LOCAL HISTORY: STOREY, Henry Wilson. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY PA. Vol. 1
The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907.

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Humenik.

There is an HTML version of this book, with page images, 
on the county web site: http://www.camgenpa.com/books/Storey/v1/ 


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_______________________________________________ 
                              CHAPTER XIX.

               FALL OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD PLATFORM.

     The first great disaster in Johnstown occurred in the fall of the portion 
of the platform over the Cambria Steel Company's railroad at the station of the 
Pennsylvania railroad, on Friday, September 14, 1866. There were three persons 
killed, three who died within a few days, and 387 injured. In fact there were 
few families who did not have one or more members or a relative included. The 
accident happened on the occasion of the visit of President Andrew Johnson and 
his most distinguished company in his "swing around the circle."
     An interminable conflict existed between the president, and congress on the 
policy of reconstruction after the Civil war. The president vetoed every bill 
passed by congress, which promptly passed it over his objections; the country 
was in accord with the views as expressed lay congress. The congressional 
elections for that year were to take place in October and
November, and the president undertook the trip through the north and west to 
endeavor to change the membership of the next congress to his views. The crisis 
came when Mr. Johnson tried to remove Edwin M. Stauton, who was Lincoln's 
secretary of war. This was followed on February 24, 1868, by the impeachment of 
the president for high crimes and misdemeanors. He was acquitted, however, by a 
vote of 35 to 19 nays, lacking one vote of the constitutional two-thirds vote.
     The company of persons traveling with the president was composed of the 
most eminent men of the time: Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant; Admiral David 
G. Farragut, William H. Seward, secretary of state; Gideon Welles, secretary of 
the navy; Senator Edgar Cowan; Major General George A. Custer; and John Covode, 
of Lockport, the leader of congress.
     An immense crowd had gathered to meet the distinguished persons when the 
special train arrived about 11 o'clock in the morning. It stopped opposite the 
station, but in order to procure more room for the people it was moved up to the 
crossing when the multitude passed to the east end of the platform. Mr. Covode 
introduced the President, who bowed and stepped back.


449     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

"When General Grant appeared on the rear platform of the car in his full uniform 
of General of the Army, Mr. Covode had only said, "Ulysses S. Grant," the 
enthusiasm of the people could no longer be restrained, and like one voice rose 
a continued cheer, the air white with handkerchiefs. The crowd swayed in effort 
to reach him when he retired, and in his place appeared the surpassing figure of 
Admiral Farragut, also in full naval uniform with yellow decoration, as his last 
promotion had been just confirmed by the Senate. Tall, erect, light of step, his 
sixty-five years had but slightly faded his light hair, falling in waves on his 
neck. At his name the enthusiasm doubled; what had been cheers became a 
triumphal roar of welcome; hats were tossed, with shouts for "Farragut! 
Farragut!" Veterans tried to force a passage to the front; those on the bridge 
leapt to the vacated space on the platform; then, with a grinding sway, the 
entire structure gave way, and two thousand persons sank from sight as though 
the earth had opened.
     Such a scene, can it be depicted? The train moved some distance above the 
crossing. The President and his company alighted, and from the edge of the 
abyss, gazed down the sheer, distance where the victims writhed, covered with 
blood, before they could be rescued. Captain John P. Suter had charge of the 
presidential train from Pittsburg to Altoona, and was met at the station by Mrs. 
Suter. They were standing by General Grant and when women and little children 
were laid on a strip of green sod they heard him say: "It was sadder than a 
battlefield." General Custer, who had faced death many times, stood abashed in 
grief.
     The President sent a letter and five hundred dollars to Mr. Morrell from 
Altoona, as below:
     "Sir: I am requested by Andrew Johnson (who deeply sympathizes with the 
families who have suffered by the terrible accident at Johnstown today) to 
request that the enclosed amount be applied to the relief of the most needy of 
the bereaved and wounded.
     "I am, sir, very respectfully yours,
          "WILLIAM G. MOORE, Assistant Adjutant-General."

