Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-02
j A Graphic Renaissance Of JohnstOWn
TFrom the Woodstock (va.,) Herald

] A GrdpllC RGllnlSCGlCe OF JOllSlOWl
From the Woodstock (Va.,) Herald
Mr.. Nihiser, whom we mentioned las
week as living in JohnstO w, Pa, at the
time of the great flood md who is native
OF this county and is here on visit, has al
interesting story to tell of his experience
in that great and awful calamity.
MIR. Nihiser's story is as follows: About
began to rise so rapidly that we scarcely
had time to get to the roof of the house
When say zoe, | mean the family witt
whom I boarded. The house stood ON the
corner of Main and Market streets. Miss
Maggie Schaffer, daughter Of the landlady
told us to follow her. She got out of q
back window on the porch roof and led the
way into the window and went up to the
attic OF higher house-a three story brick
house with mansard roof. Some of us
went out and stood in the gutter of the
Mansard. | can not begin to give the hor
ror OF that awful scene. Some were cry
ing and screaming at the top Of their voices
some We're saying 'good-bye,' some were
praying and heard one say s'The end OF
time is come = others were clasped in one
another's arms. The cries from a distance
the screaming of children and the tremend
GUS noise and cracking of the buildings
that were falling and torn to pieces as they
| 1uoICA Ny 10 w do SlCkCuluS. 10 COulp16tt
the horror, about half a mile above us was
situated the wire mill and it was in full
blast when the waters rushed upon it. A
vast column of steam shot up into the all
and the whole sky was suddenly darkened
almost as night. Then as they rushed to-
ward us it looked as it the clouds vert
sweeping and driving the waters before
them. At this instant house struck the
one upon which we were standing. Myself
and young man namedhFelix Bard sprane
upon the house that struck ours. The
brick walls of the house, we left, fell
down, the mansard roof fell down to the
surface OF the waters and we stepped back
upon its broad, fiat, tin surface and began
our journey down the river to the
MUCH TALKED OF RAILROAD BRIDGE,
where so many persons were cremated.
| There were 80 persons on the tin roof and
in the attic of the mansard part of the
house, which, when deprived of it's walls,
| fiOated on the water. We did not have a
long voyage, not more than about two
squares. The reason was the railroad stone
bridge. Where our house was located the
stream seemed to divide and to flow off to
| the left and right. We foated around
awhile and finally settled down about a
quarter of a mile above the great stone
bridge. While this stone bridge is thought
to have done great deal of harm l think
it was the means of saving our lives, for it
caused an eddy in the waters where. our
house, with good many others, landed
Not one Of our So goyagers qo0s lost.
| When the roof of our house landed, most
of our party made their way across the
debris to the roof of large brick houst
owned by Colonel Campbell and through
he observatory down into the house, aftel
the waters subsidized.
I took the opposite direction to the right.
l saw MI. Frazier in his garnet, looking
out of the hatch-hole. He invited me in
and I went in. His wife and little boy
were there and the little fellow was CRYING
as though his heart was broken Mrs
Frazier was sitting there as composed as if
she was sitting in her parlor and nothing
had happened. remarked that she seemed
very composed. She smiled and said, Il
am not the least alarmed. My life is in the
hands of my Maker, and I know He will
take care Of me and do what is right"
shall never forget the ladys resigned ex-
preston.
| At Mr.. Frazier request looked out and
told him that the waters were falling. He
said Il am glad of that, the worst is over
and we are safe" passed on to the roof
of another house and presently heard a
noise down between the houses. Looking
down
| I SAW A MANS HEAD POP UP
| through the drift, between two logs. He
made every effort to get on the logs, but
| they would roll over and let him under.
| went down to the caves of the roof and
when he came up again 1 caught him by
the hand at considerable peril to myself,
had summoned came. All this time I was
supported by snoW-brake on the roof
Finally, at considerable risk to ourselves,
we landed him safe on the roof The
stranger wiped the water from his eyes
with his hand, and, after considerable
coughing and splitting, drew long breath,
hell Of a flood, amt it?'' We thought
praying more in order than swearing, but
no one resented the remark. The remain
der of the evening spent in helping to get
out persons, dead, alive and dying.
The large brick clubhouse on the corner
of Walnut and Main streets was used as a
morgue.
l heard some one calling for help.
searched and found woman fast in the
debris. She was in an upright position.
her head shoulders and arms being above
water. All attempts to eXtricate her failed.
She kept begging for Goods sake" not to
let her go. She could hardly hold her head
up any longer. I called help and we be-
gan removing the drift, and found she was
sitting up in bed. 1 caught hold of some
thing thought was bed clothes. I pulled
at it until | pulled a woman out of the
water by her clothes. She was dead
had been working IN the rain bare-headed
and bare-footed and I got sick and had to
leave The others finally got the woman
out, but she died soon after
That night the debris at the stone bridge
took fire and lit up the place where we
were so we could see pretty we'll. We were
not allowed to strike a light at the Club
House as we did not know the condition of
the natural gas pipes.
About A. M. l was taken out on raft
with several others and landed on Adams
street, at the head of Main. There were
appalling scenes there, the carrying out of
the dead to the morgue and the lamenta-
lions Of the living. 1t was sad sight to see
friends meet and embrace each other with
tears streaming down their cheeks and
wonder when they would see their dead
ones brought out. saw three small chill
dren brought out at one time. One man
had two of his own. At this morgue the
dead were as numerous as the living
The above is the story of Mr.. James Fl.
Nihiser, briefly told, with the omission of
several incidents on account of lack of
space. It is story as true as sad, being
his personal experiences of that awful
time. Mr. Nihiser in his visit here is ac-
companied by his son, a very fine young
man, employed as a printer ON one Of the
JOhnstoWn papers.