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

1/6 Th'E STORY OF JOILXSTOU'X.
roof, c.iiiL;ht Iilt \i\ the clotliinu; and held her until ^lic was rescued b}' her
luisband.
Among the heroes of tliis disaster— and some of them swept off in the
flood will ne\er he known — John Stitt. a boy, should have a memorial in enduring
granite. ffe was se\'enteen, and worked in tlie I'ennsyKania railruad
machine shop at Ijkiirs\'ille. Alter helping to pull se\eral pei>ple out at the
bridge, he went to the shops and came back with a !ocom(_)tive headbght.
Standing on the bridge he turned it \\\\> way and that, imt only sa\'ing many
from being dashed against the bridge, or cau-rht in the houses that cracked
like egg-shells against it, but enabling others to get to the shore. Several
times he was urged not to sta\'. but he kept his place and held tlie light, occasionally
taking off his hat and sending up a cheer as he saw one after another
safeh' reach the bank, 'bhen a wave larger than the others came, there was a
crash, and noble little John, stdl with his saving headlight, w as washed awaw
Elvie. the bright little dauL;hter of John Duncan, with her niDther and two
younger sisters, ried to the roof. .\ telegraj'h pule crushed the roof and threw
the two children into the flood. Without hesitation bra\-e I^hie jumped into
the water, caught her drowning sisters and managed. b\ hard swimming, to get
them to shore. The \oung heroine of this adventure received countless encomiums
for pluck and presence of mind which would ha\'e done honor to the
manliest citizen of Johnstown.
Joe Dixon, the wide-awake news dealer, wdio resembles Tom Thumb in
Edwaril Decker, just
size and build auiJ aspect, was hoisted out by aiu>ther lad.
as tlie driftwood hurled his slaiui off its pins. Joe's father and infant sister
were held between two houses In" the upturning. Both houses were carried
down against the bridge. In sight of his wife ami children the father drowned,
the water rising ami smothering him because of his in,il)iht\ to get from between
the buildings. His wife was so badly crushed that she will be crippled
the remainder of her d.i\s. The children, including the babe in its fatlier's
arms, were all saved. Friends in Pittsburgh, delighted with Joe's niank' fortitude,
raised money to erect him a new store and stock it nicely. The support
of liis mother and the }'ounger children, he is a veritable hercj in his simple
daily life.
Charles Hepenthal, aged iS, who" lives at East Liberty, was on his wa\' to
•rhool at Bellefonte. \\'hen the train was stopped at Sang H(.illi.iw h\ the flood,
the passengers left the cars to \iew the rushing water. Thev saw countless bodies
floating by and \vere utterly powerless to bring them to shore. .\ small frame
house came down the stream and floated into the eddy nearly ojiposite the
train. The passen'_:ers got as cluse to the house as possible and heard the
faint crying of a babe. Young Hepenthal expressed his determination to rescue
the chilli. Attempts were made to dissuade him from what seemed to be
a foolhard}- act. but he persisted, Tlie bell-cord was cut from the cars and