The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-10-06
DAM BURSTS, CAUSING cArAs-
TRoPHE IN WHICH BOTH
COSTELLO AND AUSTIN
ARE DESTROYED.
FLAMES COMPLfTEoHAvoCi
Reseuers Labor to Save Injured, With
Light From Burning Buildings
Logs Hurled Down on
Village BY
Wave.

Austin, Pa.-Two towns leveled by
flood and fire, an estimated death list
Of over 300 persons, as many more
injured and the surviving inhabitants
dazed to inaction, is the destruction
worked in this town by a flood which
broke the concrete dam at Austin,
freeing a lake five miles long that en-.
cheering science had held in leash
In the valley Of Freemans Run. The
torrent Of water. carrying with 1t mil.
lions of feet of pulp logs, swept away
the buildings in its path, and, as the
structures were dashed from their
foundations, fire sprung from the
broken gas connections and spread to
the buildings higher up in the valley.
The flood. repetition of the Johns.
town disaster. first destroyed Austin,
a town Of 5000 population, swept its
buildings along in the current and
dashed them into the town of Costello,
short distance down the valley.
The flood was in full daylight, but
the Inhabitants had relied on the
strength of the dam. which had held
water but week. The dam was five
miles above the town, and when the
report came that the water was run.
ming over the top. many went out to
see Il.
1t was while these persons watched
that the pile of cement and rock gave
way and the lake. five miles long, $40
feet wide and so feet deep, swept
down on the towns. There was no
chance to give warning, and those in
Austin and Costello were caught.
Hearing the rush of water and the
tumbling logs it carried on its surface.
many rushed for the higher surface
and had scarcely reached safe places
before flames shot up about them.
People In their homes and in places
OF business were killed instantly or
were injured and carried along with
the torrent until they died Of exhaus-
ton.
Survivors See Homes Burn.
The flood left the survivors without
means to protect themselves from the
second danger that sprang up, and
they sat on the banks of the reced.
Ing river. dazed and powerless, to
watch their homes burn. No appara.
fus was available to help them, and
none could be obtained from surround.
ing towns before Austin was in ruins.
Darkness came before the surviv.
Ing people realized the extent of the
destruction and that added to their
bewiiderment. Whole families were
destroyed and In other instances men
and women returned to find their
homes gone. They wandered up and
down the valley. calling, and getting
no response. looked for the bodies.
The dam was built two years ago
and the water was turned into the
basin but week ago. Behind the dam
was the pile of logs to be used by the
Goodyear Lumber Company and the
pulp mills. When the dam went out
the entire pile of concrete seemed to
go down at once and the water swept
along in a solid crest as high as the
dam had been. The logs riding the
crest Of the floor made battering ram
that swept all before II. The pulp
mill. half mile above Austin, was one
OF the first buildings to be wrecked
and Its timbers were added to the
burden the flood already carried. AT
the outskirts OF the town the great
dam demolished the planning mill and
the hotel which stood near II.
The escape OF more than two score
who survived the first onslaught of
the flood was cut on by a long barb
edwire fence which ran along the
creek. When the flood passed. rescue.
Ing parties found the bodies caught In
the wires and terribly torn. MANY
bodies are being recovered along the
banks of the river. some having been
swept five miles below the city.
Fire departments from Smitbnor,
Coudersport. Bradford and Keatinr
Summit were rushed here to fight the
flames. The wreck of the buildings
left the gas mains open and the flames
spread rapidly. All of the buildings
not completely destroyed by the flood
were swept by fire. which blazed
along the ruins. jumping from gas
pipe to gas pipe.
Residences suffered because of their
and while no accurate
estimate Of the real damage can be
made. II is stated that there are not
enough houses left In the village tn