discovered that the danger was
past and thank God we are safe
went up from the hearts and lips of all
IN hoard -