     On the next day Major-General John W. Geary wrote to Mr. Morrell, thus: 
"While on my way from Pittsburg to Harrisburg this morning, I was shocked and 
grieved at the intelligence of the terrible accident of yesterday. I find among 
the killed and wounded many of my personal friends and neighbors, and I

     Vol. I-29


450     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

beg that you will extend to the latter and to the relations of the former my 
heartfelt sympathies. I enclose my draft, * * *."
     The Relief Committee was quickly organized, consisting of H. A. Boggs, 
chairman; H. D. Woodruff, secretary, and Howard J. Roberts, treasurer. The 
members from the wards were: First ward--James Morley, Irvin Rutledge, Frank W. 
Hay, Mrs. J. M. Campbell, Mrs. Evan Roberts, and Mrs. Abraham Kopelin. Second 
ward--H. A. Boggs, General James Potts, Rev. J. B. Uber, Mrs. W. C. Lewis, Mrs. 
Alexander Hamilton, Mrs. H. A. Boggs. Third ward--Robert P. Linton, D. C. 
Morris, Lewis Plitt, John Flanagan, Mrs. Emil Young, Mrs. Charles Zimmerman. 
Fourth ward--William Dysart, George Carroll, Wesley J. Rose, Mrs. John Lowman, 
Mrs. William Masterton and George Engelbach. Fifth ward--Leonard Dill, Mrs. John
Benton, Mrs. R. A. Fink, Captain J. K. Hite, Mrs. John Parks, William H. Rose. 
Conemaugh Borough, First ward--Captain H. D. Woodruff, Mary Griffin, Margaret 
Davis, Jane Wilson, Margaret Hesselbine, John Devlin, Nicholas Freidhoff and
Thomas J. Chapman. Second ward--Rev. Patrick Garvey, Mrs. Heslop, Mrs. Nolen, 
Mrs. Slater and Mr. Braddock. Millville Borough--Evan G. Lewis, Lewis R. Jones, 
Jonathan Lewis, David M. Davis, Joseph Masters, A. M. Gregg, Mrs. George 
Stuzman, Mrs. Daniel M. Davis. Cambria Borough--William A. Krise, Mrs. John 
Ryan, Mrs. Owen McCaffrey, Mrs. Adam Tawney, John Ryan and Daniel McDonald. 
Prospect Borough--John White, Mrs. John Smith, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. John 
Cavenaugh, Robert Dimond and Hugh McMonigal. Taylor township--James Cooper.
     Those killed in the disaster were: Catherine Quirk, wife of John Quirk, of 
Prospect; Nathaniel Duncan and David Metzgar. Those who were injured and died 
within a few days were: Mrs. Bridget Downey, Mary Jane Quinn and Mrs. Sarah 
Walsh.
The injured were:
     Rev. B. L. Agnew, ankle; Henry Aide, both limbs broken; Benjamin Andrews, 
hand.
     F. Bader, serious; William Baker, head and side; Lowman Barclay, slight; 
Mrs. Charles Barnes, slight; James Barnes, slight; Solomon Beadman, leg; Andrew 
Beck, ankle; Louis Beemer, slight; Philip Better (Wilmore), slight; Frank 
Benford, severe; R. E. C. Bennett, slight; Richard Bennett, slight; Daniel 
Berkey, leg broken; John Berkey, leg broken; Christian Biffinger, back: William 
Bledsoe's daughter, serious; Michael 


451     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Boland, contusions; Michael Bolan, slight; Lewis Bomer, slight; Captain W. B. 
Bonacker, collar bone broken; Ellen Bowers, bruised; William Bowers, back; Alice 
Bowman, bruised; Frederick Bowman, bruised; James Boyle, slight; Pius Braddock,
nose and leg; Edward Brady, serious; John Brady, leg broken; Edward Breever, 
feet; Kate Bridges, arm broken; Robert Bridges, leg broken, cut seriously; John 
Brown, arm; Rev. Brown, ankle broken; John S. Buchanan, slight; ex-Sheriff John 
Buck, bruised severely; James Burtnett, slight; Joseph Bush, arm; Elijah Butler, 
leg, and Thomas Butler, thigh.
     W. H. Campbell, slight; Letitia Canan, serious; Robert H. Canan, slight; 
William H. Canan, internally; Charles Caney, Conemaugh, bruised; James Caney, 
slight; Nicholas Cannan, shoulder and knee; Dennis Canon, leg and face, serious; 
A. Carpenter, head, serious; Edward Cartwright, serious; David Clark, severe; 
Peter Clarkins, shoulder and thigh broken; Mrs. Sarah Clawson, slight; Christian 
Colburn, nose broken; Casper Collins, leg and back; Stephen Connelly, bruised; 
Ahlum Cope, slight; Geo. W. Cope, slight; Alexander Cover, slight; B. F. Cover, 
slight; John Cox, Esq., leg, serious; Emma Coy, slight; D. Cramer, slight; James 
Craver, slight; Mrs. David Creed, slight; Joseph Crouse, slight; J. P. 
Culbertson, arm and leg; and Isaac Culin, slight.
     Margaret Daily, thigh; Mrs. Daly, widow, leg and arm; D. L. Davis, slight; 
Mary Ann Davis, severe; Mary M. Davis, slight; Miriam Davis, wrist; Louis Diner, 
slight; Frank Dibert, leg broken; John Dickey, thigh broken; James Dimond, 
slight; Patrick Dimond, eye put out and leg injured; John Donnelly, slight; 
William Doubt, side; Samuel Milton Douglass, ankle; Mrs. James Downey, serious; 
Samuel Dumfee, severe; William Dumfee, severe, and Michael D. Duncan, slight.
     Casper Easly, severe; James Eldridge, leg and wrist; George Engelbach, 
back; August Erb, ankle; Hannan Etzel, shoulder and leg; Rev. Evans, slight, and 
Stephen Evans, slight.
     Bridget Fehely, slight; Jacob Fend, nose broken; Tillie Fend Gageby, collar 
bone broken; William Fennell, slight; Dennis Finnerty, serious; Peter Fisher, 
Conemaugh, back; Edgar 0. Fisher, slight; John H. Fisher, serious; Judge John 
Flanagan, slight; Michael Flattery, leg crushed; Theodore Fockler, slight; 
Josiah Folsom, leg broken and internal; Ellen Fredericks, ankle; Mrs. Henry 
Fritz, slight, and Mrs. Fromald, internal.


