The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-01
SCENES WITNESSED I'M
VILLAGE WERE APPALLING


Scenes in the village tonight are ap-
fpalling. Here and there Ia a ueht
torch or lantern, as a distracted
father searches along the bank for
some evidence of his family and
home. There Is no leader to show
the people, and they know not what
TO DO or how 20 act. The extent OF
the disaster WIN not be known for
hours.
NJ Scenes Of Undesirable sadness mark
ed the village in the early hours Of
3 the night. Women who lost their
children wandered in the darkness,
crying their names In the vain hope
ana there a worn and broken man
stood at the ruins Of his home, dazed
and wondering when the bodies Of his
family would be found, but II II gen
orally thought that some Of them new
er will be recovered. Many were
<burned n the fire. and others ground
TO pieces by the mass of timber,s and
Sstones swept down by the food.
One man said he saw q two story
brick building crumple like a pack OF
: cards. He stated that not enough
houses are left to cover the survivors.
The railroad shops, where the dsbries
SIS piled high, was probably the death
chamber of a majority OF the men who
T. were employed there. Raaouang par
ties attempted to reach the interior Of
the ruins, but were driven back by
the smell OF burning flesh. Strong
men became towards. $3.50.
8 Until help comes from the outside,
I little can be done to ascertain the loss
or assiSt the injured. Food supply
VIII sDon be exhausted as every gro
4 Gerry store but one small one was
swept away. Many went without sup
& per and unless help comes they will
have 10 breakfast tomorrow.
Some Terrible Deaths.
There were many incidents OF Mir
aculnns escape and terrible deaths.
Five or six churches are gone. The
hospital and school house are the only
public buildings left standing and 1t
Is believed number perished in the
White House hotel when It burned.
whciedanilies were wiped out among
then11being some Of the leading resi-
The enumber of dead are now estt-
rnataabat from $50 to 1000. A primary
election was In progress In one build
ing and many men were In the vicdn-
ity. They did not heed the warning
shout and all are believed to have
persisted. Not a. trace of the building
where the election was held can be
seen tonight.
Mrs. Elliott and her daughter, were
walking on the street when they heard
< he roar of the approaching avalanche
Tot showing what had happened. but
Emp&lled by tho instinct OF preserva-
tionk they ran into thu nearest build
ing, (which CHANGED to be one Of a
frienA. They had scarcely entered
when the roaring water was upon
Them The house crumbled and per-
sons on the hillside saw 1t lifted in
the abr. Mrs. Elliott was seen to reach
for her daughter and with arms
clasped about each other they were
swept from view.
Costello Probably Destroyed.
It is believed here that Costello,
three miles from here with a popula-
ton of TOO. has been wiped out, for
the hood swept down Freeman'S run
To the Sinnamshoning river. Through
Athe three miles the valley, scarcely
loses the aspect OF a gorge and 1t al
lowed the water little opportunity to
spread out or lose its force. Every
EFFORT, was made to communicate with
Costello, but there are no wires up
even II there are people left to an
swer4 the call.
The largest gas pipe here burst in
the business section, and the natural
gas Rushed out, and took nre, But
little was the explosion. The nre
spread to the houses and other pipes
bJrrst, pouring the deadly inflammable
mud into the air. Men who tried to
dopi some good were overcome. while
sfhers were caught In the flames and
rnoinerated. The streets became
Glowing hell, and there was no sal
Satien for those who CHANGED to be
near.
Among the terrible experiences was
that Of a young girl. who was caught
IS under the heavy timbers when part of
II paper mill fell. A man saw the fire
. creeping towards her. Unable to
? move the timbers he seized an axe and
out of tho girls leg. bleeding and
scorched the girl was taken to a hos
pital and may die