0:09

John Park slams his pick axe

0:11

into the ground, sending chunks of

0:14

lose dirt flying. Another worker scoops

0:16

out the door with a shovel

0:18

and tosses it onto a growing

0:20

pile. Park wipes the rain from

0:22

his face, then looks around with

0:25

the two dozen workers on his

0:27

crew each swing a pickax are

0:29

wasting a shovel. He hollers instructions

0:31

over the pounding rain, which hasn't

0:34

let up for hours. More earth

0:36

there, Yeah, that's right and can't

0:38

break down harder. It'll wash

0:40

away if you leave it like

0:42

that. Part is just twenty three,

0:45

but as the Chief Engineer for

0:47

the nearby Hunting and Fishing Club,

0:49

he's in charge of this crew.

0:51

They were originally hired to install

0:53

sewage lines for the club's lavish

0:56

cottages, but this morning they've been

0:58

given another more urgent task: raise

1:00

the height of the damn that

1:02

sits on club property. It's just

1:04

before Nine Am on May Thirty

1:07

First, eighteen, Eighty Nine in Western

1:09

Pennsylvania. Torrential rains, including

1:11

eight inches the previous day have

1:13

raised the water level dangerously high

1:15

in the lake behind the South

1:17

Fork Damn. The water now sits

1:19

less than three feet from the

1:21

crest of the Damn, and each

1:24

second more water was pouring into

1:26

the lake from a swollen creek

1:28

surrounding. And if the rising water

1:30

spills over the top of the

1:32

Damn, it will flood John's Town

1:34

and the other towns in the

1:36

river valley below. The overflowing water

1:38

could also. Damage the top of

1:40

the dam which could lead to

1:42

even more flooding. Park doesn't want

1:44

to contemplate how bad things could

1:47

get. Thousands of homes could be

1:49

destroyed and tens of thousands of

1:51

people displaced. so Harkin crew are

1:53

breaking up the southbound lane of

1:55

the road that runs over the

1:57

top of the damned and piling

1:59

to lose. Hundred Haunted a northbound

2:01

lane which runs closer to the

2:03

lake. Then they're tamping down this

2:05

dirt so can serve as a

2:07

from a loader wall that will

2:10

be a barrier against the water

2:12

if they can build the berm

2:14

high enough maybe the heat. The

2:16

water in the lake where it

2:18

belongs with a dirt road is

2:21

rock hard, packed down solid after

2:23

years of forcing Ferrets traffic. so

2:25

their work is agonizingly slow and

2:27

park and see that the lake

2:29

is rising. Faster than their burrow. As

2:33

hard working easier to approach he

2:36

turns to see his boss under

2:38

President of the South for fishing

2:40

and hunting. His long white hairs

2:43

plastered to his neck in the

2:45

rain Under calls out how the

2:47

going gene flow. We'd make better

2:50

progress with a horse and a

2:52

plow. Maybe we can borrow one

2:55

from the former next door. As

2:57

part speaks he sees under his

2:59

eyes. Dart towards the lake. he's

3:01

not paying attention. Half might as

3:04

well be speaking to the. Sir

3:07

What You think you want to fetch

3:09

a horse in a plow. Fine,

3:12

yes, But Unger doesn't

3:15

move. He seems to

3:17

be paralyzed with fear.

3:20

Finally parks as sounds pickax sir. Keep

3:22

an eye on the workers. I'll be

3:24

back with that plow Heart takes off

3:27

running down the road. If we're going

3:29

to find a horse and cloud of

3:31

have to do with himself every hoping

3:34

cause they can't raise the height of

3:36

the damn for the water over courses

3:38

in the towers in the valley below

3:41

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any disease. From

5:25

wondering I might cause this

5:27

is against the. in

5:37

may have a seat eighty nine

5:39

record rain fell in western pennsylvania

5:42

causing widespread flooding of greatest concern

5:44

was the rising water level outlet

5:46

karma which was held back by

5:49

the aging sell for sam half

5:51

the time lake panama with the

5:53

largest man made lake in the

5:56

united states and for them with

5:58

all that suis between its 20

6:00

million tons of water and the 30,000 people

6:04

who lived in the valley below the dam,

6:06

most of them in the steel mill

6:08

city of Johnstown. As the

6:11

water rose, engineer John Park and

6:13

his crew scrambled to reinforce the

6:15

dam. Park also began to

6:17

alert the valley towns that danger might be

6:19

coming, but for most people,

6:21

the warnings would come too late.

6:25

This is episode 2 of Overflow.

