David McCullough Library E-book Box Set

by David McCullough

  In after-dinner speeches at the Duquesne Club, Robert Pitcairn would recall the services rendered by the railroad and ask if a “heartless corporation” could have behaved so. Bill Jones never said much about what he did, though he was quoted as saying that perhaps Johnstown ought to rebuild on higher ground. When he returned to Pittsburgh from Johnstown, Jones had only two months to live. At the end of the summer he was killed when a furnace he was working on at the Braddock mill exploded.

  The members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club remained silent. The matter of their part in the flood was simply not mentioned, and as the years passed less and less was heard of it. In another generation it would be just about forgotten in Pittsburgh.

  The more or less agreed-to attitude of Johnstown’s business people was also that the flood should be forgotten as soon as possible. There was no sense dwelling on the thing. It was bad for the spirits, and it most certainly was harmful to business.

  “It may be well to consider that the flood, with all its train of horrors, is behind us, and that we have hence forth to do with the future alone,” said George Swank in the Tribune on the morning of June 1, 1892. It was his conclusion to a long description of the ceremonies held the day before at Grandview Cemetery. The whole city had been shut down and close to 10,000 people had gone up to the new burying grounds.

  Except for the plot for the flood dead, Grandview was still very sparsely occupied. It had been started by Cyrus Elder, John Fulton, and others only a few years before the flood and was laid out a good distance from town up on some of the highest land for miles around. The idea was that here the dead would be safe from spring floods. The view was very grand indeed, stretching off in every direction as far as the eye could carry; but the trees blocked a direct look back down into the great amphitheater among the hills where Johnstown lay, and so the city was wholly concealed, and except for the distant sound from the mills, it was almost as though there was nothing even like a city anywhere near.

  On the afternoon of the 31st, with the new governor present, and with Johnstown’s first mayor, Horace Rose, officiating, a large granite monument was dedicated to the “Unknown Dead Who Perished in the Flood at Johnstown, May 31, 1889.”

  Behind the monument, arranged very precisely row on row, were 777 small, white marble headstones.

  The unknown plot had been purchased by the Relief Commission and the bodies moved there from Nineveh, Prospect Hill, and half a dozen other places during the early fall of 1889. It had taken the time since to raise money for the monument and the nameless headstones. Actually, there were not quite a full 777 bodies buried in the plot; someone had decided to set out a few extra stones just to make an even pattern. But the effect on the immense throng gathered in the warm afternoon sunshine was very great. Against the long sweep of grass and the darker green of the bordering trees, the people stood in their funeral best, clustered in a dark, tight mass, strangely motionless and silent beneath the veiled monument. A few steps beyond, the carriages for the dignitaries were drawn up.

  There were several speeches, the longest and best of which was by the governor, Robert Pattison, who, in offering a lesson to be learned from the disaster, said, “We who have to do with the concentrated forces of nature, the powers of air, electricity, water, steam, by careful forethought must leave nothing undone for the preservation and protection of the lives of our brother men.”

  Then the choir sang “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”; the monument was unveiled, and people started back along the winding road that led down into town.

  List of Victims

  Total Number Lost, 2,209

  This list, dated July 31, 1890, is the one printed in the Johnstown Tribune fourteen months after the Flood.

  GRAND VIEW CEMETERY.

  [Buried in private lots in Grand View.]

  Alexander, Arailia K., Broad street.

  Andrews, John, Sr., 57, John street.

  Arther, Mrs. Alice, 29, Water street.

  Bantley, William G., 36, Third Ward.

  Bantley, Mrs. Ella, 30, Third Ward.

  Bantley, George L., 6 months, Third Ward.

  Barbour, Mrs. Mary, 25, Woodvale.

  Barbour, Florence, 4, Woodvale.

  Barley, Mrs. Barbara, 56, Woodvale.

  Barley, Nancy, 29, Woodvale.

  Barley, Viola, 9, Woodvale.

  Beam, Dr. Lemon T., 55, Market street.

  Beam, Charles C., 4, Market street.

  Beam, Dr. W. C., 35, Locust street.

  Beam, Mrs. Clara, 32, Locust street.

  Beckley, E. E., 23, Main street.

  Bending, Mrs. Elizabeth, 48, Locust street.

  Bending, Jessie, 24, Locust street.

  Bending, Katie, 15, Locust street.

  Beneigh, John C., 65, Cambria.

  Benford, Mrs. E. E., 63, Hulbert House.

  Benford, Maria, 34, Hulbert House.

  Benford, May, 26, Hulbert House.

  Benford, Louis, 30, Hulbert House.

  Benshoff, J. Q. A., 62, Somerset street.

  Benshoff, Arthur, 27, Somerset street.

  Bowman, Nellie, 9, Haynes street.

  Bowman, Charles H., 7, Haynes street.

  Bowman, Frank P., 33, Woodvale.

