The story of Johnstown : its early settlement, rise ... - JohnstownCafe

iMrs.
154 THE STORY or JOHXSTO WW.
away, ^\as in flames. Hornick's Hotel building caught twice, thus threatening
them with tUstiucticn by fire, but the flames in the Keystone were extingui'~he(i
both tinus. All escaped cm Saturdax' morning.
No building in town was better known than the •• Old Arcade." For
seven or eight \ears it had been owned h\ Charles Oswald, who kept a saloon
in the north end. The roof of the Arcade carried Mr. Oswald, his wile, and
five children. W'l sley Horner, wife, and four children, and Mrs. John Spenger
and her son Edward to the stone bridge. Mr. Horner, young Spenger. Mrs.
Oswald and one son were rescued.
It is remarkable that all the blind people in Johnstown were saved.
Among them were Mrs. Hohman. lame and infirm from age ; Mr. Edwards, tlic
broom-maker, and Mr. Gei^t. the ciLiar-maker. Many ver_\- old people also
escaped. Judge Potts, Charles B. Ellis, Judge Easly, Itavid Peelor, William
Cover. Hugh ^[cGnire, Mrs. Sarah J. ^b^rrison and Mrs. Magellan may be
mentioned. Some of them had frightful experiences, but all were soon able
to be about as usual.
Mr>. Mar\- Lev\ and her two daughters had a close call. She is the last of
thefamihof John Schell. who was the proprietor of a large landed property in
Bedford countv and laid out the village of Schellsburg. The residence was
broken up and the\ escaped from roof to roof until rescued 1)_\- friends, after
remaining on the wreck one ni^ht and part of the next day. Although eight\--
five years old Mr:,. Levy stood the exposure well. Her daughters clung to her
with loving care and tenderness.
George Rinebolt's mother, aged eighty, resided on Chestnut street, Cambria.
iMr. Rinebolt went down to her house while the water was rising on
Fridav forenoon, Feariuir the hcuise might be floated away, he secured a
large rope and fastened one end of it to the building and the other to a large
tree in front of the residence. Every house about it was swept away, and one
was thrown upon its side squarel\- against Mrs. Rinebolt's. Though nio\ed
about, it was held in place, and tree and house are still last friends.
Mrs Catharine Gaffney and hur fivo children were floated from Cambria
on the roof of tlieir house. .\t Sheridan Station one of the children was
rescued, a little farther down another, and so on until the raft arrived at a ])oint
between New Florence and Nineveh, when the mother, aged sixty-three years,
was landed.
Cohen lV Marx were in their new store'in Bantleys building. Main street,
trying to make their Ljoods as safe as possible, when the big water came. .\s
it rose thev had to rise with it or drown. Up they went not far from the skylight
in the floor above, which the_\- \\ere compelled to break with tlieir fists.
Their hands were bad!\- cut by the glass, buf they got out in .safety. Mrs.
Marx left her home on Walnut street and went to ^Irs. Cohen'-. i>n Lincoln
street.
'
Marx, with her bab\- in her arms and toUowed by Mrs. Cohen,