6:42

John McKee hears the tolling

6:44

of church bells and

6:46

wakes up shivering. Nine

6:48

clangs for 9am. He

6:51

opens his eyes and immediately

6:53

regrets it. His head

6:56

throbs, like someone's driving nails into

6:58

it. His mouth tastes

7:00

like some tiny creature crawled inside

7:02

and died. He reaches down

7:04

to pull up his covers and to go back

7:07

to sleep. But something's

7:09

wrong. McKee gropes

7:11

around, but he can't feel

7:13

any covers. And come

7:15

to think of it, he's not resting on a

7:17

mattress, but something hard. Where

7:21

is he? He

7:23

forces his eyes open again and

7:26

sees a concrete floor and vertical

7:28

iron bars. All

7:30

at once he remembers, and

7:32

groans. He's been

7:34

arrested. He should be at work at

7:36

the steel mill now. Instead he's

7:39

in the Johnstown drunk tank. McKee

7:42

covers his eyes with his hands and

7:44

begins to think back to yesterday. McKee

7:47

and his two friends bought some whiskey and had

7:50

a grand old time at the Memorial Day Parade.

7:53

One friend even snuck onto a temperance

7:55

float. Then They got a

7:57

notion to climb up a church tower and ring the

7:59

bell. He's fuzzy on

8:01

what happened next. A cop

8:03

appeared and then everyone scattered,

8:05

but my tripped and fell.

8:08

He must have gotten caught Wallace friends

8:10

ran away. He can't

8:12

believe stupidity. What

8:14

was he thinking? A

8:17

door opens at the end of

8:19

the corridor. Mckee sits up and

8:21

sees the jailer. a heavy man

8:23

with lose jowls got a visitor

8:25

Mckay. Through. The doorsteps

8:28

Mickey's father. The mere sight of

8:30

him makes Mickey Burma's same his

8:32

father as an officer and the

8:35

local Temperance Union. and now he

8:37

has to bail out his son

8:40

for public drunkenness. Mickey.

8:42

Drops his head avoiding his

8:44

father's gays. Dad. You

8:47

don't know how sorry I am. I'll

8:49

pay you back the bail money. I

8:51

promise there is nothing to pay back.

8:54

I'm not bailing you well. Mickey.

8:56

Looks up and surprise and sees

8:58

his father shaking with fury. You're

9:01

not. You need to be taught

9:04

a lesson. I

9:06

hope you're as miserable as you

9:08

look. With that, his father turns

9:10

on his heels and leaves. Mickey

9:13

shouts after him, but the old man

9:15

doesn't even break stride as he exits.

9:18

Much. He turns to the jailer. Ah!

9:22

How long do I have to stay here?

9:24

Till four pm. only seven

9:26

more hours. Better get comfortable.

9:29

He laughs and walks away. Mckee

9:32

slumps back and despair on the

9:34

cold bench. His head

9:36

is aching. Is missing

9:39

work and his father is lived

9:41

with him. There's. No way

9:43

this day could possibly get

9:45

any worse. reverend

9:54

h l shot me opens his

9:56

bible in his study and skins

9:58

for the right past He

10:00

raises his voice and speaks into the telephone.

10:03

Mrs. Ross, can you hear me? He's

10:06

consoling the widow of a man who

10:08

accidentally drowned late last night. It's

10:11

just past 10 a.m. and with the streets

10:13

of Johnstown starting to flood today, there's no

10:16

way Chapman can get across town to comfort

10:18

her. Unfortunately, the

10:20

connection on the line is terrible.

10:23

Chapman is getting irritated, but hopes

10:26

Mrs. Ross can't tell from his

10:28

voice. Mrs. Ross, please

10:30

speak up. Hello? No,

10:33

no, I can't hear

10:35

you. The bad connection isn't

10:37

his only problem. He still

10:39

hasn't finished his Sunday sermon. Plus

10:42

his wife's tiresome cousin, Mrs. Brinker,

10:44

is here. In fact, for

10:47

the past half hour, Brinker and his maid

10:49

Lizzie have been stomping up and down the

10:51

back stairs near his office. It's

10:53

an annoying distraction. He has no

10:55

idea why they're causing such a

10:58

racket. Finally, the

11:00

static clears, and Chapman

11:02

can hear Mrs. Ross. I'm

11:04

just wondering, Reverend, can you

11:06

come by? No, I can't. I

11:08

still can't get across town, but

11:10

I would like to pray with you. I'm

11:13

going to read a passage from the Gospel

11:15

of John. After

11:18

he finished his reading, Chapman bows his

11:20

head and leads Mrs. Ross in a

11:22

prayer. It's not the same

11:24

as being there, but it's the best he can

11:26

do right now. Suddenly,

11:29

there's a huge commotion from the hallway,

11:31

a smashed bottle, and a clattering of

11:33

tin cans on the stairs. The

11:36

noise snaps Chapman's last stand

11:38

of patience. Asking

11:40

Mrs. Ross to wait, he marches the

11:42

door, opens it, and glares into the

11:44

hallway. He finds his

11:46

maid Lizzie there, along with Mrs.

11:48

Brinker. They were apparently carrying cans

11:50

and bottles upstairs, and one of

11:52

them slipped and dropped everything. Milk

11:55

is running down the steps and pulling at the

11:57

bottom. Chapman Cannot.

12:00

The leave his eyes. What

12:02

on earth are you doing

12:04

that? Brinker. His voice

12:06

is timid. And. See answers.

