New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-01

! another report, and It seemed as if tic
whole structure was giving way
With a cry of alarm fed to the near
est high ground, and persons scattered
IN every direction. 1t was apparent that
all the great body Of water behind the
dam was going out. Some were caught,
and before l could tell what was hap
pening the water was tearing down
Freeman Run, wall fifty feet high, AMI
sweeping everything before it.
THE sound was doafening; but l had
little time for that. There was a house
close by. and I rushed to the telephons
and called Central in Austin. She
did not have much time TO telephone
the alarm, but think she did her best.
I guess she is dead. l have not heard
anything about her since.
Awful Scenes in Doomed Village.
Il came down to Austin as soon as
possible, but It was an awful sight The
water had torn through the place, tax
ing all the principal buildings ami
crushing houses like egg shells.
Then the fire broke out. The timbers
and sides of houses were filed up against
the railroad shops, and they We're soon
In flames. I know there were men in
, the shops, how many cannot say, but
there was no way to help them. They
were probably burned up. ! have not
seen any Of them since.
Il don't know how the fire started, but
Il seemed as though II began In a score
OF places at once. The postoffice es-
capped, but near by was store. and
there the flames appeared first Then
I looked for the Bank of Austin, but 1t
was gone, swept away, guess. because
I did not see it burning.
But worst of all were the cries ot
the women and children. You see, all
most all the men were at work. and
they We're at home alone. They had
heard the warning sent out by the tele-
phone girl-at least some of the people
say the fire bell rang and thought It
was a fire. Some OF them rushed to
the business section and We're caught
in the water for that flood travelled
like racehorse. Those not drowned
were crushed in the crumbling build
ings, and others were caught in tho
flames. 1t was frightful cannot
begin to tell it all
Little Children Caught in Flood.
Little children playing in yards at
home were caught up by the water and
tossed about on the food like play
things Cattle and horses were swept
off, and even the sidewalks were torn
up. never imagined there could be
such force. And over and above II all
were the shrieks Of the hundreds OF
poor people who could not escape I
don't know how any of US got away"
Crushed and bleeding with both legs
broken, child not more than three
months old was carried into the house
OF Harry Davis at 10 O'clock The poor
little sufferer had been found lying in
the mud, left there by the receding
waters. In another house, half mils
away. its father, an unrecognizable mass
% twisted and broken humanity, lay
dying. while high along the washed out
road leading from the dam they picked
up the dead forms OF the mother and
two other children.
This is only one incident OF the many
narrowing pictures one may see in Aus
tin on this most terrible Of nights.
Woman Lives with Broken Neck.
Another serves to show the terribly
destructive force Of the flood Mrs.
Barnes no one seems to know her first
name but they all knew she was the
widow of soldier and "A pensioner OF
the government-had just left the post
office when the water came. She was
picked mp tossed into the air and thrown
free of the water. Her neck was broken.
both legs were crushed and her back
was injured Yet at this hour she Is still
alive conscious Of her awful sufferinss.