The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-10-13
BREAK IN AUSTIN DAM
Is TO BE INVESTIGATED
State is Said to be PLANNING Criminal
Prosecutions-A Menace for
Two Years.

Austin, Pa.-Startling evidence that
for nearly two years before it burst,
the Bayless dam was a constant men
ace TO the thriving towns of Austin
and Costello, the ruins of which are
still strewn over five miles Of the
Sinnemahoning Valley, is now in the
possession OF the State authorities.
Following the departure of Govern
or Tener from Austin, after he had
made personal inspection of the
broken dam, and of the scenes OF de-
vastation stretching far below 1t, it
was learned that criminal prosecu-
tons may develop.
There will be thorough investi-
cation made by the State of the
causes leading up to the collapse of
the dam" Governor Tener said, after
he had looked over the great sections
of shattered concrete wall that are all
that are left OF the Bayless dam.
The State OF Pennsylvania will see
that Justice is done to these poor peo-
pie who have lost their dear ones and
their homes"
walked among the mounds OF debris
or gaZed down upon the valley Of sor-
row and devastation from the noun
tain sides. With him was DR.. Sam
uel G.. Dixon, the State Health Com
missioner; Adjutant General Stuart,
General Fleitz, OF the State Water
Commission; State Highway Commis-
otn nd at
fcials.
Six more bodies were recovered,
making total Of a. dragged from the
ruins. The men who have just taken
a complete census OF survivors and
missing, have placed the original
number OF the latter az rs, and ac-
cording 10 their figures, with a
bodies already released from the
clutch OF the debris, not more than
81 more are scattered through II
Some OF the latter may never be re-
covered. having either been burned
10 crisp or buried under tons OK
mud and refuse.
There are now 100 laborers n
work in the valley, each of whom Ia
receiving $1.75 day. They are re-
moving debris under the direction o.
experienced foremen
The feeding OF the laborers alone
Is oLe Of the serious problems with
which DR.. Dixon and his assistants
have TO contend Besides the 1,l0O
men there are fully 1000 men, wo-
men and children survivors OF the
food who are absolutely dependent
clothing The State troopers must
clothing. The State troopsers must
also be fed All OF Troop b and
twenty-one men OF Troop c are on
the scene.
The relief now exceeds $4,000. The
! Cambria Iron and Steel Company, OF
Johnstown. has contributed $1,000.
and the citizens OF that city, which
once suffered from food, have given
5000 The total OF the fund is now
/ SIC, zoe. hardly an adequate amount
! 10 employ 100 laborers at $1.75 a day
and TO house and feed more than
| 5000 persons for an indefinite time.
{ Frequent rains and a chill wind
have accentuated the suffering OF the
/ destitute. which includes even those
\ citizens who, before the flood, were
! prosperous.
| Binghamton, n. N.-The Bayless
Pulp and Paper Company, whose dam
wrecked the village of Austin, will
/ transfer its plant from the Pennsyl-
vania town to Canada, where the cor
poration has recently purchased a
large tract OF timber lands, accord.
/ ing 10 a statement made by the COM
pany's officers. The move was con-
i templated before the recent disaster
because OF the destruction OF the
Pennsylvania forests.