Evening journal., 1911-10-02
AUSTIN LIKE
TOY VILLAGE
Priest Tells Of Bravery Of
Telephone Girl Whs Gave
Warning
EYE WITNESS DESCRIBES
THE ROAR OF TIE WATERS
BY The United Press,

by Inc bhittu IItoo'
AUSTIN, Pa, oct. 2.--The Rev.
Father P. W. o'Brien. pastor Of st.
Augustine Catholic Church. the min
lister who held the only religious SER
vice conducted In Austin yesterday,
an eye witness Of Saturdays tragedy
gave TO the United Press today, a
new version OF the horror. Although
Father o'Brien's church was carried
completely away he. gathered two
score OF his congregation about him
on hill side yesterday and read
mass.
"A telephone call from Miss Lyons,
the exchange operator, was the frst
warning the small group OF people at
my house had Of the impending dis
aster," said Father OBrien we
rushed to the church intending TO save
what we could, but quickly realized
we would be fortunate to save our
lives. We had just reached position
Of safety on the hill side when the
deluge swept BY In nine minutes
the entire tragedy had been COM
pleted so far as Austin was concerned.
"The water moved down the gulch
in an absolutely perpendicular way,
thirty feet high Prior TO reaching
the village proper II had picked up
tons and tons OF lumber saw logs
trees and other debris. No explosive
4 fosco could have given greater mo-
mentum to this waiting material and
the logs carried ili tho teeth OF the
water wall were shot through and
through brick buildings as though the
latter had been made Of p8pief
machie. Viewed from the hillside the
destruction wrought made the town
itself appear like n toy village.
Even above the roar OF the water
arl the crash OF falling buildings
could be heard the piercing screams
Of the victims caught like trapped
rats There is no question IN my
minds but what hundreds OF lives
were saved by the bravery OF Miss
Lyons and her companion at the tele-
phone switchboard. who with a full
realization OF what chances they were
taking, remained at their posts In an
effort TO give warning to those OF the
citizens whom they could reach"
BY The United Press.
AUSTIN. Pa, Oct. with the
State Constabulary In control the
wreck Of what was formerly the vii
lage OF Austin Is today virtually under
military rule. While the state police
are dealing gently with the grief.
stricken survivors of Saturdays dis
aster, they are going about theii
work Of rescue In a business-lik
maner.
AZ p m. the estimates OF the nun
Der OF the dead We're still incomplet
due chiefly to the fact that most
the unrecovered dead are buried und
tons Of debris. In the opinlOhfoi q
officers OF the state police who al
less excited than the local officer
the total number OF dead will nc
exceed two hundred and a smalle
figures viii doubtless cover.
Pennsylvania is taking good care o
her own and as a result of thei
prompt action Of Governor Tener an,
the state officials there is no ack D
supplies. food or medical attention.
Each hour adds to the list OF heart
rending stories and adds to the lis
OF individuals heroes. many Of whom
perished trying to save friends and
relatives
A development today which is being
given careful attention. is the state
ment Of the H. B. Davis. a residen
OF Austin. who says that two hour
before the dam gave way he sough
the pulp mill officials in an effort Il
convince them that unless the sluic
gates were opened trouble would re
suit and was given no consideration.