The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-10-12

Austin, Pa, Oct. - While men
were at thei: work, women busy IN
their homes Or shopping, and children
at play in their yards or in the streets,
without the least warning the great
dam of the Bayless Pulp and Paper
Company, located mile and half
above here, swept down the valley OF
Freeman, and before the inhabitants
had time to realize what had happen
ed, between ESQ and $50 lives had
been snuffed out.
Nearly half billion gallons OF wa
ter, freed from the reservoir formed
by the recently built dam, rushed with
great velocity down the narrow val
ley and crushed frame, brick and con-
crete structures alike into nothing
ness, and with them were Whirled to
death those persons who were untor-
tunate enough to be caught In the
rush of water.
The wall of water in few minutes
had swept through the town of Austin,
leaving devastation and death in it's
wake, and struck Costello, few miles
below here, where practically every
building in that town was destroyed.
Only three or four persisted, as news
Of the breaking of the dam reached
Costello in time to allow most OF the
residents to escape to higher ground.
Survivors in a Frenzy.
Hundreds of men, women and chill
aren searched through the ruins of
the village for their families and
friends. The only light was the glare
on fire from broken gas pipes almost
before the flood had passed. Chaos
reigned from the moment the mighty
wall of water tore through the town.
The Bayless Pulp and Paper Com
paMy's dam, which was $50 feet long
and 40 feet high, was 80 feet thick
at the base and held back 100000, 900
gallons of water For the first time
since it's construction two years ago
the water ran over the top, and many
people from Austin and the surround
Ing country had gone out to the dam
to see the unusual sight, and it was
while they were watching the over
flowing water that the first break in
the dam occurred.
There was nothing to indicate that
the dam was about to give way, when
with sharp report, a hole appeared
in the west end. In moment water
poured through, and it was immedi
ately seen that the hole was getting
larger. In a minute it was 20 feet
wide and extended almost the entire
height of the dam. Then there was
another report, and it seemed as il
the whole structure was giving way
Flee to High Ground.
With a cry to alarm, the people fled
to the nearest high ground, and per
sons scattered in every direction. II
was apparent that all the great body
of water behind the dam was going
out. Some were caught, and before IL
was hardly realized the water was
tearing down Freeman Run, wal
SO feet high and sweeping everything
before it.
The sound was deafening. Harry
Davis, locomotive engineer, reached
a telephone and notified the operator
at the exchange. She called as man!
persons as possible but the time was
short. The raging flood tore dow1
the little valley carrying death on it,
debris-covered crest. Hundreds O
women and children were caught il
their homes and drowned or wer'
crushed before they knew what hat
happened. Houses went down befor'
the mighty on9ush of water and ga
pipes, bent and broken, released thei
dangerous fluid.
Before the water had passed on it
terrible course through the town
dozen fires were burning in as man
places and the cries of injured an
imprisoned persons Joined in the tel
rifice thunder of the flood.
Much of the debris lodged agains
the shops of the Buffalo and Susque
hanna railroad and there the fire rage
fiercest. Many men were caught here
and few, If any, escaped with thei
lives.
The course of the flood was throug
the business center of the little vi
lage. A majority of the buildings wer
of wood and those which were not in
medlately wrecked by the torrent wer
soon in flames.
So sudden was the onslaught {
water that maAy persons had no tim
10 flee to the hills, but others receive
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