Written by Renee Trauger
Squinting against the torrential fall of rain, “Colonel” Elias felt his heart sinking even as the water continued to rise. The storm had pounded relentlessly all night and into the morning and despite heroic efforts to control Lake Conemaugh’s water level, it was becoming increasingly clear that the South Fork Dam was going to fail. Several telegraph messages were sent to the towns in the valley below, but because of previous false alarms the danger was not taken seriously.
Just before 3 p.m. the dam was breached and 20 million tons of water began to flow downstream traveling at speeds reaching 40mph and towering to a height of 60 ft in places. An hour later a tsunami of water and debris reached Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and some people realizing the danger, tried to escape to higher ground, but most were overcome by the surging floodwater. As a tangled wall of buildings, train cars, steel rails and even miles of barbed wire from a local factory accumulated at a stone bridge, spilled fuels started fires which burned for three days and added to the mounting death toll numbering over 2,200. This catastrophic occurrence on May 31, 1889 was the greatest loss of civilian life in the U.S. until Sept 11, 2001.
South Fork Dam had been built by the state over 50 years previously and had fallen into disrepair. The subsequent purchasers of the lake, wealthy members who formed a Hunting and Fishing Club, chose not to invest in reconstruction, but instead repaired leaks as cheaply as possible, even selling the pipes and valves of the relief system for scrap. Legally the club nor its members were ever held accountable, but many contributed to the recovery efforts including Henry Frick and Andrew Carnegie.
When an awful tragedy like this takes place, we often reflect on whether it could have been avoided. If prevention wasn’t possible, we speculate could the impact have been lessened if only people had heeded warnings. Throughout history, there are times when ignored warnings have proven deadly. The sinking of the Titanic, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Challenger disaster are just a few that come to mind. Warnings can come from signs and observations or sometimes from individuals who have oversight and knowledge which they pass along to others.
Are you listening to the warnings and signs the Bible tells us to be aware of? You don’t want to find yourself in a place where you look back and regret failing to take heed. Romans 6:23 lets us know that the consequences of sin is death and only through God’s gift of salvation can we have eternal life. The Bible also warns that we will be tempted in James 1:14, but God promises he will give us strength to withstand the evils of the world. If we are vigilant we won’t be overcome by the sly tricks of the devil.
Unfortunately there are few people today who are listening to God’s warnings, and instead think only of themselves and their own pleasure and gain. Matthew chapter 24 warns us of numerous things we need to seriously consider. We need to watch and be faithful and prepared so we are not caught unaware. Don’t grow complacent and take shortcuts or you will find yourself needlessly overtaken by danger and as a result be lost. God warns us because He loves us, but it is up to us to listen, watch and take heed.
