By Harold H. Strayer and Irving L. London

On May 31, 1889, 32 engines of the great Pennsylvania Railroad had been ordered to stand by at Conemaugh because of the high water in Johnstown and a wash-out at Lilly.

At the eastern end of the Conemaugh yards stood the train of Engineer John Hess who was waiting for orders. When he heard the roar as the flood sped toward Conemaugh he realized that the dam had broken. Quickly he tied down the whistle of his engine and drove the train westward until he reached Conemaugh. The residents of East Conemaugh, Franklin, Woodvale and Conemaugh heard the steady scream of the engine and fled to the hills.

Two sections of the Day Express left Pittsburgh as usual. They were ordered to Conemaugh because of the high water and the sections were run on separate tracks with a freight train between them. A mail train was placed in the rear of the first section of the Day Express. When it was realized that the dam had broken the conductor told everyone to run for the hillside. Frantic exertions were made to escape — some terrified passengers jumped or fell into the water and drowned.

Some who could not leave the train survived with painful bruises—a drenching—and a paralyzing fright. The water rose almost to the car roof and twenty two passengers lost their lives. Rescued passengers were driven to Ebensburg where they continued their journey to Altoona via railroad. The railroad company quartered them with 600 other passengers from different trains.

It was reported that one body was not identified until November 4 when it was disinterred from Prospect Hill for removal to Grandview, when it was identified by a relative. Some bodies were found at the stone bridge — others were found as late as September in a cellar in Millvale. Other victims were found among the heaps of 200 unclaimed dead bodies about to be buried on Prospect Hill.