Section 53:  The Johnstown Flood

July 25th, 1889

I have arrived at another milepost in the journey of life. In the last year I have been twice east of the mountains -- once in September, 1888, and once in May and June, 1889 -- the latter as far as Harrisburg and came home through Center County. Spent a week in the valley each time and each time was caught by unusually wet weather.

The great rainfall that swept Johnstown the 30th and 31st of May found me in the valley and on my own farm at Clay Henderson's. On the morning of the first of June I knew by the torrent roaring down the little run by the house that a great rain had fallen, and while little damage was done there I was not surprised to hear of the great damage done further down the valley and along the Juniata.

The first rumor from Johnstown placed the loss of life at 15,000, and the story was so extravagant and improbable that I paid little attention to it. On Saturday evening authentic reports came from Lewistown that the storm was even worse than expected. On the Monday following, Mr. Henderson took me in a two horse buggy to Center County. On Tuesday I went up to Pennsylvania Furnace and had telephone communication with Tyrone City, but all I could learn was that no railroad communication was open to Pittsburgh on the west. I therefore stayed at James Oliver's till the following Friday, when John Archie took me in a buggy to Tyrone. The agents of the Pennsylvania Road telegraphed for me in all directions and found that I could get across the mountains by the Bells Gap Railroad to Punxsutawney, and so that afternoon I got over to Punxsutawney and by Saturday evening arrived at home.

I had telegraphed to the family two days before and they had been telegraphing to me, but I got none of theirs and mine arrived in Clarion an hour before I got there myself. The great loss of life at Johnstown had caused uneasiness among my friends at home.