Divinity, Man, and Nature: Who is to blame for the Johnstown Flood?

• Background

• Survivor Accounts

• Newspapers

• Conclusion

The South Fork Dam

• Built 1838-1853

• Earthen structure

Disaster Strikes

• May 31, 1889

• 3:10 p.m.

J.J. Maclaurin

• Newspaperman

• 1890, The Story of Johnstown

• Contractors, Fishing Club

David Beale

• 1890, Through the Johnstown Flood

• Fishing Club

• Natural Causes

Divinity Johnstown Weekly Democrat -- July 26, 1889

Man Allentown (PA) Democrat -- July 17, 1889 Pittsburgh Dispatch -- June 12, 1889

Nature Johnstown Weekly Democrat -- August 9, 1889 Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette -- August 9, 1889