Run for the Hills
by
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Introduction
Memorial Day, 1889, was a joyful day in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The parade through the city streets was delightful. Bands played familiar tunes, soldiers marched in a rhythmic cadence, children laughed at clowns, the American flag waved, and families ate picnic lunches. Little did anyone know the clouds gathering in the western sky would usher in one of the most devastating disasters in American history. The busy town in the Conemaugh Valley would never be the same, and many people at the parade that happy day would not live another twenty four hours.
Soon, they would widely quote a poem, by Isaac Reed:
“Many thousand human lives--
Butchered husbands, slaughtered wives,
Mangled daughters, bleeding sons,
Hosts of martyred little ones,
(Worse than Herod’s awful crime)
Sent to heaven before their time;
Lovers burnt and sweethearts drowned,
Darlings lost but never found!
All the horrors that hell could wish,
Such was the price that was paid for--fish!”
Neither could speak. Nor could their eyes meet. The tapping of the rain on the leaves and the pounding of the swollen creek below added an uncanny cadence to the silence.
Anna wasn’t sure how long they had stood there. It was Ned who broke the stunned hush. He nuzzled Anna gently, as if impatient to go on. She turned, glanced at Mother for approval, and began to lead Ned on up the steep mountain road toward Grandpa’s farm. Daddy’s message had said he would meet them there. Could he? Had he been in the roundhouse when the flood hit? Did Tim get to safety? Aunt Lily probably saw it all from her house on the side of the hill, but what about Uncle Zeb? He would have been at his post in the telegraph office.
They always walked the steep part of this hill to lightened Ned’s load, but the climb today was more difficult than usual. The rain thrashed them, unmercifully, and each footstep was a formidable task. The heavy rain had washed the road into ruts, and water poured over the bare rock and clay. It was hard to keep from sliding backwards on the steep hill. They usually came up Hedrick’s Road to Grandpa’s; it was an easier grade, further up the valley. But the mountain road had saved their lives today. Anna would not complain.
They stopped a few minutes at their usual resting spot at the crest of the hogback, then crawled up into the buggy.Anna took the lines. There was no point in hurrying Ned. The road was very slippery and they were as wet as they could ever get. Anyway, it would take Daddy a long time to get to Grandpa’s.
The clickety-clap of Ned’s stride sounded more like sloppety-slop on the wet road. Anna spoke first. “We’ll be at Grandpa’s soon. Are you all right, Mother?”
Mother sighed. “I guess so. You could have been killed back there. That was a very foolish thing you did, jumping on Ned’s back like that.”
“He was afraid to go any further, Mother. He was going to turn around, and we didn’t have time to try again.”
Chapter 13
Anna rested her head against Ned’s neck, sobbing quietly and waiting for Daddy to come back.
Ned turned his head around and pushed it gently against her side. This was his usual response when he sensed something was wrong. It seemed to Anna he was saying whatever is wrong, I love you.
“Tim risked his life to warn us, Ned. He saved our lives, and many others, too, but lost his own,” she explained between sobs.
Someone touched her shoulder. “Annie.” It was Daddy. She turned and flung her arms around his waist, hiding her tears in his shirt.
“Daddy, it’s not fair.”
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About the Book
May 31, 1889. A recreational dam, high in the western Pennsylvania mountains, breaks. It sends an avalanche of water plummeting fourteen miles toward the unsuspecting residents of Johnstown, destroying everything in its wake. More than two thousand lives are snuffed out in minutes and tens of thousands left homeless. It is the major American tragedy of the 19th century.
Run for the Hills tells this story with historical accuracy. Anna and her family struggle with fear, separation, death, hatred, and forgiveness. The family horse becomes Anna's best friend as her mother grows distant. The family leans heavily on their Christian faith. Especially distressing is the hatred they feel toward the "rich folks on the mountain", whom many blame for the disaster. They feel the rich folks had no regard for the safety of their families.
It is an exciting human-interest adventure. All ages enjoy it, especially young readers, twelve to fourteen. Those who love horses are drawn to it. Some prospective uses: entertainment, historical education, school curriculums, libraries; museums; tourist centers, elevation of Christian ethics; a discussion starter on topics such as responsibility to others, how our actions affect others, forgiveness, and the issue of dam safety.
Elva Knavel, a native of the Johnstown area, says she wanted to write this story for years. She now makes her home in Florida with her pastor husband and family, but returns every summer to the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania and the "salt of the earth" people she loves.
About the Author
Elva Knavel Elva Knavel, a native of the Johnstown area, says she wanted to write this story for years. She now makes her home in Florida with her pastor husband and family, but returns every summer to the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania and the ?salt of the earth? people she loves.