  Bowman, Emma, 28, Woodvale.

  Brinkey, Dr. J. C., 28, Franklin street.

  Brinkey, Elmer, 26, Hulbert House.

  Buchanan, John S., 69, Locust street.

  Buchanan, Mrs. Kate J., 63, Locust street.

  Buchanan, Robert L., 20, Locust street.

  Connelly, Maud, 6, Franklin.

  Constable, Philip E., 60, Broad street.

  Cope, Mrs. Margaret, 65, Conemaugh.

  Cope, Ella B., 28, Conemaugh.

  Cooney, Mrs. Elizabeth.

  Davis, Mary Ann, 40, Woodvale.

  Davis, Thomas S., 59, Locust street.

  Davis, Mrs. Elizabeth.

  Davis, Mrs. Susan, 27, Millville.

  Davis, Clara, 8, Millville.

  Davis, Willie, 3, Millville.

  Davis, Eliza M.

  Davis, Margaret, E.

  Davis, Mrs. Cora B., 25, Water street.

  Davis William L.

  Davis, Willard G.

  Davis, Mary G.

  Delaney, Mrs. Jessie, 29, Vine street.

  Delaney, Mrs. Ella A.

  Dibert, John, 56, Main street.

  Dibert, Blanche, 9, Main street.

  Dixon, David, 40, Millville.

  Diller, Rev. Alonzo P., Locust street.

  Diller, Mrs. Marion, Locust street.

  Diller, Isaac, Locust street.

  Dinant, Lola, Locust street.

  Dorris, August.

  Drew, Mrs. Mark, 62, Millville.

  Drew, Mollie, 8, Conemaugh street.

  Duncan, Mrs. Sarah A., 23, Woodvale.

  Dyer, Mrs. Nathan, 64, Somerset street.

  Eck, Mary Ellen.

  Edwards, Mrs. Annie R.

  Eldridge, Samuel B., Apple Alley.

  Eldridge, Abram S., 34, Merchants’ Hotel.

  Etchison, John, 44, Napoleon street.

  Evans, Mrs. William F., 63, Union street.

  Evans, Maggie, 11, Lewis Alley.

  Evans, Kate, 5, Lewis Alley.

  Evans, Mrs. Josiah, 36, Vine street.

  Evans, Maggie, 16, Vine street.

  Evans, Lake, 6, Vine street.

  Evans, Ira, 6 months, Vine street.

  Evans, Mrs. Maggie, 37, Vine street.

  Evans, Mrs. Ann.

  Evans, Sadie, 8, Vine street.

  Evans, Herbert, 3, Vine street.

  Evans, Pearl, 1, Vine street.

  Evans, Lizzie.

  Fails, Francis.

  Fenn, John, 35, Locust street.

  Fenn, Genevieve, 9, Locust street.

  Fenn Bismarck S., 3, Locust street.

  Findlay, Lulu, 16. Woodvale.

  Fisher, John H., 55, Main street.

  Fisher Mary J., 46, Main street.

&nbs
p; Fisher, Emma K., 23, Main street.

  Fisher, Ida, 19, Main street.

  Fisher, Madge, 10, Main street.

  Fisher Minnie, 21, Main street.

  Fisher, George 12, Main street.

  Fisher, Frank, 9 months.

  Fleck, Leroy Webster.

  Fox, Martin 51, Conemaugh.

  Frank, John, Sr., 58, Washington street.

  Frank, Mrs. Eliza, 44, Washington street.

  Frank, Katie, 19, Washington street.

  Frank, Emma, 17, Washington street.

  Frank, Laura, 12, Washington street.

  Fredericks, Mrs. A. G., 45, Millville.

  Fredericks, Mrs. Sarah A.

  Frederick, Edmon.

  Fritz, Maggie, 26, Conemaugh.

  Fritz, Kate, 22, Conemaugh.

  Fronheiser, Mrs. Kate, 33, Main street.

  Fronheiser, Bessie, 8, Main street.

  Fronheiser, Catherine, 3 months, Main street.

  Gageby, Mrs. Rebecca, 74, Jackson street.

  Gageby, Sadie, 27, Jackson street.

  Gallagher, Prof. C. F., 34, Main street.

  Gallagher, Lizzie, 29, Main street.

  Gard, Andrew, Jr., 25, Main street.

  Geddes, George, 47, Woodvale.

  Geddes, Marion, 17, Woodvale.

  Geddes, Paul, 15, Woodvale.

  Gilmore, Mrs. Margaret, 40, Union street.

  Gilmore, Anthony, 8, Union street.

  Gilmore, Llewelyn, 6, Union street.

  Gilmore, Willy, 4, Union street.

  Gilmore, Clara, 2, Union street.

  Golde, Mrs. Henry, 32, Walnut street.