452     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

     James Gall, side; Joseph Garver, leg broken; Barbara Geis-Foster, slight; 
Rose Geis-Quinn, serious; William E. Geis, leg bruised; Sarah Gibson, both legs 
broken; David Gillis, head and leg; Christian Good, Jr., bruised; Fanny Gordon, 
slight; Thomas Gore, slight; D. W. Goughnour, ribs broken; Jonas F. Goughnour, 
leg broken; Mrs. Bridget Graham, slight; Margaret Graham, shoulder broken; 
Wesley Green, leg broken; Andrew Greenwood, slight; Amanda Grist, serious, and 
Charles Grist, slight.
     Joseph Hafner, slight; Christian Hager, slight; George A. Hager, head, 
serious; Jacob Hamilton, shoulder, serious; Jessie Hamilton, slight; Mary 
Hamilton, slight; Mrs. Haney, serious; John Harker, Jr., head; Elizabeth Harris, 
both shoulders broken; Mrs. Harris, internal; Christian Harrison, slight; N. B.
Hartzell, ankle; Louisa Hawker, severe; John B. Hay, arm broken; Henry Headrick, 
serious; William Hess, leg, severe; Frank Higgins, leg bruised; David Hite, 
slight; Jacob Hoffman, slight; Elizabeth Hohman, leg; Rev. Nathaniel Home,
slight; Peter Hornick, head and leg; Henry Howard, face; James Howard, head cut; 
John Hewlett, breast and ankle; Nicholas Huebner, thigh; Jennie Hunt, shoulder; 
Timothy L. Hunt, serious; Samuel Hutchinson, slight.
     Miss Jelly, serious; Richard Jelly, serious; Morgan Jenkins, slight; Mrs. 
Jenkins, both arms broken; Rev. Thomas Jenkins, serious; J. M. Johnston, 
internal and serious; J. Johnston (Westmoreland), bruised; Mrs. Ann Jones, 
slight; Daniel Jones, nose and knee; David Jones, slight; Elizabeth Jones, 
slight; Mrs. Maria Jones, severe; Reese Jones, slight; Thomas Jones, back and 
legs, and Frank A. Joy, leg.
     Margaret Kenly-McMill en, slight; Thomas Kenny, slight; Thomas M. Kernan, 
shoulder; Adam Kettering, Jr., leg broken; George Kettering, thigh broken; 
Casper Killion, serious; Ida King-Kirkbride, wrist; ---- King (Scalp Level), 
severe; John Kinney, foot; George Klucker, slight: George Klug, serious; Pius 
Klug, leg broken; Baltzer Kohler, leg; George Kohler, leg broken; Christian 
Kolp, nose and back; Emma Kooken, slight; William Kooken, slight; Joseph Kuntz, 
leg; Mrs. Kopes, slight; John Kraft, bruised, severe; Albert Krauss, ankle and 
breast; Cecilia Kuhn, slight, and Christian Kunkel, side.
     Thomas Lane, slight; William Layton's child, serious; Francis Leckey, 
slight; Nancy Leitenberger, leg and neck; Samuel Lenhart, Jr., leg, severe; Lucy 
Levergood, arm broken;


