The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-03
MANY ARE LOST
Nearly Fsur Ru, ared Persisted in a
Deslrucsivo, Raging Torrent
TOWNS ARE SWEPT AWAY

u "
Great Dam Breaks, Releasing Mighty
Volume OF Water, Which Rushes
on Doomed Towns of Austin and
Costello Before Inhabitants Have
Time to Gain Safety.
With a roar that could be heard
for miles, the great dam of fhe
Bayless Pulp and Paper Company,
Austin. Pa, went out at half-past
two o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The dam, which was five hundred
and thirty feet long and forty-nine
feet high, was thirty-two feet thick
at the base and held back more than
five hundred million gallons of wa
ter. For the first time since its con-
struction, two years ago, the water
was running over the top the night
before, and many persons went out
from Austin to see the unusual sight.
They were horrifed when section
about twenty feet wide gave way on
the west side. A great volume of wa
ter poured through the hole and the
alarm was quickly sounded. People
ran for their lives to the hills nearby,
but some were caught in the flood
and whirled down the valley. A mo-
ment later another break occurred,
this time on the east side. 1t was
much greater than the first, and per-
mitted the bulk of the water behind
it to rush in mighty volume toward
the lowlandS.
Hundreds of women and Children,
the men were away at work, were
caught in their homes and drowned
or crushed before they knew what
had happened. Houses went down
before the mighty rush of water, and
gas pipes bent and broken, released
their dangerous fluid. Before the wa
ter had passed on its terrible course
through the town, a dozen fires were
burning in as many places, and the
cries Of injured and imprisoned per-
sons joined in the terrific thunder of
the food.
So sudden was the onslaught Of
water that many persons had no time
to fee to the hills, but others re-
ceived the warning and hearing the
fire bell, hastened to the center of
the town, only to be caught in the
flood and swept away. The flood
passed quickly, leaving desolation in
its wake. Houses had been crushed
and tossed about like toys, while hun
dreds of bodies had been carried
down on the crest of the surging
torrent.
With the passing of the water,
those who had fed to the hills has
tened to return to their ruined homes
in search Of relatives and friends.
Here and there bodies had been cast
along the path of the torrent and
about forty bodies were recovered in
a short time. Many were caught by
burning buildings, and it will be
days before the real extent Of the
calamity will be known. 1t is be-
lieved that no less than 400 persons
perished, and some estimates are run
higher.
In ten minutes after the break a
dozen gas pipes had burst, and were
spreading the deadly infamnable
fluid in the air. Men who had rushed
forward in the hopes of doing some
good were overcome and fell, while
others were caught in the flames and
incinerated.. The street became a
glowing hell, and there was no sal
yat!on for those who chanced to be
near. Rapidly the flames swept from
house to house. leaping streets and
alleys and fed by the continual spray
from gas mains, there was no staying
their progress.
Many persons crushed and helpless
ly destroyed by the water, were con-
sumed in the flames. Their shrieks
could be heard by the helpless ones
who endeavored to save life where
possible. They were driven back by
the deadly fumes Of the gas or the
heat of the flames. Down at the
shops of the Buffalo and SusQuehan-
ma Railroad, the buildings were be-
low the uanks of Freeman and were
more substantial than most Of the
houses which had been swept away.
It is estimated that thousand
buildings have been torn from their
foundations and crushed in the flood
or have been destroyed by fire. The
water made it's way through the bus
iness sections OF the town and left
only four buildings standing. The
valley of Frecman's Run IS narrow
and the town was bull: along it's
banks All the buildings III tie lower
part of the valley were sw"pt clear
eff their foundations Dy tn: torrent
and many of those which remained
quickly fell prey to the flames.
The scene in the village Saturday
night was appalling. Here and there
could be seen the light of some torch
lantern, as distracted father scar
ches along the bank for some evi-
dencc of his family and home. Scenes