  Griffin, Mary, 47, Walnut street

  Hager, Mary E., 33, Washington street.

  Hager, Mrs. Emma.

  Hamilton, Jacob, 70, Bedford street.

  Hamilton, Jessie, 30, Bedford street.

  Hamilton, Laura, 24, Bedford street.

  Hamilton, Alex, Jr., 35, Locust street.

  Hamilton, Mrs. Alex, 30, Locust street.

  Hamilton, Marion, Locust street.

  Hamilton, Louther J.

  Hammer, George K., 19, Moxham.

  Harris, Mrs. William T.

  Harris, John, 3, Market street.

  Harris, Margaret, 47, Market street.

  Harris, Wm. L., 23, Market street.

  Harris, Winnie, 21, Market street.

  Harris, Maggie A., 19, Market street.

  Harris, Sarah, 16, Market street.

  Harris, Frank, 12, Market street.

  Haynes, Walter B., 22, Horner street.

  Haynes, Laura C., 20, Horner street.

  Hennekamp, Rebecca, 24, Franklin street.

  Hennekamp, Oscar E., 2, Franklin street.

  Hennekamp, S. E., 27, Lincoln street.

  Heidenthal, Harry R.

  Heiser, George, 50, Washington street.

  Heiser, Mrs. George, 48, Washington street.

  Helsel, George, 16, Johns street.

  Hite, Mrs. Ella, 37, Somerset street.

  Hochstein, Henry, 30, Conemaugh.

  Hoffman, Benjamin F., 56, Market street.

  Hoffman, Mrs. Mary, 43, Market street.

  Hoffman, Bertha, 19, Market street.

  Hoffman, Minnie, 16, Market street.

  Hoffman, Marion, 14, Market street.

  Hoffman Florence, 10, Market street.

  Hoffman, Joseph, 8, Market street.

  Hoffman, Helen, 4, Market street.

  Hoffman, Freda, 1, Market street.

  Hoffman, Mrs. Mary, 41, Washington street.

  Hohnes, Mrs. Ann, 24, Conemaugh.

  Hohnes, Mrs. Elizabeth, 80, Lincoln street.

  Hohnes, Julia, 18, Conemaugh.

  Hollen, Charles.

  Howe, Thomas J., Bedford street.

  Howells, William, 59, Union street.

  Howells, Maggie, 23, Union street.

  Howells, Mrs. Ann.

  Hughes, Maggie, 22, Sugar Alley.

  Hughes, Evan, 57, Sugar Alley.

  Humm, Geo. C, Merchants’ Hotel

  Humphreys, William, 18, Levergood street.

  Jacobs, Lewis, 41, Cambria City.

  James, Mrs. Ellen M., 42, Main street.

  James, Mollie, 13, Market street.

  Jones, Mary J.

  Jones, Reuben, 1, Main street.

  Jones, James, 32, Conemaugh.

  Jones, Ann, 9 Conemaugh.

  Jones, Mrs. W. W.

  Jones, Edgar R.

  Jones, Mrs. Mary A., 52, Pearl street.

  Jones, Eliza, 15, Pearl street.

  Karns, Joseph, 50, Locust street.

  Keedy, Harry C., 30, Millville.

  Keedy, Mrs. Mary, 32, Millville.

  Kegg, William E., 17, Locust street.

  Keiper, Essie J., 24, Franklin.

  Keiper, Ralph, 5 months, Franklin.

  Kennedy, H.D., 32, Stonycreek street.

  Keyser, Mrs. John.

  Keyser, Ralph.

  Keighly, Mary L., 52, Main street.

  Kidd, Joshua, 65, Walnut street.

  Kidd, Mrs. Sarah, 60, Walnut street.

  Kirkbride, Mahlo’n, 33, Hager Block.

  Kirkbride, Mrs. Ida, 30, Hager Block.

  Kirkbride, Luida, 8, Hager Block.

  Kirlin, Thomas, 40, Conemaugh street.

  Kirlin, Eddie, 12, Conemaugh street.

  Kirlin Frank, 5, Conemaugh street.

  Knorr, Mrs. Mary, 45, Jackson street.

  Knorr, Emma, 16, Jackson street.

  Knorr, Bertha, 14, Jackson street.

  Knox, Mrs. Thomas, 45, Somerset street.

  Koenstyl, Samuel.

  Kratzer, Mrs. Mary, Market street.

  Kuntz, Wade, 21, Morris street

  Lambreski, Mrs. Barbara, 35, Cambria.

  Lambreski, Mary, 6, Cambria.

  Lambreski, John, 4, Cambria.

  Layton, Mrs. Elvira.

  Layton, William, 58, Broad street.

  Layton, Mrs. William, 53, Broad street.

  Layton, May, 22, Broad street.

  Layton, David, Broad street.

  Layton, Ella, Broad street.

  Lee, Dr. J. K., 48, Main street.