453     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Henry M. Lewis, leg, slight; J. Lewis, slight; Thomas Lewis, slight; Mrs. Thomas 
Lewis, slight; Charlotte List, arm broken; Mary Livingstone, serious; Elizabeth 
Lloyd, slight; Charles Lowny, head and face; George B. Lucas, ankle, serious; L. 
Horner Luther, bruised; Mary E. Luther, bruised, and E. F. Lyte, Ebensburg, 
serious.
     Mrs. Sarah H. Maclay, bruised; Ellen Magee, severe; Benjamin Marsh, slight; 
Mrs. Matilda Mansell, slight; Samuel Mansell, slight; Michael McCabe, ankle; 
Owen McCabe, both legs broken, serious; McCann, Catherine, severe; John 
McClellan, slight; W. D. McClelland, slight; James B. McCreight; nose and 
internal; Mrs. McDonald and two children, slight; Thomas McGough, ankle; Daniel 
McKenna, both ankles dislocated; Daniel McLaughlin, Esq., slight; Michael 
McNealy, slight; J. McNulty, slight; Daniel McPike, leg broken; Frank McPike, 
slight; Mrs. Mary Meldren, slight; C. Menstill, serious; James Merty, serious; 
Mary Michaels, severe; Mrs. Charles Miller, ribs; Daniel H. Miller, bruised; 
William Miller, serious; Denny Mitchell, slight; Mary Morgan, bruised; Richard 
Morgan, serious; Mary Morris, leg broken; Mrs. Moses, back, serious; Elizabeth 
Moyer, back and legs; John Mullen, hips, serious; James Murphy, ankle; Eddie 
Myers, stomach, and Joseph W. Myers, slight.
     Jacob Needs, arm broken; ---- Nensteil, severe; Patrick Nevin, severe, and 
John Nowe, serious.
     Daniel O'Connell, slight; Hannah O'Connell, slight; Patrick O'Connell, 
slight; William Owen, mouth and shoulder; Benjamin F. Orr, bruised, severe; 
William Orr, slight; Henry Owen, arms and back; James Owens, arm broken and 
chest bruised, and Patrick Owens, leg broken.
     John Palmer, slight; William Palmer, Sr., slight; William Palmer, Jr., 
slight; John Parfitt, serious; Miss Parry, internal; Robert Parsons, serious; 
Mrs. Parsons, back; Miss Parsons, slight; ex-Sheriff Jesse Patterson, slight; 
William P. Patton, slight; Harry S. Peelor, slight; Thomas J. Petrikin, chest; 
John Pfarr, ribs and back, serious; ---- Palmer, Mill Creek, slight; John Power, 
ribs broken; Susan Pringle, slight, and Robert Pritchard, leg broken.
     John Quinn, slight and Mrs. Thomas Quinn, internal and serious.
     Edward Ralph, knee and breast; Charles Randolph, slight; Captain John H. 
Reed, slight; Martin Rist, shoulder and side;


454     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

David D. Reese, leg broken; Mary Ann Rees, arm; Morgan Rees, contusions; Mrs. 
Morgan Rees, contusions; Charles Reilly, ribs broken; Jacob Replogle, slight; J. 
C. Riffle, bruised; John D. Roberts, slight; ex-Sheriff John Roberts, slight; 
"William Roberts, severe; Robert P. Robinson, leg broken; George Robinson, 
colored, slight; William Roland, head; Martha Rosensteel-Adams, seriously, and 
Mrs. Alexander Royer, arm, side and head.
     Henry Scher, slight; Philip Schultheis, slight; Mrs. Jacob Schultz, arm 
broken; John Seese, rib broken; Henry Shearer, back; Miss J. Sheehan, slight; 
Dr. Campbell Sheridan, serious; Elizabeth Sherman, leg; 0. Sherman, serious; 
Catherine Sheets, arm broken; John Sheets, slight; Mary Shepard-Whitehill, 
slight; Joseph Shoemaker, slight; Daniel Shoupe, severe; John Slick, severe; 
Anthony Sloan, slight; Isaac Snell, slight; Caroline Snyder, side; Jacob Snyder, 
slight; Matilda Snyder and son, slight; Otho Steiner, leg broken; Elias Stevens, 
severe; William M. Stevens, severe; Peter Stormer, leg broken; John Stroup, arm 
broken; Annie Suppes-Hay, left wrist and head, and Libbie Swank, slight.
     Charles Taylor, hip dislocated; Henry Theis, arm broken; Edward Thomas, 
serious; ----Thomas, Woodvale, shoulder; Cyrus Tittle, severe; James Tittle, 
severe; John S. Tittle, back, serious; Mrs. John Tittle, bruised; C. H. Trabert, 
head and side; Mary Trabert, serious; George Turner, severe, and Mr. and Mrs. 
Tyler, slight.
     Daniel Unversaght, thigh broken; Elizabeth Unversaght, severe; William 
Updegrave, sprains and bruises, and William Upton, slight.
     Mrs. John Vogle, severe and Miss Vowinkle, slight.
     Dr. George Wagoner, leg broken; Mrs. Walsh, head and back; Henry Walters, 
leg and arm broken; Henry Walters, Summerhill, breast, serious; William H. 
Watkins, ankle; Phineas Watkins, paralyzed, slightly; John Weakland, leg broken;
Samuel Weaver, child, serious; ---- Weaver, two children from the Island, 
injured; William Walsh, contusions; Emery West, side; Mrs. Jeanette Whannell, 
severe; John White, Jr., slight; Charles Whittle, severe; Mrs. Susannah Wild, 
head; Anna Williams, leg broken; Mrs. Eliza Williams, slight; Hannah Williams, 
slight; James Williams, serious; Jared Williams, slight; Mary Williams, ankle 
and back; William Wilson, ribs broken; William Wilson, St. Yestown, slight; 
Henry Wiseman,


