The collapse of the South Fork Dam sent 20 million tons of water roaring downstream toward Johnstown, first forming a wall of water, rocks, and trees and then a rolling mountain of debris 35-40 feet high and half a mile wide. Advancing through the valley the wall of water uprooted everything in its path and scoured the earth to a depth of fifty feet. Traveling at a speed of 40 miles per hour, it swept through the communities of South Fork, Mineral Point, Woodvale and East Conemaugh in a matter of minutes.
Johnstown was only 14 miles away from where the dam had broken. As the flood waters neared, the survivors related how the "sound" of the oncoming water gave off what many termed a "death mist." The flood hit Johnstown at 4:07pm, 57 minutes after the dam had first broken. The complete drowning and devastation of Johnstown took less than ten minutes, with four square miles of the downtown area completely destroyed.
Thousands of people who had survived the initial flood wave were swept downstream to the old Stone Bridge at the junction of the Little Conemaugh and Stonycreek rivers. Here, accumulating debris piled up against the arches, forming an almost watertight dam of broken houses, trees, train cars, and bodies. Much of the debris caught fire, entrapping 80 people, yet saving many others who would have been swept farther downriver.
On the evening of May 31st, Superintendent Pitcarin sent the following message to Pittsburgh by telegraph:"Johnstown is annihilated."
The Aftermath
The following morning many of the survivors began gathering along the hillsides, while others wandered through the mud trying to locate the spot where their home or a relative's home once stood. Making due with whatever materials they could salvage, many of the residents worked on putting together "shantytowns" for temporary shelter.
The official death toll registered 2,209 people killed or presumed lost. Among the dead were 99 entire families, 396 children under the age of 10, and 777 unidentified victims. There were 1,600 homes lost, 280 businesses destroyed, and $17 million in property damage as a result of the Flood.
Emergency morgues and hospitals were set up, and commissaries distributed food and clothing. Across the country, people responded to the disaster with an outpouring of money, food, clothing, and medical assistance. A total of more than $3.7 million was collected for the Johnstown relief effort from within the United States and 18 foreign countries.
The American Red Cross, which had been organized in 1881 by Clara Barton, arrived in Johnstown on June 5th, five days after the disaster. This was to be the first major disaster relief effort for the Red Cross and Clara Barton herself was among the relief workers who came to Johnstown. The Red Cross contingent built hotels for people to live in and warehouses to store the many supplies the community received. By July 1st, stores reopened on the Main Street for business.
Surprisingly, no city, county, or state legislation was enacted to protect people from future disasters of this nature. Lawsuits were filed against the members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, but in keeping with the times, the courts viewed the dam break as an act of God, and no legal compensation was made to the survivors.
Visiting the Memorial
Open year-round, the Johnstown Flood National Memorial is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, about 10 miles northeast of Johnstown. The park preserves the remains of the South Fork Dam and portions of the former Lake Conemaugh bed. The visitor center features multimedia exhibits including a fiber-optic map which describes the path of the Flood. Other exhibits tell the story of the fabled South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.
The Johnstown Flood Museum, operated by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, provides exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of the flood, and the film The Johnstown Flood, winner of the 1989 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject, is shown each hour in the museum's theater.
As an annual tribute to the victims of the Flood, special programs are held in cooperation with the Johnstown Area Heritage Association and the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club Historical Preservation Society. For further information, call 814-495-4643.