  Leitenberger, Mrs. Leah, 68, Vine street.

  Leitenberger, Nancy, 48, Vine street.

  Leitenberger, Ella, 35, Vine street.

  Leitenberger, Eliza, 46, Vine street.

  Lenhart, Samuel, 58, Clinton street.

  Lenhart, Mrs. Mary, 56, Clinton street.

  Lenhart, Annie E., 20, Clinton Street.

  Lenhart, Emma J., 17, Clinton street.

  Lenhart, Katie M., 13, Clinton street.

  Lewis, Mrs. Ann.

  Lewis, Ananias, 41, Millville.

  Levergood, Mrs. Jane, 75, Bedford street.

  Levergood, Lucy, 45, Bedford street.

  Lewis, Orrie P., 6, Millville.

  Lewis James.

  Linton, Minnie, 20, Lincoln street.

  Litz, Mrs. John, 74, Morris street.

  Llewellyn, Mrs. Margaret, 37, Walnut street.

  Llewellyn, Annie, 5, Wainut street

  Llewellyn, Sadie, 8, Walnut street

  Llewellyn, Herbert, 3, Walnut street.

  Liewellyn, Pearl, 1, Walnut street.

  Luckhart, Louis, 69, Main street.

  Luckhart, Mrs. Adolph, 26, Main street.

  Ludwig, Charles.

  Ludwig, Henry G., 34, Bedford street.

  Ludwig, Mrs. Kate, 35, Bedford street.

  Mangus, Martha.

  Marbourg, Dr. H. W., 56, Market street.

  McDowell, Geo., 29, Pearl street.

  McDowell, Mrs. Agnes, 33, Pearl street.

  McDowell, Lilly, 3, Pearl street.

  McDowell, Georgia.

  McClelland, Mrs. Jennie, 34, Sherman street.

  McConaghy, Mrs. Kate, 68.

  McConaughy, James P., 72, Walnut street.

  McConaughy, Mrs. Caroline M., 65, Walnut street.

  McConaughy, Wallace, 25, Walnut street
.

  McConaghy, Robert W.

  McKee, John, 21, Bedford street.

  McKinstry, Mrs. Mary C., 45, Hager Block.

  McKinstry, Annie R., 14, Hager Block.

  McVay, Lizzie, 20, Locust street

  Merle, Elmer E.

  Moore, Mrs. Charlotte L.

  Meyers, Mrs. Elizabeth, 55, Washington street.

  Meyers, Mary, 24, Washington street.

  Meyers, Mrs Catherine, 31 Millville.

  Meyers, John, 3, Millville.

  Miller, Jessie B., 16, Somerset street.

  Morgan, Mrs. Charlotte, 49, Millville.

  Morgan, Martha, 13, Millville.

  Morgan, Minnie, 4, Milliville.

  Murr, Charles, 41, Washington street.

  Murr, Maggie, 14, Washington street.

  Musser, Charles, 23, Main street.

  Nixon, Mrs. Elizabeth, 39, Woodvale.

  Nixon, Emma R., 16, Woodvale.

  Nixon, Eddie, 8, Woodvale.

  Noro, Kate.

  Owens, Gladies, 5 months, Conemaugh street.

  Owens, Thomas, 10, Conemaugh street.

  Owens, William, 65, Market street.

  Owens, Annie.

  Owens, Mrs. Mary Ann, 31, Conemaugh street.

  Owens, Mary, 8, Conemaugh street.

  Oyler, Mrs. Mary R., 27, Woodvale.

  Oyler, John R., 6, Woodvale.

  Parke, Mrs. Agnes J., 56, Bedford street.

  Parke, William E., Bedford street.

  Parsons, Mrs. Eva M., 23, Locust street.

  Penrod, William H., 59, Conemaugh.

  Peyton, John W., 65, Clinton street.

  Peyton, George A., 19, Clinton street.

  Peyton, Marcellus K., 16, Clinton street.

  Peyton, Julia F., 13, Clinton street.

  Phillips, Mrs. Jane M., 68, Market street.

  Pike, William W., 50, Haynes street.

  Pike, William W., 15, Haynes street.

  Pike, S. Bowen, 10, Haynes street.

  Poland, Walter, 5, Market street.

  Poland, Frederik, 3, Market street.

  Potter, Joseph R., 63, Woodvale.

  Potter, Mrs. Sarah, 59, Woodvale.

  Potter, Nora G., 17, Woodvale.

  Potts, Miss Jane E., 47, Walnut street.

  Powell, Richard, 4 weeks, Vine street.

  Powell, George, 11/2, Vine street.

  Pritchard, Henry, 62, Market street.

  Prosser, Fannie, 22, Market street.

  Prosser, Bessie, 19, Market street.

  Prosser, Maria.

  Purse, Mary L., Market street.

  Raab, George, 44, Clinton street.