The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-10-01

lD hUSll1 10 pre-
vent the pillaging of the deserted homes.
Nandals set to work Immediately and
began looting the houses. A relief ex-
pedition containing doctors and nurses
was sent from Smethport. Pa. immedi-
ately upon the receipt Of the news. A re-
lief car left Olcan on the Pennsylvania
train leaving here shortly after o =. VI
John r Droney. president of the Olean
Times. who was on his way trum Phila-
delphia on the Pennsy lvania flyer reach
ing Heating Summit a. = NJ. reports
that a horscman. dashing midly toward
the station as the train drew in hysteri-
cally cried that the whole town had been
swept away and between 200 and 800 peo-
pie had been killed Fire. he said. fol-
lowed quickly upon the rushing waters
and added greatly II the horror of the
scene A telegram from Austin to Mayor
Foley at 9i2 r., NJ, says; ...
Send help; town swept away"
It is reported that Mr. and Mrs J. +
Baldwin. the father and mother of State
Senator Baldwin. whose home Is in Aus
tin wero among those to be drowned.
The Office force at the Baylies mills is re-
ported to have escaped unharmed Miss
Cora Mitchell, whose homo l. in Olcan,
was one of the few to escape from Main
street as the torrent swept down on the
village She SAYS that the first warning
that the people in tho town had that
danger was impending was the blowing
OF the whistle at the paper mill about
half a mile above the town and that even
then the people were inclined to doubt
the imminonce of the danger. Hardly
had she and h,r comp Unions who were
employed in d millinery store reached the
high ground before the Austin home
stead, the home of tho foun Ter OF the
village. was swept away oad the store
in which they had been working 4 few
moments previously was carried from its
foundation and broken up by the terrible
force Of the rushing waters
SPECIAL TRAINS HURRIED WITH HELP.
GALEToN, Pa. Sept. y. At 5 O'Clock a
special train containing ten physicians
and 500 picked IN N and women to act "a
nurses left Gileton for Costello. From
there they were compelled to walk several
miles to Austin. Later II train with tn,
ftremen Of this place. wlo will "a: as
rescuers. and great quantities Of fo,i
aboard started out. This special was run
to Coudersport. Port Allegheny and
keating Summit. II arrived about mid
night. Special trains We're also start ed
out from Olean. y. Y. and Dubois. carry
ing tiremen and supplies.
With the receding of the water DO lies
were found as far east as Costello and
later reports from the district plac, the
number o lives lost al 100.
BIG GULLY THROUGH THE TOWN..
Later communication confirms the re-
port that the dead list will reach at least
800. The water early in the evening
reached its normal stage. and it has been
found that gully is feet wide and feet
deep has been washed through the bnsi-
ness portion of tbs town. Oyer tw o.
thirds OF the buildings,are said to have
been either destroyed by the flood or
burned by the fire that followed.
The town is destitute as to food and
there is much suffering among the sur
vivors. The people are camping out on
the hillsides. Grave fears are felt for
those who escaped drowning from the
effects Of the shock and are spending the
cold night on the mountainside.
CosrELLos INHABITANTS WARNED.
The people of the town of Costello
which was also washed away. wera warned
by a young man who sped through the
valley in an automobile shouting To the
people 70 take to the hills. His course
led over rocky road through the narrow
valley, but he maintained lead over the
rushing water, and arrived at the little
hamlet in time to spread the news through
the town.
A few Of the survivors have banded
themselves into parties of rescuers
The hospital was one Of the buildings that
escaped. Bodies of the dead have been
found in heaps and the wreckage is strewn
down the valley for ten miles
HARRISBURG, Pa, Sept. 3o.--Long dis
lance telephone messages received at
$50 P. NJ from near Austin say that
the fire that started soon after the wreck
ing Of the town is now sweeping the
wreckage uncontrolled. The Olean.
y. Y, FIRE department sent its appara tus
to the town. but il was practically use-
less, as all water connections in the town
We're disrupted and no plugs remained
standing.
Cries of imprisoned persons have at
tracted rescuers, who are attacking the
buildings with any implement at hand.
Forty bodies have been removed.
PROGRESS OF THE WATERS IRISH.
The rush Of water came at time when
many persons were upon the streets.
Those who escap ped describe the approach
OF the water as resembling an earth
quake. The earth trembled and terri
fc roar increased az the food approa ched
Those in the upper part OF the town sue
ceeded in reaching the higher places
and escaping. Turning back, they say.
they could see the wall Of water approach
and hit the town,
As it progressed through the built up
part Of the village houses, trees and
everything in It's path were tossed upward
and rolled forward Half way through
the town the Hood could not he identified
as water AZ all Only a great wave OF
tossing buildings, trees, telegraph and
telephone poles and twisted wrechage
marked rs progress
After passing the town the food con-
tinued down the Snnemahonlng Valley.
What damage II did further down cannot
be AcSrtainei az AL communication is
cut SdN
The work ri relief be gan at rnce Many