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

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came M> hope sank at this report It was late and onr miide rfminileil us that ue had better
find a place tor the nii;ht. Rest never entered our nimds, tail (or hnn Me «ouM have 'Aaiuiered
about all ni-ht as it dazed. We found a place in MorrelKille- lor that ni-ht. the best we
could expect under the circumstances We had eaten nothing the whole dav . were only
huni^ry for the si_;ht ol those we were seeking;. Such was the hrst day in Johnstown We had
walked at least fifteen miles. Next mornini; early we went bai:k to Johnstown in the heav\ rain.
We soUf^ht eier\ where, leaxins; no stone unturned to hnd them, troin one inori;ue to the
other, times without number each day, we went.
" Exery day brou.;ht with it new experiences and horrifvinc siL:hts We dismissed mir
guide and traveled about ourselves In Kernvillewe found part of their house, a mde from
where it had stood, all Ijroken to splinters L'nder the ruins we found the letters that were
written by my sister to Mr. Webber before their marria.i:;e. Later I found his letters to her in
Johnstown, near Morrell Institute. So we went on and on untd niLiht overtook us Then we
realized that we had no place of shelter I thouehl we wmdd be luore apt to find .1 place in
Kernville, so we decided to i,'0 thither We went from house to house and asked for Ioili_'ini.>. but
they said uo in every instance but .me. Mr Rhmebolt, of Napoleon Street, said we could stav
there. After ten days of fruitless search we returned home I was home only three davs when
word came that Florence was in Mercy Hospital. Pittsburtjh, sick. We went on immediately
and searched every hospital in and around the city, but all in vain. Our hopes were again
crushed and we once more left for home, stopping' oft at Johnstown, searching everywhere
"On Sunday we left for Harnsburg, as Mr. Webber e.xpected to sail for England the following
Thursdaw owing to his mother's serious illness from the shock of \'incent s death. She
was preparing to visit this countrx' when the news of his fate prc>3traied her The next da\' I
received a message saying Mr, Webber s body was found, I went on alone, identified his remains
and had him juried temporarily, thinking I would surelv find my sister and then take them
home together. For five long weeks I traver.sed mountains, went to Nineveh. New Florence and
everywhere 1 thought 1 might find some cine. From one night to the next I did not know
whither to go. until Mr. Lon.;akcr, in Kernville, kindly ollered me rcjom in his house. I followed
every report, never giving up hope At the end of five weeks I beyan to feel ill and
t'nought I better go home for a few days. Some of my Johnstown friends said they would
interest themselves in my case until I returned. My daily prayer was that I might find my
sister's remains. One day, while looking out of the MiUville morgue window, thinking and
feeling so ill, the thought suddenly came to me that, in the pile of debris opposite, close by the
armory, 1 would find the body of my sister I acted upon the thought and told Mr Henderson,
the undertaker He advised me to speak to Captain Hamilton, uho had then charge of
the town. I did so. At first he declined, saying that the force of men had been reduced and
other places Lad to be cleaned before the one I suggested to him. I told him that I felt my
sister was there I insisted and finally he promised to put a force of men on that spot I
watched until I was scarcely able to st.ind, so on F^riday, .\ugust 7th. I came home with Mr
Webber s remains. I had m.ade arrangements to return the following Wednesdav and had
some one stationed at my post.
"The following Wednesday I did return But the evening before I received a niess.ige,
'Mrs, Wefjber found,' and just where I thou^iht she would be. With what s,atistaction I returned
to Johnstown, know ing we could at least have her precious form to lay in a grav e vvi.' could
visit and keep fragrant On August oth 1 brought her body home for burial in the Harnsl>ur,'
Cemetery. Thus ended mv [ohnstovvn experience The trials, hard.-,hiris an.f i'rr. .ituuis i
counted nothing. Love for our dear ones helped nie bear all, and I only did what a true sister
shc>uld do My efforts were not in xain, for we have the sad satisfaction of knowing .vliere
their bodies are, whilst many will never be found. They now lie side fay side until the resurrection
morn sh.ill wake them, and we shall then realize the glad re-union our hearts are longing for."