The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1911-10-03
APITIFUL
TRAGEDY
4 Dam BREAKS and HALF OF THE
PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ARE
DAUWNLD -
FIRE DESTROYS MANY

Coudeersport, Pa, Oct. e. With
= roar that could be heard for miles
the great dam of the Bayless Pulp
& Paper Co., at Austin, Pa, four.
teen miles from here went out Sat
nrday afternoon. Forty bodies had
heen recovered from the ruins when
darkness came at night and it is
estimated that fully eight hundred
are unaccounted for and are believed
tc be dead.
The dam, which was $50 feet long
and 49 feet high, was 80 feet thick
At the base and held back more than
five hundred million gallons of water
For the first time since its con-
struction two years ago the water
was running over the top today and
many persons went out from =
mile and a half away to see the
unusual sight.
They were Mortified when a sec.
ton about twenty feet wide gave
way on the west side. A great vel
ume of water poured through tn
hole, and the alarm was quickly
sounded. People ran for their lives
to the hills near by, some were
caught in the food and whirled dow
the valley. A moment later another
break occurred, this time on the easa
side. 1t was much greater than the
first and permitted the bulk of the
water behind it to rush in a mighty
volume toward the lowlands.
Harry Davis, 4 locomotive engi
neer of this place, reached a teIe
phone and notified the operator al
the exchange. She called as many
persons as possible. But the time
was short. The raging food tore
down the little valley carrying deatf
on it's debris covered crest. Hundreds
of women and children, the men were
away at work, were caught in theil
homes and drowned or crushed be
fore they knew what had happened
Houses went down before the might!
crush of water and gas pipes ben
and broken, released their dangerous
fluid. Before the water had passed OF
it's terrible course through the tow1
a dozen fires were burning in as man!
places and the cries Of injured ana
imprisoned persons joined in the ter
rible thunder of the food.
Much of the debris lodged agains
the shops of the Buffalo & Susque
hanna Railroad and there the fire
ragged fercest. Many men were caugh
here and it is believed that few, i
any, escaped with their lives.
The course of the flood was through
the business center of the little vi
lage. A majority of the buildings
were of wood and those which wer
not Immediately wrecked by the tol
rent were soon in flames.
So sudden was the onslaught c
water that many persons had n
time to fee to the hills bat other
received the warning, and believin
it was fire, fastened to the center c
the town, only to be caught in tn
flood and swept out of way.
The food passed quickly, leavin
desolation in it's wake. Houses ha
been crushed and tossed about lik
toys, while hundreds of bodies ha
been carried down the crest of th
surging torrent.
With the passing of the waite
those who had fed to the hills ha
tened to return to their ruined home
In search of relatives and friend
Here and there bodies had been ca
up along the path of the torrent, an
about forty bodies were recovered
short time Some of them hs
heen so badly battered amid the tos
Ing debris that they were beyoE
recognition while others had bet
carried along with no apparent /
jury. Many were caught in burnil
buildings and it will be days b =