12:08

oh we're up or lang provisions

12:10

in the attic. Food.

12:12

Milk Matches provisions.

12:16

For What purpose? In case

12:18

the damn can't hold the slide.

12:21

It takes Chapman every ounce of

12:23

christian charity he has not to

12:25

yell. I. Told you earlier. The.

12:28

Damn has been there for forty years

12:30

and can stand a little rain. Besides,

12:32

we live in one of the highest

12:34

parts of town and our foundation has

12:36

raised. The chances of

12:38

flooding here are neil. Bought.

12:41

His lecture ends up

12:43

backfiring. Slinker the into

12:45

tears the made wraps her

12:47

arms around, bring her to

12:49

comfort her, and shoots Chapman

12:51

a disapproving mock. Chapman

12:53

size ways his hands and tells

12:55

them they can do whatever they

12:58

want. He's. Annoyed at

13:00

the prospect of having to haul all

13:02

the food down later. but if it

13:04

will quiet his wife's cousin. So

13:07

be it. With. The sermon to

13:09

Rights and a drown man's wife to

13:11

comfort. He has more important things to

13:13

worry about than some foolish nonsense about

13:15

the damn. Victor.

13:24

Hi Sarah trudges off the stairs

13:26

with his family's dry goods store

13:28

a fifty pound bag cornmeal on

13:30

his shoulder. It's his tenth trip

13:32

up in the past half hour

13:34

and is getting winded. In fact,

13:36

he merely loses his Alma top.

13:38

He grabs the door frame to

13:40

keep up, right? But.

13:43

After he drops the bag in a

13:45

corner, a smile crosses his face. Despite.

13:48

His the T. He's having a great

13:50

morning. it's ten am and with

13:52

the floodwaters creeping up into his family

13:55

store his mother released him from his

13:57

studies for once so he could help

13:59

move south of flour and cornmeal to

14:01

the second floor. It

14:03

isn't easy work, but anything

14:06

beats conjugating French verbs. A

14:10

moment later, Victor's big, beefy father

14:12

arrives at the top of the

14:14

stairs, with two bags, one

14:16

over each shoulder. He

14:19

sees Victor staring and grins. See,

14:21

your old man still got it. It

14:24

feels like my army days. By the

14:26

end of the war, I could carry four bags and

14:28

still not break a sweat. Victor

14:30

laughs. His father served in

14:32

the Union Army during the Civil War, and

14:34

never misses a chance to remind him. Victor

14:38

starts grabbing the bags from him, then tossing

14:40

them on the pile. You

14:42

were in a prisoner of war camp at the

14:44

end of the war, right dad? About

14:46

two and a half years. The Rebs made us

14:48

haul hundred pound bags of rock from one end of

14:50

the camp to the other, all day long. Just

14:53

useless work, and barely any food either.

14:56

Here, let me show you something. His

14:59

father walks over to a dusty wardrobe, with

15:02

the name Heiser carved into the front. He

15:05

opens it and pulls out a garment on a hanger.

15:08

My old uniform. After the

15:10

camp, it hung on me like I was

15:12

a scarecrow. I probably lost

15:14

fifty pounds in that prison. Victor's

15:17

eyes go wide. He thinks

15:19

about the fifty pound sack he just

15:21

hauled up, and imagines someone losing that

15:23

much weight. It's hard

15:25

to picture his father's skinny. He

15:28

runs his fingers over the scratchy blue cloth,

15:31

aside from its tarnished buns. It's

15:33

still in great shape. Do you think I'd be

15:35

good in the army? You know what? I

15:37

bet you would. You're tough. But

15:40

I don't think your mother would let you join. She

15:43

won't let me do anything. Unlike

15:45

his carefree dad, Victor's mother is

15:48

a taskmaster. When she's

15:50

not scrutinizing the accounting books, she's

15:52

writing Victor for not studying enough.

15:55

She even kept him home from the town parade

15:57

yesterday. But before Victor can complain

15:59

more... His father puts a hand

16:01

on Victor shoulder and squeezes. Yes,

16:04

I understand you get frustrated with

16:06

her. But she only wants what's

16:08

best for you. You. Want

16:10

to work in the store? Your whole

16:12

ace? No way. And buckle

16:14

them. As Victor nods,

16:16

he feels the Gripper lists. His

16:19

father smokes. But a

16:21

boy needs to have phones. Are

16:24

taught her okay. His other takes

16:26

the uniform and puts it back in

16:29

the wardrobe. Then he leads Victor for

16:31

hims. they still have a lot of

16:33

work to do. Case to said. Can

16:36

Senior. Engineer

16:44

John Park rides his horse along

16:47

the dirt road The stretches across

16:49

the top of the Sam is

16:51

workers pound away with pick and

16:53

shovel from the driving range. A

16:55

local farmer has a horse and

16:57

cloud more from the world as

16:59

well She one of the soil.

17:02

It's eleven thirty in the morning

17:04

and they've been toiling for nearly

17:06

three hours, but even with the

17:08

help of the flowers, we still

17:10

haven't made much. Toss them Huge.

