Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-10-04
WATER AND FIRE DESTROY.
Nearly 1000 Dead in Austin Flood.
,JOIinStOwn and Galveston Recalled.

Austin, Pa, Sept 30.--With a roar
that could be heard for miles, the
great dam Of the Bayless Pulp and
Paper Company, at Austin, fourteen
miles from here, went out at $50
o'clock this afternoon. Forty bodies
had been recovered from the ruins
when darkness came, and 1t is esti-
mated that fully four hundred are
unaccounted for and are believed to
be dead.
The dam, which was $40 feet long
= and 43 rect high, was 32 feet thick
at the base and held back more than
five hundred million gallons Of wa
ter. For the first time since it's con-
struction, two years ago, the water
was running over the top to-day, and
many persons went out from Austin,
mile and half away, to see the
unusual sight.
Breaks Without Warming.
They were Mortified when sec
ton Of about twenty feet wide gave
way on the west side. A great vol
ume OF water poured through the
hole and the alarm was quickly
sounded. People ran for their lives
to the hills near by, but some we're
caught in the food and whirled down
the valley. A moment later another
break occurred, this time on the east
side. 1t was much greater than the
first, and permitted the bulk Of the
water behind 1T to rush in a mighty
volume toward tho lowlands.
Harry Davis, locomotive engineer
OF this place, reached telephone and
notified the operator at the exchange.
She called as many persons as posi-
bic. but the time was short The
raging flood tore down the little val
ley, carrying death on its debris-cov-
cred crest.
Women and Children Helpless.
Hundreds Of women and children,
Ohe men were away ut work were
caught in their homes and drowned
or crushed before they knew what
had happened. Houses went down
before the mighty crush Of water, and
gas pipes, bent and broken, released
their dangerous fluid.
Before the water had passed OIL it's
terrible course through town, dozen
fires were burning in as many places,
and the cries Of injured and impris-
oned persons joined In the terrific
thunder of the food.
Much of the debris lodged against
hanna Railroad, and there the fire
ragged fiercest. Many were caught
here, and few escaped with their
lives. The course Of the food was
through the business center of the
little village. A majority Of the
buildings were Of wood, and those
which were not were Immediately
wrecked by the torrent and soon
were in flames.
No Chance for Safety.
~ So sudden was the onslaught Of
water that many persons had no time
to fee to the hills, but others re-
ccived the warning, and hearing the
fire bell, FASTENED to the center of
the town, only 10 be caught in the
flood an1 swept away. The food
passed quickly, leaving dcsOlation in
its wake. Houses had been crushed
and tossed about like toys, while
hundreds Of bodies had been carried
down on the crest of the surgng tor
rent.
With the passing of the water,
those who had fed to the hills hast
ened to return to their ruined homes
in search Of relatives and friends
Here and there bodies had been cast
up along the path of tho torrent, and
about forty bodies were recovered In
a short time. Some Of them had
been so badly battered by the toss
ing debris that they were beyond rec
ognition, while others had been car
ried along with no apparent injury.
Many were caught In burning build
ings, and 1t will be days before the
real extent Of the calamity will be
known. 1t Is believed that no less