The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-11-22
FIX BLAME
Inquest Into Austin Disaster Re.
suits in blaming Pulp Com
psny Ohicials.
JURY CONSUMED LITTLE
TINE FORMING VERDICT
Expert Who Constructed Dam Nd
mits II Vas Weakened and in
Dangerous shape.

coUDERSPORT. Pa Sov q -
That tho Austin dam disaster o.
September 90 last Vas caused b. gros-
nsgiigenoe on the part 81 George q
bsyless. president and Frederick e.
Hamiin. superintendent ~ the Hayleas
Pulp and Paper company. and Of the
Bayiess Pulp and Paper company AH
corporation. was the unanimous YER
diet of the corourr's Jury returned 20
night The inquest into tho breaking
of the dam which caused the loss of
over threescore lives and millions OF
dollArH damage vas resumed this az
iernoon 10 allow 7 C. Hatton % WI.
minEtOn. Del. the engineer who built
the dam. 10 testify The case was
given TO the Iur, iais this afternoon
and a verdict Whs reached shortly Boz.
fore seven o clock tonight
Engineer linf'un proved to l. tho
most impoTfauf .itr.-s eRtmIfrd flr
said no had been dr-.En.ng and con.
Htructing concrete work since 1873.
The dam. he -aid. under specifications.
vas 10 cost fs5.pn0 The total cost
however was SsC.UOn. /.Out $1,000 OF
which WAS Tor engineering rNpcn~es
Wantss Cheapest Dam.
Mr. Bayiess. boz said. WAS anA.ou,
10 keep the c0-t down to tho minimum
and az the .au- umc Insure safety
While ais less az first objected 20 th"
cost Of cut on vaI. BE- Va- put loo
aud extended from ON. end ~ tu.
structure 10 the other 10 Was put iu
according to his SPECIFICATIONS This
Nas important as engineers az for
mer hearing testified they could rnd
no evidence of such wall
liaitOn designed the dam to ~ a.
feet high with four feet free board
and spillway tO the top Of the wall
iattou had Two important contentious
With Bayiess. one just before the com
piet!on Of the original dam as 10 the
adyisability of making the structure
Two feet higher to hold that much
more water and another after the NOV
ing OF the dam 90 January The dam
was made tvo feet higher however.
after certain suggestions o. ilatton
had been observed and the h'tcr after
ward endorsed .f
Wanted All Water Possible
Concessions we're made to IIatjou
in the construction of the spash boa ri
and the spillway. thus relieving the
cnange OF an element of danger The
dam was also 70 lufurC'd Nth a clay
vail. Bay less said hr wanted the
dam to hold every foof OF water 10
would WIN safety. and Hatton insist
cd IL was perfectly safe FOR the height
he had designed it
Asked as to the cause of -hc dam
breaking hc said water got under o.
it was after the dam moved 90
1910 and The matter ~ repair and
reinforcing vas up that tho second
disagreement between Iaftou ana
Bayless occurred This resulted u
The passing Of IIatton a4 the engineer
81 the Hay less COMPANY 40 HaNlrss
request. Iiatiuu came ou and examined
'hc shattered dam After advising
with Engineer WaErman. of NeV
York. he Fubmltted two plans Tor 70
inforcemeut Co make fhc dam safe
one was tn cost So 900 and thc other
t9i.OUO and au additional amount for
each foot 81 surface covered
Bayless refused to uccep. either
plan on account DC ls alleged. of fhc
expense involved Iu return Rltfss
he said suggested tbr Idea OF a
wooden and dirt dam above the con
crete structure bar Iafton SAWS he
strongly advised aEaInst lt AFTER
considerable correspondence. ZOO which
fhey could not agree. llattou said that
hts business relations Uith 0ayiess
ceased The wooden dam vas later
put iu. Uafton said. hu' DO had moth
fnG Co do With lf
ilattou shid hc would consider N
rross negligence to allow water fo run
over the spiilea, of fhc dsm ary Im,
after 40 moved Iu $780, fls also rr
rardod ON" moving of the dsm aa
suncicu. notice of 's dangerous CON
diti0u.