17:12

Nine hundred, Be alive. And

17:14

they've only been able to add a foot high.

17:18

And unfortunately the water is

17:20

rising faster than ever as

17:22

now eighteen inches below the

17:24

original of the San and

17:26

the rain showing no signs

17:29

of letting our. Hearts

17:31

would sell me out. her face of

17:33

the damn hills of water of panic.

17:37

They're more than fifty feet below

17:39

him. He can see water leaking

17:41

who the face of the dance

17:43

several places. With a

17:45

chill he realizes that even if they

17:48

can raise the height of the

17:50

dam is sheer volume of water might

17:52

still cause it to fail to

17:54

prevent the has to feel a need

17:56

to try something else. Because.

17:59

Over. The number one stop. Stop

18:01

what you're doing here and go to

18:04

the western edge of the Damn. I

18:06

want you to open a new spillway.

18:08

Their goals and thick as fast as

18:11

you can. Right now, Sam has a

18:13

single spillway on the eastern edge, which

18:15

helps to her excess water around the

18:18

down, but clearly it's not doing enough

18:20

park hopes of my opening a second

18:22

channel. They can release enough water to

18:25

ease the pressure on Madame and start

18:27

the lake. Summarizing while his men gather

18:29

their tools. Parks and Sitters what

18:31

to do next? part of him

18:33

nice to see here and direct

18:35

the cruise but there's another duty

18:37

to isn't and first for his

18:39

horse and takes off. There are

18:42

thousands of people in the town

18:44

of Over Sam and he's the

18:46

one them of a possible move

18:48

case scenario. Down.

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21:05

Part as his horse slips in

21:07

the mud and merely tumbles. He

21:10

sees the rain and. Houses

21:14

along the road. Knows

21:17

he's pushing her smart, but he's

21:19

gone to spread the warning as

21:21

soon as possible about the danger

21:23

of the rising. By

21:27

a hazardous road he makes the

21:29

time to just ten minutes of

21:31

writing. He arrives in so for

21:33

the first town in the river

21:36

valley miles below the damn. Have

21:40

seen hundred people. The downtown

21:42

area has a bank, taylor,

21:44

Barbershop, and a few other

21:46

businesses. the houses are

21:48

mostly crowded on the surrounding ridges

21:51

scanning the downtown now hotspot a

21:53

dozen or so people escaping the

21:55

rain on and of his interest

22:00

Excuse me, you all need to get to

22:02

higher ground. The dam is in danger of

22:04

overflowing. They all turn to

22:06

stare at him. Then a

22:08

curly haired man in overall steps forward. Look

22:11

everyone, it's Paul Revere on his horse,

22:13

coming to warn us. The

22:16

crowd starts laughing. Park

22:19

is baffled at first, then

22:21

slushes Red with anger. I'm

22:24

serious, your lives are in

22:26

danger. The water is writhing every

22:28

minute. The curly haired

22:30

man just smirks. We

22:32

hear that every year. Besides,

22:34

two of our alderman hiked up to

22:36

the lake at 8 o'clock this morning

22:38

and they said it looked fine. I

22:41

just came from the lake. The water is 15

22:44

inches from the top, probably less by

22:46

now. If it overflows, the

22:48

whole dam could fail. And

22:51

what were you doing at the lake? I

22:53

worked there for the South Fork Fishing and Hunting

22:55

Club. Sharing

22:59

his employer proves to be a

23:01

mistake. Everyone scowls at him.

23:04

Most people in the river valley hate the

23:06

club for cutting off access to hunting and

23:08

fishing spots. The park

23:10

is undeterred. If you're

23:12

not going to listen, can you at least point me

23:14

to the telegraph station so I can alert the other

23:16

towns further down river? But the people

23:19

just ignore him. All

23:21

except one old man. He's

23:23

scruffy and unshaven and

23:26

walks unsteadily, but he

23:28

approaches Park. I know

23:30

where the telegraph station is. What message should

23:32

I tell him? Park is

23:35

about to say that he wants to

23:37

deliver the message himself. Then he thinks

23:39

better of it. If the people

23:41

hate the club that much, maybe it's better if

23:43

the warning comes from a local. And

23:46

that way, Park can get back to the

23:48

dam sooner. He sure as hell is still

23:50

needed there. Park tells the

23:52

man what to say and emphasizes

23:54

the need to hurry. Then

23:57

Park wheels on his boots and takes a few

23:59

feet. up the muddy road for the

24:01

death. Emma

24:07

Ehrenfeld taps out a message on

24:09

her telegraph key relaying the news

24:11

of the day to Pittsburgh. As

24:14

South Fork's telegraph operator it's her

24:16

job to send and receive all

24:19

incoming and outgoing messages which today

24:21

are all related to the heavy

24:23

overnight rains and flooding. From

24:26

what she can tell it's a mess

24:28

out there. Several bridges have

24:30

been washed out in the area

24:32

and some sections of railroad track

24:34

are swamped. Train dispatchers want to

24:36

know when they can get things running again. Even

24:39

in the terse language of telegrams she

24:41

can tell many of them aren't getting

24:43

impatient. Around noon

24:45

she finally gets a moment to catch

24:47

her breath. She was hoping to

24:50

snuggle up next to her office stove today

24:52

in the chilly rain and read a little.

