The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-09-05
WONDERFUL IS THE SCEN0GRAPH.
Johnstown Disaster Depicted In Ap-
palliug Vividness on the Midway.

Catholic Union and Times OF May 20. 1901.
The Scenograph concession, 1.-The
Johnstown Flood" is one of the most
attractive productions on the Pan
American Midway-in fact, exPer-
fenced judges say it is one OF the
most realistic panorama they have
ever seen.
The panorama is 100 feet in length
and at least 40 in height. The large
auditorium is darkened and present.
lv the velvet curtains are thrust aside
and the City of Johnstown as it ap-
peared on the morning of May 80.
1889, is seen. 1t is national holt
day and everything is quiet as on
Sunday. Presently band is heard
playing the "Star Spangled Banner"
A little procession of Grand Army
men, preceded by band, crosses the
bridge, on its way to the cemetery to
lay flowers on the graves of dead COM
rades. Then the mantle of night falls
and Johnstown sleeps.
vIvIDLY REALISTIC.
The moon peeps over the top OF the
mountains, its silvery beams SEEM
ingly trying to Guido the bright red
glare from the furnaces OF the Cam
bria Iron Works and the glow from
the coke ovens on the opposite OF the
river. A passenger train, lighted
and apparently filed with visitors,
dashes across the foreground over the
lines of the Pennsylvania Company.
The morning comes again and the sun
rises and lifts the mist from the
valley. Johnstown is astir. Trolley
cars dash here and there with loads
Of human freight and business houses
are opened. The populace streams
into the streets. Suddenly the sky
darkens, lightnings flash, and the dis
tant peals of thunder can be heard.
The rain begins to fall first in little
scattering drops, and then in torrents.
A mighty roar is heard and the food
is upon the community. The South
Fork dam has burst and the water is
tearing through the valley sweeping
everything in it's path and scattering
death and destruction on every hand.
Great houses crumble like egg shells,
bridges are swept away, bodies are
seen tossed about by the turbulent
waves. The debris piles up at the
Pennsylvania railroad bridges and the
horror is increased by the presence of
fire. The flames leap high into the
air, funeral pyre for hundreds of
crushed and mutilated bodies.
In the distance can be seen the
flames from the Catholic church, at
which spot so many lost their lives
and whose bodies were never recover
cd, they being burned beyond recog-
milton. Presently rainbow appears.
like promise from Heaven that no
further harm shall come to the peo-
pie of the city. The sun shines, light
ing up scene of death aud devasta.
ton such as was never equalcd with
in the confines of this country. Fol
a second all is dark again and then in
a flash of light is seen Johnstown a.
it appears today, hustling, thriving
city, apparently fully recovered from
tho calamity of twelve years ago.
A foyer has been constructed i'm
medlately In the rear OF the AUDITOR
ium where writing material, direct
DRY. registration books and Other
conveniences are found. The walls
are decorated in an elaborate manner
with oil paintings and water colors
one of which is of more than ordinary
interest. 1t is life-size picture O.
John Baker, the hero of the Johns
town flood, who, at the risk of his life
mounted his horse and, dashing aheae
of the torrent, warned hundreds o
people who otherwise would have los
their lives.
There are many shows on the Mid
way-some bad, others Indifferent, {
few really good. The Johnstowl
flood is one of the latter. 1t really il
worth seeing.