455     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

arm broken; Charles Wolstoff, back and Mrs. Wunderly, back and arm, serious.
     Emanuel Young internal, serious; Horace F. Young, elbow dislocated, and 
William Young, ribs and arm.
     Richard Zachariah, slight; August Zerbe, head; Charles Zimmerman, Sr., 
serious; Emma Zimmerman, bruised, and Jacob Zimmerman, Esq., slight.
     Coroner William Flattery summoned a jury consisting of Robert P. Linton, 
George Engelbach, John F. Barnes, John Flanagan, Jacob Horner, and Joshua F. 
Carpenter to inquire when, where, how and after what manner David Metzgar came 
to his death. On the 19th the jury filed its finding that the platform was 
defective, and that the death was caused by the negligence of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company.
     The election for governor and congress was to take place on the second 
Tuesday of October, and meetings were advertised by both parties for October 6, 
but, owing to the grief prevailing, W. Horace Rose, chairman of the Democratic 
county committee, and Robert W. Hunt, of the Union executive, cancelled them.
     The case of David Gillis vs. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, for damages 
growing out of the great disaster, is one of the famous law actions of the 
county. The plaintiff came from Gallitzin to see the presidential party, and was 
seriously injured. There were about two hundred cases pending, when it was 
agreed among the complainants that the Gillis case, being the best cause of 
action, should be taken, and the others would abide by the result.  The 
plaintiff was represented by Robert L. Johnston, Abraham Kopelin and Daniel 
McLaughlin, and the defendant by Cyrus L. Pershing and John Scott.
     The plaintiff contended: First, that the Company was liable for not having 
a safe platform at its station, and had advertised the expected arrival of the 
train. Second, that it carried the presidential party for hire, and that the 
platform was a part of the Company's right of way. Third, that the plaintiff was 
a passenger, and had got off the train on the platform which broke. Fourth, that 
plaintiff went to the station at the instance of defendant; that the train had 
not stopped at its usual place, but about two hundred feet beyond, without 
notifying the multitude, which compelled the movement of the people to get a 
better view.
     The defense denied the averments; contending that it was


456     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

a special train furnished without compensation; that the schedule was made and 
five minute stops arranged on the special request of President Johnson; that the 
newspapers had publishing the schedule without authority of the Company; that
the defendant gave no notice of the arrival of the special and that the train 
had stopped at the usual place, but President Johnson being on the rear 
platform, in order to accommodate more people it was moved eastward a short 
distance.
     The cause was tried before Judge Taylor, at December term, 1867. At the 
conclusion of the plaintiff's case the defendant submitted two points to sustain 
a compulsory nonsuit, and the plaintiff presented twenty-seven points in 
opposing it.
     After a very exhaustive argument, Judge Taylor sustained the motion for a 
nonsuit. He said: "We were present and witnessed this sad disaster, and we trust 
in God we may never witness another scene like it. We are free to say that for 
the sufferers, we have the most profound sympathy. At the same time, the 
question is here, as a legal question, whether the defendant is responsible for 
it."
     The plaintiff entered an appeal to the supreme court, and on July 2, 1868, 
59 Pa., 129, Mr. Justice Sharswood delivered the opinion which sustained Judge 
Taylor. In substance it, was: 1. A platform at a railroad station is in no sense 
a public highway. 2. It is for the accommodation of passengers, and other 
persons have no legal right of walking over it. 3. The owner of a house is bound 
to have the approach to it sufficient for all visitors on business or otherwise, 
but if a crowd gathers on it to witness a passing parade, etc., and it breaks 
down, though not sufficient even for ordinary use, he is not liable to one of 
the crowd who might be injured.