24:55

She loves Dickens and is

24:57

halfway through great expectations. Her

25:01

office is on the second floor and now

25:03

she hears someone coming up the stairs. Her

25:06

door opens and in walks old

25:08

Ezekiel one of the town's more

25:10

unsavory characters. He's unshaven

25:13

with red eyes and sour

25:15

breath. Ehrenfeld wrinkles

25:17

her nose. Oh

25:19

hey Zeke listen what do you

25:21

need? I'm up to my ears here. A man

25:23

came down from the dam said it's

25:26

gonna overflow and there's some danger of it

25:28

breaking. Breaking? I don't

25:30

know that's what he said. Supposed to

25:32

warn all the towns. Ehrenfeld

25:35

crosses her arms. She's

25:37

skeptical. Rumors about the

25:40

dam breaking fly back and forth every

25:42

year. Like most sensible

25:44

people she ignores them. No

25:47

need to cause panic. All

25:49

that said if the lake were to

25:51

overflow the flooding would

25:53

get worse. People might appreciate

25:55

the chance to move their furniture to the second

25:58

floor Or get their cows to hunt. Your

26:00

grounds for: don't drink dirty water.

26:02

See Thanks Physique You who

26:04

to believe? She gets

26:07

on her telegraph to paying the

26:09

next station for miles downriver at

26:11

Mineral Thought. She

26:13

types of the warning admits or

26:16

skepticism and wait for response. Mineral.

26:19

Point answers quickly. Aaron

26:22

Felt mentally translates the dots and

26:24

dashes The Mineral Point Man says

26:26

that he also has his doubts

26:28

but thinks the message is worth

26:30

passing along to the other villages

26:32

and John just in case Ehrenfeld

26:35

the Greece, but there's a complication.

26:37

The operator and Mineral Point inform

26:39

sir that the reins from has

26:41

knocked out the telegraph line somewhere

26:43

past Mineral Point. No messages can

26:46

reach any towns beyond the right

26:48

now, including Do. Errands

26:51

felt rounds, but the mineral Point

26:53

operator has an idea. He says he

26:55

can write out the message and

26:57

send someone on foot or horseback the

26:59

next station after the break. The

27:01

whole thing still feels a little overboard

27:04

to Ehrenfeld, but see agrees it's

27:06

a good idea to pass the messes

27:08

along by. Then

27:10

with her duty completes finally

27:12

gets to. John

27:22

Park near south of alarm coming from

27:24

the road along the top of the

27:26

damn He's just arriving back in the

27:29

village a cellphone and wants to check

27:31

on the new school with said he

27:33

for men to think he quotes is

27:35

is is asked divorce or the dance

27:37

Fears. Dire. When

27:42

he arrives at the halfway

27:44

point along half of the

27:46

damn he sees the problem.

27:48

A huge gust of wind

27:50

has just sense a wave

27:52

crashing into the foot high

27:54

burma his workers have been

27:56

making the wave self Several

27:58

men says importantly. The water

28:00

also washed away as section of

28:02

the Borough Park borders his men

28:05

to start rebuilding. But even as

28:07

he says this fears to waste

28:09

of time. something else is nagging

28:11

hard to the lake. Water has

28:13

been rising all day, but it

28:15

seems like it's been accelerating in

28:18

the past hour. Why?

28:21

He turns and looks back toward the

28:23

dams original spillway to investigate. He

28:26

soon seized Have. Club

28:28

stock the way with fries Black

28:31

Bass for the Pittsburgh steel magnate

28:33

who have cabin here and to

28:35

prevent these expensive fish from escaping

28:37

the lake is a series of

28:39

iron great new the mouth of

28:42

the spillway. normally water runs right

28:44

through the grips with the flooding

28:46

upriver, uprooted trees and other debris

28:48

or clogging the great now jamming

28:51

and v with. Harsh

28:53

shakes his head and frustration. The

28:55

spillway as big over seventy see

28:58

why and several feces. If they

29:00

don't unclog the great soon, they're

29:02

smaller. Emergency spillway won't make any

29:05

difference. A lake with overflow for

29:07

sure. Park turns

29:09

and looks around trying to find his

29:12

boss Colonel on he finally spots and

29:14

resting beneath a tree and of rain.

29:17

Boots more than ever heart

29:19

rate is up to a

29:21

Saudi group. Ah, walking the

29:23

spillway, we have to tear

29:25

them out. As useless as

29:27

underspin all day, he finds

29:29

the energy to rouse himself.

29:31

He gets to his feet.

