You are here:  Cambria > Books > History of the Johnstown Flood

360 THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD.

corner of the room. Three-quarters of them were not called for, and people who knew that telegrams were there for them did not have the patience to look through the heap for them. Finally some who were not worried to death took the telegrams, opened them all, and pinned them in separate packages in alphabetical order and then put them back on the table again, and they have been pored over, until their edges are frayed, by all the people who crowded into the little low-roofed room where Dictator Scott and his messengers are. There were something like three thousand telegrams there in all. Occasionally a few are taken away, but in the majority of cases they remain there. The persons to whom they were sent are dead or have not taken the trouble to come to headquarters and see if their friends are inquiring after them. Of course the Western Union Telegraph Company makes no effort to deliver the messages. This would be impossible.
    The telegrams addressed to the Citizens Committee headquarters are all different in form, of course, but they all breathe the utmost anxiety and suspense. Here are some samples: -
    Is Samuel there? Is there any hope? Answer me and end this suspense.      Sarah;
To anybody in Johnstown: -
    Can you give me any information of Adam Brennan?      Mary Brennan.


Previous page Title Page Contents Image Index Next page

Last Updated: 30 Mar 2008
Copyright © 2001, All Rights Reserved
Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen