Produced by Charlene Taylor, Greg Bergquist and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) Transcriber's Note The punctuation and spelling from the original text have been faithfully preserved. Only obvious typographical errors have been corrected. DEDICATION. TO THE SURVIVING SUFFERERS OF THE APPALLING CALAMITY AT JOHNSTOWN AND NEIGHBORING VILLAGES THIS WORK WHICH RELATES THE THRILLING STORY OF THE GREAT DISASTER IS DEDICATED. THE JOHNSTOWN HORROR!!! OR VALLEY OF DEATH, BEING A COMPLETE AND THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE AWFUL FLOODS AND THEIR APPALLING RUIN, CONTAINING Graphic Descriptions of the Terrible Rush of Waters; the great Destruction of Houses, Factories, Churches, Towns, and Thousands of Human Lives; Heartrending Scenes of Agony, Separation of Loved Ones, Panic-stricken Multitudes and their Frantic Efforts to Escape a Horrible Fate. COMPRISING THRILLING TALES OF HEROIC DEEDS; NARROW ESCAPES FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH; FRIGHTFUL HAVOC BY FIRE; DREADFUL SUFFERINGS OF SURVIVORS; PLUNDERING BODIES OF VICTIMS, ETC. TOGETHER WITH Magnificent Exhibitions of Popular Sympathy; Quick Aid from every City and State; Millions of Dollars Sent for the Relief of the Stricken Sufferers. By JAMES HERBERT WALKER, THE WELL KNOWN AUTHOR. FULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH SCENES OF THE GREAT CALAMITY. H.J. SMITH & CO., 249 South Sixth St., Philadelphia CHICAGO, ILL.: NOS. 341-351 DEARBORN ST. KANSAS CITY, MO.: NO. 614 EAST SIXTH ST. OAKLAND, CAL. NO. 1605 TELEGRAPH AVE. COPYRIGHTED, 1889. PREFACE The whole country has been profoundly startled at the Terrible Calamity which has swept thousands of human beings to instant death at Johnstown and neighboring villages. The news came with the suddenness of a lightning bolt falling from the sky. A romantic valley, filled with busy factories, flourishing places of business, multitudes of happy homes and families, has been suddenly transformed into a scene of awful desolation. Frightful ravages of Flood and Fire have produced in one short hour a destruction which surpasses the records of all modern disasters. No calamity in recent times has so appalled the civilized world. What was a peaceful, prosperous valley a little time ago is to-day a huge sepulchre, filled with the shattered ruins of houses, factories, banks, churches, and the ghastly corpses of the dead. This book contains a thrilling description of this awful catastrophe, which has shocked both hemispheres. It depicts with graphic power the terrible scenes of the great disaster, and relates the fearful story with masterly effect.