Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-10-04
G.. w. & j. E. Bauknight,
Wall1alla, South Carolina
than 400 persons perished, and some
estimates are higher.

are nlSHSi.
Thousand Buildings Destroyed.
1t Is estimated a thousand build
ings have been torn from their foun-
dations and crushed in the food or
have been destroyed by fire. The wa
ter made its way through the busi-
ness sections of the town. and left
only four buildings standing.
The valley Of Freeman's Run Is
narrow and the town was built along
it's banks. All the buildings in the
lower part Of the valley were swept
off their foundations by the torrent
and many Of those which remained
quickly fell q prey to, the tamesyt (.
stop the fire and 1t was allowed to
burn itself out, the survivors of the
food standing idly on the hillsides,
stunned beyond the power to act.
All Churches Gone.
The five or six churches in the
town are all gone, the only public in
stitutiOns LEFT standing being the hos
pital and the school house.
Costello Wiped Out.
Austin, Pa, Sept. 30.-The little
town Of Costello, below this place,
has been annihilated. The pOpula-
ton is between 400 and 500 persons.
A survivor reached Austin at 10
o'clock tonight. He said that there
was hardly sign Of life there. Whe-
ther most OF the citizens of the place
perished in the flood or have fled to
the hills, the man could not say. He
believes, however, that two-thirds Of
the population are dead.
Definite information was obtained
after 10 o'clock that every member
Of the family of State Senator Frank
e. Baldwin, except the Senator him
self, was killed. These include Mrs.
Balwin, their children, Senator Bald
wins mother, father and sister The
Senator was injured.
Not Bad as First Thought.
Austin, Pa, Octo. 1.-Estimates Of
the loss Of life in the food that over
whelmed the town Of Austin yester-
day diminished to-day, when an army
Of volunteer rescuers worked It's way
into the masses Of wreckage. In the
opinion OF many on the ground, the
number Of deaths will not reach 150,
while the less hopeful place the list
Of fatalities at 800.
The property loss will exceed So
100000, and it is the general opin-
ion that the town never will be re-
built. Two, at least, of the large
plants will not be reconstructed, and
a majority OF the business men of
the place have been financially
ruined.
Estimates OF Dead.
State officials in charge Of the situ-
alton. after hasty canvass OF the
population to-day, expressed the be-
lief that more than 100 arc dead in
the wreckage. Chief Of Police ID. e.
Baker. however, believes that fully
800 arc dead or missii g.
Reports from Costello and points
further down the Sinncmahoning
grew more encouraging as the day
advanced. At Costello, while there
was heavy financial loss, it was
said that no more than three per-
sons were dead. Beyond that point
no fatalities had been reported.
TO Investigate Cause.
The cause Of the breaking of the
dam is matter which the district
attorney OF Potter county has taken
steps to investigate. The Bayless
Dam was examined by experts over
year ago and certain recommends
tons were made looking to its safety.
The district attorney has secured tho
names OF some Of the experts who
submitted the report to the Baylcss
Company and will summon them to
testify at an inquest to begin some
day this week.
Johnstown Flood--188O.
The Austin food, which Is shock
ing I'm It's death list, zoos not compare
with the havoc wrought at Johns
town, May 31st, 1889. when 2,235
human lives were sacrificed and prop
crty worth $1O,000,0 900 destroyed by