29:34

Horses. may shakes his head now

29:36

we can't tear him out will

29:38

lose the fish fish who cares

29:41

about the fish what about the

29:43

damn we don't have any other

29:45

choice not i'm not lose low

29:47

fat the summer season starts next

29:50

week or members are going to

29:52

want fish heart please put under

29:54

refuses he insists that the men

29:56

have to fun for the gates

29:59

my hand They can use

30:01

ropes to plow out the trees and larger

30:03

pieces of debris. Park

30:05

still thinks they should just tear the greats

30:07

out, but doesn't have time to argue. He

30:10

snaps the reins to get his poor horse

30:12

moving again. He wants to check on his

30:14

men's progress on the second spillway on the

30:16

far side of the dam, though

30:18

part of him now wonders if it'll be too

30:21

little too late. Johnstown

30:32

telegraph operator Frank Deckard curses

30:35

under his breath, another

30:37

eight and not a nine in

30:39

sight. Damn it, any crummy hands

30:41

almost here. He's interrupted

30:44

by the sound of the telegraph key. He

30:47

glances at the big clock in his office

30:49

to note the time. It's 12.30pm on the dot. He

30:53

grabs a pencil and starts transcribing the

30:55

message from Morse code. Message

30:57

from upriver, which surprises him, given that

31:00

the lines in that direction have been

31:02

down. But the message explains that

31:04

someone rode around the break in the line

31:06

on horseback. That gets Deckard's

31:09

attention. If someone went

31:11

through all that trouble, the message must

31:13

be important. But halfway

31:15

through, Deckard rolls his eyes. It's

31:18

a warning about the dam, 14 miles

31:21

upriver. Every spring,

31:23

gossip like this floods the town, as

31:26

regular as a full moon. Deckard

31:29

finishes transcribing the message. South

31:32

Fork Dam in danger of

31:34

breaking. Notify

31:37

people of Johnstown to prepare

31:39

for the worst. He's

31:43

tempted to just crumple it up and throw it

31:45

in the trash. He ultimately

31:47

decides not to. His

31:49

company has a professional duty to

31:51

log and file every incoming message.

31:55

But he's not going to bother passing it

31:57

along. He Sets it aside. That

32:00

was cards. And starts. Then

32:03

he glances at the clock and. A

32:05

few more hours until he can

32:07

finally had home and can't come

32:10

soon. John

32:16

Park grabs the several from one

32:18

of his workers and gases into

32:21

the water of the new emergency

32:23

spillway. He immediately feals the blades

32:25

strike off. the loss is a

32:27

few feet over enzymes against more

32:30

solid rock hard curses. Workers have

32:32

already hit said rock and just

32:34

a few feet sounds hot. Was

32:37

hoping to make the spillway ten

32:39

or twelve feet east for this

32:41

enough water for lower the way

32:43

they can dig through bedrock. The

32:46

additional spillway will buy them a little

32:49

high for not nearly as much As

32:51

And Health. and other.

32:55

And ourselves in the work

32:57

on the damn table, sober

32:59

and is a. Sheet.

33:03

Of what he was all over

33:06

the top of the damn it

33:08

looks like this little last and

33:10

see several workers off her feet

33:12

one or more humble down the

33:15

face of the seventies and put

33:17

them part of the sunday before

33:19

sunrise over as the when guys

33:22

that the water starts pouring over

33:24

the damn with the damage has

33:26

already been on the Burma earth

33:28

that has been spent all day

33:31

building has largely been wiped out

33:33

like a sandcastle. destroyed by the

33:35

time with the berm gone the

33:37

lake water is now laugh and

33:39

over the dirt road that was

33:41

across the top of the das

33:43

this is exactly what parks here

33:45

now as the waters or for

33:47

an over the damn he will

33:49

cease into the dirt and wash

33:51

away this will lower the death

33:53

releasing still more water things spiral

33:55

out of his whole very quick

33:57

and before long turn

34:00

into a raging waterfall. Looking

34:03

things over, Park feels his

34:05

throat pitch. He has no

34:08

choice about what to do next. Everyone,

34:11

get off the dam. Retreat the

34:13

shore. These workers stand

34:15

and stare, unsure if they've hurt

34:17

him. Move! Move! Go!

34:19

Get the hell out of here fast!

34:21

It's too dangerous! That

34:24

gets them moving, but Park doesn't

34:26

linger to see them off. He spurs

34:28

his horse into motion again and takes

34:30

off for the iron grates of the

34:32

original spillway, which are still clawed with

34:34

dreams. To hell with the prize

34:36

fish. They've got to remove those grates and

34:39

do everything in their power to save the

34:41

dam. Okay,

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35:41

Telegraph operator Emma Ehrenfeldt darts across

35:44

her office. Yanks open a cabinet

35:46

drawer and grabs a pad of

35:48

paper. Then she hurries

35:50

back to her desk and starts scribbling.

35:52

It's only 2pm and already she's gone

35:55

through a whole pad of messages. It's

35:57

been the busiest day of her career so far.

