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

-5 THE STORY OF JOHXSTOUW.
surrounding it, headed the train which sustained the least damage. The
iiiiglity arms were powerless and the fier}' bosom was chilled. Engineer
Henr}-, who escaped to the hills, coidd not restrain a sigh at the sight of his
giant pet, feeble and useless in the midst of a waste that so much needed the
assistance of the strong to bring order out of chaos.
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RAI RO^D R ^ F AT 1- \ C
A representative of the Associated Press, who had occupied a seat in the
second secticin. lucidly described some of the incidents that came under his
own observation :
"One gentleman, who was ill, had his berth made up and retired, althou.:;h advised not to
do so. Sooa the cry came that the water in the reservoir had broken the barrier and was sweeping
down the valley. Instantly there was a panic and a rush for the mountain-side. Children
were carried and women assisted by a few who kept cool heads. It w as a race for life. There
was seen the black head of the flood. With this in view, even the weak found w in>:s for their
feet \o words can describe the terror that filled every breast at the power exhibited by the
tiood. The round-house, locomotives and two-score dwellings were swept av.-av in a minute.
The locomotive of one of the trains was struck by a house and demolished. Th'e side of another
house stopped in front of a Iccomotive and served as a shield. The re.ir car of the mail train
swung around in the rear of the second section of the express and turned over on its side.
Three men were observed standing en it as it floated. Will they trust to it or the still upri-ht
Pullman cars The couplins^s broke and the car moved oat upon thb waters .\s it would roU