Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-10-03

ONE HUNDRED ARE MISSING
State Constabulary Barring All visi-
tors From valley-Food and
Clothing Has Relieved
Suffering.

hhoWh NSeSNS SAoASS 49, AAAsNSSAAAo 49, =
believed to be buried beneath the
debris, is the official census today OF
Austin's loss Of life in the flood Of
Saturday. 1t is conceded, however,
that several visitors were in town
that day and undoubtedly persisted.
Including them and allowing for
errors in compilation, the total dead
probably will reach $50. Twenty
one of the twenty-four bodies re-
covered have been identified and OF
the missing hope is entertained that
some may be accounted for.
The problem is to recover the
dead from the thousands of tons OF
debris choking the narrow valley
To do so before it becomes neces-
sary to burn the ruins and save the
living from an epidemic, an army
of laborers must reach the town
within the next thirty-six hours, Of
ficials say. Otherwise. the torch may
transform the wreckage into the
pyre of most of those who have per-
ished.
The single wire between Austin
and the outside world carried an
urgent plea for workmen to the
mayors of Buffalo, Pittsburgh and
Philadelphia. The messages were
sent by Samuel c. Dixon, state COM
missioner of health.
Encouraging responses are hoped
for today.
e "Give us our dead" is Austin's
cry, voiced by State Senator Bald
win. who lost father. mother, sister
and other relatives. Only the body
of his father, John E. Baldwin, had
been recovered last night. The 9TH
ers are locked in the ruins.
81 speak for the people of Aus
tim he said, Pennsylvania owes
us the bodies OF our loved ones. For
As hours they have been in the
ruins; how much longer will the
leave them there?
The state should have q thousand
men working here now"
The nine lie railroad line lead
ing from Keatings Summit was CIV
en- over today TO rescue and relief
work. Locked cars pulled out Of
the summit for the scene Of the dis
aster. When they reached here the
workers were detrained; the drones
kept aboard were sent back. Every
man on Austin's streets except the
men were conscripted for
service but despite the efforts OF the
only $50 were working
at sunset.
Smouldering flames in the debris
burst out anew yesterday afternoon.
but 1t is not believed that any bod
les were burned.
Austin stands to man against
the suggestion that it may be nee
essary to put the torch to her ruins.
Feeling runs high and should the
health authorities be forced to this
there is no telling the re-
suit. The Pennsylvania state con-
stabulary holds the town in Its
grasp, however, and the troopers
will remain here until Commission
er Dixon gives the word to 90.
The food swept valley offers no
shelter for the laborers expected to-
day and until they come In bunk
cars they cannot be cared for. Eight
homeless men slept last night upon
the floor OF house spared by the
waters; two women and FIVE chill
dren, all refugees. slept in the room
above them, while the household Of
QV0 lieu lutO Lie IcAudiuiu4 iOouo'
This Is typical Of conditions every
where in the flood zone.
Food and clothing reached Austin
in carload lots and there were
enough to eat for ALL The distrib-
nting agents lacked shoes and un-
for the women and
children, however, these were order
I'd by telegraph and should arrive
today.
Across the street from the morgue
lie insurance companies nailed their
to tree near small shack
yesterday topping them with sign
within"
A file OF weeping women took
urns at recording their claims.
A call for aid came from food