36:00

are, and there's no end in sight. Most

36:03

of the messages are coming from railroad

36:05

companies. They're still complaining about the

36:07

schedules they have to keep and want to know

36:09

when the trains will be running again. Arendfeld

36:12

doesn't know what to tell them, except

36:14

what she's already told them a dozen

36:17

times, that large sections of track are

36:19

flooded. It's like they think

36:21

she has some magic wand to clear away

36:23

millions of gallons of water. Finally,

36:27

there's a lull. Arendfeld sits back

36:29

and closes her eyes. She's

36:32

been working since 7am, just a

36:34

few more hours and she can go home, draw

36:37

a hot bath and curl up

36:39

with great expectations. She's

36:41

earned it. She

36:43

hears footsteps on the stairs up to

36:45

her office and sits up warily. She

36:49

didn't appreciate Ezekiel bursting in earlier and

36:51

fears he's back again. But

36:54

this time the person knocks. Arendfeld

36:57

rises to answer it and finds

36:59

a local carriage driver named Daniel

37:01

standing there. He's dripping wet

37:04

and nods at her. Hi Miss Emma,

37:06

do you have a moment? I was hoping

37:08

you could pass a message along. I'll do

37:10

what I can. What's the message? It's

37:13

about the dam. I know,

37:15

I know, there's always a lot of hoopla about

37:17

it, but I just came down from there with

37:19

my team and things look

37:21

bad. Daniel explains to

37:24

Arendfeld that the spillway is

37:26

completely clogged and that the

37:28

water is starting to pour over the top. Arendfeld

37:31

feels her breath catch. She

37:34

knows Daniel. He's calm and

37:36

sober, not prone to exaggeration.

37:39

He also saw all this first hand. He's

37:42

not passing along rumors like Ezekiel

37:44

was. She invites him to dry

37:47

off by the pot belly stove and

37:49

sits down at her telegraph key. First

37:52

thing, Arendfeld tries the Johnstown line.

37:55

But no surprise, it's still down. So she

37:57

pings mineral point again to a local carriage

38:00

Or.now and have them send another messenger

38:02

around. The breaking the line. This

38:04

isn't about ruined furniture anymore.

38:07

This is a real emergency.

38:10

She. Feels bad about not taking the

38:12

first message as seriously as he should

38:14

have. She just hopes the people of

38:16

Johnstown get this more urgent message in

38:18

time to evacuate to higher ground. Horace.

38:26

Rose closes one eye and schools

38:28

found the barrel of as well.

38:30

He's leaning out his third storey

38:33

window as a rain soaked rat

38:35

slinking along a brick wall across

38:37

the street. He draws a bead

38:39

on hold breath. And

38:42

fires is a direct hit for

38:44

of his children ranging in age

38:47

from fourteen to twenty seven year

38:49

behind him while his wife Margaret

38:51

makes the sound of disgust rose

38:53

last and lays down the rifle.

38:56

Thin Wraps Arena has looked. Your

38:58

husband's the best shot in the

39:00

county says you. And he's married

39:03

to the prettiest girl in the

39:05

whole state. Well at least you're

39:07

in a better mood. Rose

39:10

sighs contentedly. It's around

39:12

to thirty pm and the truth is

39:14

he has indeed been grumpy most of

39:16

the day. Several important papers at his

39:18

office got ruined by flooding overnight and

39:21

he was mad at himself or not

39:23

moving them sooner. When. He and

39:25

his sons got back home from salvaging what

39:27

papers they could at the office. Rose sent

39:29

his son forest off the check on their

39:32

cow. He and his others

39:34

on Percy tried to wait inside, but

39:36

the street in front of their house

39:38

was so flooded that they had to

39:40

grab some planks morning by and wrapped

39:42

around to the back. Then in the

39:44

parlor downstairs he found two feet of

39:46

dirty floodwater which ruined his brand new

39:49

wallpaper. but then things got

39:51

better his adult sons horse jr and

39:53

winter showed up the help move the

39:55

furniture out of the first floor both

39:57

have families of their own and it's

39:59

hard to get everyone together nowadays.

40:01

He's enjoyed having them around. Then

40:04

the rising waters stranded them in the house,

40:06

so everyone headed upstairs to their den on

40:08

the third floor. They've been

40:10

swapping old family stories ever since, and

40:13

roasting sausages in the fireplace. It's

40:15

just too bad that his 16-year-old forest couldn't

40:17

make it back from seeing their cow to

40:19

safety. But he's safe and

40:22

sound at a neighbor's house across the street.

40:24

Rose can see over there. Forest

40:27

hosts are stuffing his face with

40:29

cakes and jam. He's probably having

40:31

as good a time as anyone.

40:34

Around 2 p.m., Rose got the idea

40:36

to start shooting rats. They've

40:39

been driven out of their holes by the rising

40:41

water, and he figured he'd do his part to

40:43

help the city exterminate them. While

40:46

Rose embraces his wife, 14-year-old Percy picks

40:48

up the rifle. Hey, Dad, can I

40:50

shoot that other rat out there? Sure.

