The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-10-01

coudersport. Pa. Sept. s0.-with a
roar that could be heard for miles,
the great dam of the Bayless Pulp 4
Paper company at Austin, Pa, IA
miles from here. went out at 2.3O
O'Clock this afternoon. Forty bodies
had been recovered from the ruins
when darkness came this evening and
II Is estimated that fully 400 more
persons are unaccounted for and are
believed to be dead. The dam, which
was $50 feet long and ~ feet high.
was 32 feet thick at the base and held
back more than 500.0O0.0O0 gallons OF
water.
For the first time since it's construc-
tion two years ago. the water was
running over the top today and many
persons went out from Austin. a mile
and half away, to see the unusual
sight.
Break in Dam.
They were Mortified when n section
about 20 feet wide gave way on the
west side. A great volume OF water
poured through the hole and the alarm
was quickly sounded. People ran for
their lives to the nearby hills. but
some were caught In the flood and
whirled down the valley. A moment
later another break occurred. this
time on the east side. II was much
greater and permitted the bulk of the
mass of water behind to rush in a
mighty volume toward the lowlanis.
Harry Davis. "A locomotive engineer OF
this place. reached a telephone and
notified the operator at the exchange.
She called as many persons as possi-
bile. But the time was short. The
raging flood tore down the little val
ley. carrying death on its debris-cov-
cred crest
Women and chiirsrn.
Hundreds of women and children
the men were away at work-were
caught In their homes and drowned
or crushed before they knew what had
happened. Houses went down before
the mighty onrush of water and gas
pipes, bent and broken. released their
dangerous fluid. Before the water
had passed on it's terrible course
through the town. a dozen fires were
burning In az many places and the
cries of the injured and imprisoned
persons Joined In the terrific thunder
OF the flood.
Fire Adds Horror.
Much of the debris lodged against
the shops of the Buffalo & Susque-
hanna railroad and there the fire
ragged fiercest. Many men were
caught here and II is believed that few,
II any. escaped with their lives.
The course Of the flood was through
the business center of the little viii
lage. A majority of the buildings
were of wood and those which were
not Immediately wrecked by the tor
rent. were soon In flames.
No Time for Flight.
| So sudden was the onslaught Of
water that many persons had no time
to flee to the hills, but others received
the warning and believing II was fire.
hastened to the center of the town.
only to be caught in the flood and
swept away.
The flood passed quickly. leaving
desolation In its wake. Houses had
been crushed ana tossed about like
toys. while hundreds OF bodies had
been carried down on the crest of the
surging torrent.
0svastAtion.
With the passage Of the water those
who had fled to hills fastened to re-
turn to their ruined homes In search
OF relatives and friends. Here and
there bodies had been cast along the
path of the torrent and about 40
bodies We're recovered In short time
tSome OF them had been so badly
scattered by the tossing debris that
they were beyond recognition, while
others had been carried along with
no apparent injury. Many We're caught
In burning buildings. ana 1t will be
days before the real extent of the
calamity will be known. 1t Is be-
lieved that no less than 400 persons
perlshed and some estimates are
higher.