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

Their
I
Would
but,
SL.-U'Crf/TER OF THE I.X.XOCEXTS. 2.\\
"Up to this time I had retained a firm htild upon my wife as I found myself pinned
,
between two heavy timbers, the agony caused my senses to leave me momentarily. I recovered
instantly, in time to see my wife's head just disappearint; under the water Like lightniui; I
grasiied her by the h ur ami. as best I cmild, pinioned as I was above the water by the timber,
I raised her abo\e it The weight proved too much and she sank again. Again I pulled
her to the surface and auain she sank This I did again and again with no avad
She drc'wned in ni)' vcr> grasp, and at last she dropped trm my nerveless hands to leave
my sight forever. As if I had not suft'ered enough, a few moments after I saw some
objects whirling around in an eddy which circled around, until, reaching the current
again, they floated past me My God ! \ou belie\e me
' It was three of my children.
dead ! dear little faces are before me now, distorted in a look of agony that, no matter
what I do, haunts me. Oh, if I could onl\- have released myself at that time I would have willingl\
'
died with them was rescued st.me time after, and haie been here e\.er since I have since
learned that m\' friend who so bravel) endea\ored to save two of the children \\as lost with
them."
Of a \\'ood\alf niotluT and cme child, who were lost hi the llood, a pathetic
incident \vas tola b\ ,i \oiin;,' man who saw them in the water. He could
!:.a\e onh' one. as his life was in danger should he trs' to pilot them both to the
shore. The child calml_\ said: ••If yon can't sa\e lis both. lea\-e ns here to
die together." and the\- were carried away under the drift.
Their bodies were
never reco\ered.
A woman with one child saw the terrific torrent coming and liastil\' gatiiered
a bag of bonds and cash in hope of sa\ing it. The flood came upon
her, anil the alternati'.e presented was to drop the money, amounting to three
thousand dollars, or the child. The ruling passion was -not fatally strong, and
the money was lo-.t th.at the child might be saved.
With pallid face and hair clinging wet and damp to her cheek, a mother
was seen grasping a tloating timber, while on her other arm she held her babe.
already drowned. The woman sank, and was thus spared the giief of mourning
for her infant.
Three women were looking in the ruins on tl".e Point for some trace of
their former homes. A workman dug up a hubl)y-horse, liroken and mudcoated.
When one of them spied the toy it brouglit back a wealth of
memory. For the first time since the disaster she ga\e wa\' to a flood of tears.
welcome as sunshine from hea\en. for they allowed the pent-up grief to flow
freel}-. She sobbed out :
'
"Where did you i;et that It was my bov's! No, I don't want it Keep it. and find for
me. if you can, my album In it are the taces of my dead husband and children
The rough men who had. worked da\s in the \ alle\' of death turned aw.iy
from the scene to hide tlieir emotion. There was not a dry e\e in the crowd.
One touch of nature, and the thouight of little ones at home, weldi-d tiieiii in
lieart and symp.uhy to tins sorru\\ fill mother.
On Tuesday forenoon a gray-bearded man stood aboie the brid;;e. amid
tne blackened logs and ashes through which the polluted water of the Cone-