40:52

Just draw a bead on him, like I

40:54

taught you. Percy runs off to

40:56

the window. When Margaret protests,

40:58

Rose kisses her. It's just some

41:01

harmless fun. Why don't we

41:03

have some fun, too? Do you want some

41:05

wine? Are you sure? It's

41:07

down on the first floor. I mean, why not? Let's

41:10

get a good bottle. I'll venture down.

41:13

Rose bends over and starts rolling up his pant

41:15

legs. He's looking forward to

41:17

a nice, warming glass of red. It's

41:20

amazing what a little family time and

41:22

a good attitude can do. He

41:25

could have let his foul mood ruin the

41:27

whole day, but he's going to appreciate what

41:29

he has. His family here,

41:32

together, safe all around him.

41:35

And make the most of his day. John

41:45

Park cuffs his hands around his mouth

41:47

and shouts through the pouring rain. Again,

41:50

on three, one,

41:53

two, all.

41:56

All His workers dig their boots into

41:58

the mud and strain his hardest they

42:01

can. the woman their hands squeaks close.

42:04

Heart size dark over to where

42:06

the ropes it's high. The cruise

42:08

failed to dislodge the trees clog

42:10

the iron race separate the lakes

42:12

and the spillway. All

42:14

the branches are simply to tangle. And.

42:17

The weight of the water has him in

42:19

place apart. Finally convinced his boss colonel longer

42:21

let them read hi, the ropes, the iron

42:24

breaks themselves and hair the mouth which is

42:26

what they should have done in the first

42:28

place. Park heard his his men on. Got

42:32

their efforts on the masses

42:35

Freezes Agree is simply to

42:37

fix this last hearth looks

42:39

over at the top of

42:41

the damn government's. Water

42:44

is now for and over the top and said

42:46

he see. Even worse looks

42:48

like the water is eating into the

42:50

top, are voting the dirt and releasing

42:53

more water every minute. If they don't

42:55

get the great the thought soon things

42:57

will only get worse. Heart calls out

43:00

for as men's arrest the moment and

43:02

rallies them for one more effort. Everyone.

43:07

Assumed back in line open

43:09

hand causes. But

43:15

he never finish his. Eating.

43:22

He. Was the same spot.

43:24

how can he he hurries over the

43:26

do that a lot. of

43:29

advisor of was shooting out of the

43:31

face. Of over. One

43:36

of the hear the studio com a

43:38

full blown rush. On

43:41

knows what is he even source

43:43

of the water is breaking through

43:45

the middle of the damn. Hard

43:48

knew there was a chance to

43:50

them to fail. What's he assumed

43:52

it would happen because of water?

43:54

Voting over the top of is

43:56

a process. hangouts now. of

44:00

the dam the whole thing is in danger

44:02

of collapsing in a matter of minutes and

44:06

if the dam goes 20 million

44:08

tons of water Hey

44:19

Prime members you can listen to Against

44:21

the Odds ad-free on Amazon Music download

44:23

the Amazon Music app today or you

44:26

can listen ad-free with Wondery Plus in

44:28

Apple Podcasts. Before you go

44:30

tell us about yourself by

44:32

completing a short survey at

44:35

wondery.com/survey. This

44:41

is the second episode of our

44:43

four-part series Johnstown Flood. A quick

44:46

note about our scenes in most cases

44:48

we can't exactly know what was said

44:50

but everything is based on historical research.

44:52

If you'd like to learn more about this

44:54

event we recommend the book Johnstown by David

44:57

McCullough. I'm your host Mike Corey.

44:59

Sam Keene wrote this episode. Our

45:02

editor is Steve Fennessy sound design

45:04

by Joe Richardson. Audio engineer is

45:06

Sergio Henriquez. Coordinating producer is Desi

45:09

Blaylock produced by Emily Frost and

45:11

Alita Rosanski. Managing producer is Matt

45:13

Gantt. Senior managing producer is Ryan

45:16

Lawr. Senior producers are Andy Herman

45:18

and Rachel Matlow. Executive producers are

45:20

Jenny Lawr Beckman, Stephanie Jens and

45:23

Marshall Newey. The

45:36

wait is over. So far you're

45:38

not losing. The only thing you're losing is

45:40

my patience. Quickly I see that. The

45:43

queen of the courtroom is

45:45

back. I didn't do anything.

45:48

You wouldn't know the truth if it came up and slapped

45:50

you in the face. I see it's not

45:52

intimidated by anything. I can fix

45:55

that. She wanted to

45:58

fight me? Leave her. Hey,

46:00

love. Okay, so, um... Not this is not

46:02

a soul. This is a period. Classic Judy. Did you

46:04

sleep with her? Yes, Your

46:07

Honor. You married his cousin. His brother. That's

46:09

not him. Yes, ma'am. I would make

46:11

a beeline for the door. The Emmy Award-winning series returns. How

46:13

did I know that? I have crystal ball in my head.

46:15

It's an all-new season. It's dreaming. You can

46:17

say anything. Judy Justice. Only on the

46:19

other side. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

46:22

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

46:25

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

46:27

sorry. Judy Justice. Only

46:29

on Freebie.