Relief efforts were among the first major actions of Clara Barton and her newly organized American Red Cross.

In 1880, entrepreneur Benjamin Franklin Ruff suggested organizing a club to establish an exclusive mountain retreat as a center of summer recreation for members.

Ruff had previously bought property that he offered for sale to the club, promoting the idea to Henry Clay Frick, a friend and among the wealthy elite group of men who controlled Pittsburgh's steel, rail and other industries.

Before closing on Ruff's purchase, Congressman Reilly had had crucial discharge pipes removed and sold for their value as scrap metal.

[2] The five cast iron discharge pipes, each with an inside diameter of two feet, had previously allowed a controlled release of water.

Morrell insisted on inspections of the dam's breastwork both by his own engineers (including John Fulton), and by those of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

His offer to do repairs, partially at his own expense, was rejected by club president Benjamin F. Ruff (who died two years before the flood).

Notwithstanding leaks and other warning signs, the flawed dam held the waters of Lake Conemaugh back until disaster struck in May 1889.

[6] The founding entrepreneur, Benjamin F. Ruff, had died several years earlier, and Unger had been on the job only a short time.

The American Society of Civil Engineers launched an investigation of the South Fork Dam breach immediately after the flood.

However, according to modern research conducted by, among others, University of Pittsburgh instructor Neil M. Coleman,[7] the report was delayed, subverted, and whitewashed, before being released two years after the disaster.

[8] The sixteen charter members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, including Henry Clay Frick who assembled them in November 1879, were Benjamin Ruff, T. H. Sweat, Charles J. Clarke, Thomas Clark, Walter F. Fundenberg, Howard Hartley, Henry C. Yeager, J.

[9] Alphabetically, a complete listing of club membership included:[6] After several days of unprecedented rainfall in the Alleghenies, the dam gave way on May 31, 1889.

Along with about half of the club members, Henry Clay Frick donated thousands of dollars to the relief effort in Johnstown.

[citation needed] On February 5, 1904, the Cambria Freeman reported, under the headline "Will Pass Out of History": The South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, owners of the Conemaugh Reservoir at the time of the Great Flood, will soon pass out of history as an organization with the sale of all its personal effects remaining in the clubhouse at the reservoir site.

In the list to be disposed of are fifty bedroom suites, many yards of carpet, silverware and table ware with the club monogram engraved thereon and many odd pieces of furniture and bric-a-brac.

At the time of the Great Flood the club house was handsomely furnished and was fully equipped to care for at least 200 guests.