George Backer was 27 years old on 5/31/1889; the day that the infamous Johnstown, PA flood took the lives of 2,209 people.
Nothing is known of George except that he was in Conemaugh that day, trying to avoid the flooding that often plagued the valley that was the home of Johnstown and surrounding communities.
But this day would be different. Fourteen miles away, a dam dissolved, pushing torrents of water down the valley along with everything in its path. People and animals were swept along with their homes, mixing with freight trains and bridges, all speeding toward Conemaugh and George.
George must have heard the horrible, deafening sound before the massive wall of water and debris hit him. His body was never recovered.
Note: Info taken from www.jaha.org, quoting The Johnstown Tribune 7/31/1890, list of victims.
Birth year calculated from age at death.
Nothing is known of George except that he was in Conemaugh that day, trying to avoid the flooding that often plagued the valley that was the home of Johnstown and surrounding communities.
But this day would be different. Fourteen miles away, a dam dissolved, pushing torrents of water down the valley along with everything in its path. People and animals were swept along with their homes, mixing with freight trains and bridges, all speeding toward Conemaugh and George.
George must have heard the horrible, deafening sound before the massive wall of water and debris hit him. His body was never recovered.
Note: Info taken from www.jaha.org, quoting The Johnstown Tribune 7/31/1890, list of victims.
Birth year calculated from age at death.
George Backer was 27 years old on 5/31/1889; the day that the infamous Johnstown, PA flood took the lives of 2,209 people.
Nothing is known of George except that he was in Conemaugh that day, trying to avoid the flooding that often plagued the valley that was the home of Johnstown and surrounding communities.
But this day would be different. Fourteen miles away, a dam dissolved, pushing torrents of water down the valley along with everything in its path. People and animals were swept along with their homes, mixing with freight trains and bridges, all speeding toward Conemaugh and George.
George must have heard the horrible, deafening sound before the massive wall of water and debris hit him. His body was never recovered.
Note: Info taken from www.jaha.org, quoting The Johnstown Tribune 7/31/1890, list of victims.
Birth year calculated from age at death.
Nothing is known of George except that he was in Conemaugh that day, trying to avoid the flooding that often plagued the valley that was the home of Johnstown and surrounding communities.
But this day would be different. Fourteen miles away, a dam dissolved, pushing torrents of water down the valley along with everything in its path. People and animals were swept along with their homes, mixing with freight trains and bridges, all speeding toward Conemaugh and George.
George must have heard the horrible, deafening sound before the massive wall of water and debris hit him. His body was never recovered.
Note: Info taken from www.jaha.org, quoting The Johnstown Tribune 7/31/1890, list of victims.
Birth year calculated from age at death.
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