Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-10-05

Austin, Pa.-Austin, a town of 5000
residents in the northern part OF the
state, was swept out of existence Sat
urday and more than 500 of its people
were Killed by a flood which followed the
breaking of the Bayless Pulp and Paper
Company's dam, a mile and Il half north
of the town. Almost five hundred mil
lion gallons Of water rushed over the
place in a wall three feet high, wrecking
every structure in its path.
1t is feared that the towns of Cos
tello and Wharton, also in the path of
the flood, have been destroyed. Reports
that Costello was wiped out and $50
persons killed there were prevalent dur
ing the night.
In Austin, the bursting Of scores of
natural gas mains, as the buildings were
swept away, added fire to the general
horrof of the food, and hundreds of those
imprisoned in the wreckage were burned
to death.
Contents of the great dam, which was
filled to overfowing by the heavy rains
of the last two weeks, swept through a
natural gorge in which the towns Of Aus
tin and Costello were situated. While
many of the residents of Austin escaped
to the hills bordering each side of the
town, the warning given by the blasts OF
the Bayless mills whistles and a tele-
phone girl were too brief for hundreds of
others.
The catastrophe paralleled in many re-
spects the destruction by flood OF Johns
town, Pa, in 1889, in which more than
1000 lives were lost.
The extent of the loss of life and the
destruction of property cannot be known
for several days. The property loss will
surely be several millions of dollars.
Food supplies of the town were de
stroyed, and immediate aid to survivors
was urgent. Hundreds of those who es
capped were seriously injured in the col
lapse of their homes and the panic of thu
rush for safety.
The intense heat of fire sweeping from
the natural gas mains made it impOssi
BILE for reseuers to visit the scene of de
struction for many hours. Looters wer'
among the first on the ground, and Gov
Tener dispatched a large force OF stat
police to the town to protect the victims
Thousand Buildings Crushed.
1t is estimated that a thousand build
ings have been torn from their founda
tions and crushed in the flood or hav
been destroyed by fire. The water mad
its way through the business section O
the town and left only four building
standing. The valley of Freemans Ru
is narrow and the town was built alon
its banks. All the buildings in the lowe
part of the valley were swept clear {
their foundations by the torrent an
many of those which remained quickl
fell a prey to the flames.
The scene in the village is appalling
Here and there can be seen the light
some torch or lantern as a distracted t
Their searches along the bank for son
evidence of his family and home. Me
who a day ago were among the mo!
level headed in the community know nj
what to do. There is no leader al
hundreds are waiting for morning befo
they will attempt to act. The few wi
are trying to bring ZONE order out
chaos are handicapped by the cries
the bereaved and unfortunate.
Scenes of indescribable sadness mark,
the village during the early hours
the night. Many women who had 10
their children wandered in the darkne
crying their names in the vain hope tn
would answer, while here and there
worn and broken man stood at the rui
of his home, dazed, wondering when t
bodies of the family would be -four
but it is the general belief that some
them will never be recovered. Ma
were burned in the fire and Others We
ground to pieces by the masses of ii
bers and stone swept down by the foc
Whole families have been wiped o.
among them being some of the leadi
residents of the town, but in the dat
ness and confusion it is impossible
tell who is left. The number of dead
now estimated from $50 to 1000, I
population of the town having been 81
before the disaster.
A dangerous situation developed
mediately after the great wall of wa
had passed. Austin is piped for natu
gas, and the great force of the flood t.
the mains from the streets. One of the
the largest pipe in the town, burst
the business section. A moment aft
ward the gas rushed out and in a twi
ling it had taken fire. There was no
plosion, but the flames leaped to a hei
of twenty feet OF more, and, blown b,
uIwrVrT A MAN