davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01

/ Continued From First Page
mains made it impossible for
rescuers to visit the scene OF de-
struction for many hours. Loot
ers were among the first on the
ground, and Gov Tener dis
patched large force Of state
police to the town to protect the
victims.
Story of the Break
The dam was built two years ago. a
great structure $50 feet long. spanning
the little valley formed by Freeman run,
and rising to the height of forty-nlne
feet. 1t was of concrete. thirty-two feet
/ wide at the base. and said to be con-
structed after the most approved plans OF
modern engineering. The basin pehlhu
it had never been filled with water until
this week, and today il was noticed that
water was running over the top OF the
structure. Many persons went out from
the town, a mile and a half away, to
see the unusual sight. and it was while
they were watching the overtiowing wa
ter that the first break occurred
1T was "a wonderful sight. said Harry
DAVIS. anu SuSIutitiHHd W. V
motive engineer. who was in the little
knot of persons near the dam.
Sudden Loud Report.
'There was nothing to indicate that
the dam was about to give way, and
some one had just remarked about ITS
strength, when with a sharp report a
hole appeared in the west end In
moment water poured through. and ii
was Immediately seen that the hole was
getting larger In minute II was
twenty feet wide. and extended almost
the entire height of the dam. Then there
was another report, and ii seemed as IL
the whole structure was giving way.
With a cry of alarm fled to the near
est high ground, and persons scattered in
every direction. 1T was apparent that all
was going out. Some We're caught. and
before | could tell what was happening
the water was tearing down Freeman run
wall fifty feet high, and sweeping ev-
erything before 1t.
Telephoned an Alarm.
THE sound was deafening. But | had
little time for that. There was house
close by. and | rushed to the telephone
and called the central in Austin She
did not have much time to telephone the
out lHlIlh she uiu ueI DeSt-
guess she is dead. | have not heard
anything about her since. / came down to
Austin as soon as possible, but it was
an awful sight. The water had torn
through the place, taking all the prin-
cipal buildings and crushing. houses like
egg shells. Then the fire broke out The
tmbers and sides OF houses were piled
| up against the railroad shops, and they
were soon In flames. | know there were
men in the shops, how many | cannot
say, but there was no way to help them.
They were probably burned. / have not
| seen any of them since.
Score of Fires at Once.
Il don't know how the fire started, but
| it seemed though it began in score
| of places at once. The post Office eS-
capped, but nearby was a store and there
the flames appeared first. Then | looked
| for the Bank of Austin, but it was gone.
swept away, | guess because | did not
see it burning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Scenes of Horror in Austin :,
When Flame Followed Flood

AUSTIN, Pa. September 30.-A danger
out situation developed Immediately after
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
closed Il Is understood. however, tna'
France will take the initiative.
Turkish Squadron Pursued.

ONSTANTINOPLE. September 3O.-An
italian squadron. according to reports re-
ce;ved here is now pursuing the Turkish
snuadron returning from Beirut in the
Aegean sea. near ChioS.
Ii is learned from a reliable source that
1T was on the repeated representations OF
the German ambassador, who urged the
necessity of conforming with Tine hague
regulations regarding state OF wal
that the Italian charge asked his gov
eminent formally To declare war on Tur-
key The German arnba ssador. it IS said.
wished to please the grand wiser. Hakki
Pasha who complained that Turkey was
beinG treated like small power. ana
that il was inadmiSSihIe that Italy should
take Tripoli from Turkey without at least
doing her the honor OF declaring war
The closest relations continue between
the Turkish government and the German
AMBASSADOR with whom Mahmoud Schel-
ket Pasha. the war minister. spent seVerai
hours last night.
An official announCement is mdue tid.
Italian warships attacked two TURKISH
torpedo boats off Durazzo. a seaport in
Albania. this morning
Dreadnought Leaves Spezla.
SPEZ1A. Italy,- September 3".-The ltai-
fan dreadnoughf. san Marco, accompanied
by three torpedo boat destroyers, sailed
today to join the feet before Tripol The
vessels were given an enthusiastic send
off by enormous crowds that gathered on
shore, waving flags and shouting Long
live the war.
GIBRALTAR. September ;o-The ltal-
ian cruiser Aetna arrived here today
The British governor ordered the cruiser
TO coal forthwith and leave for Italian
waters.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
UNITED STATES NOTIFIED
THAT WAR IS DECLARED
President Taft, 1t Is Expected,
Will Issue Neutrality Proc
Iamation Tomorrow.

Formal notification to the United States
that state of war exists between Italy
and Turkey was given to the State De-
partment late yesterday by the Italian
charge d affaires, Mobile Lazaro del Mar
chest Negrotto Cambiaso. This action
paves the >way for the forthcoming
proclamation of neutrality by this gov
eminent.
President Taft will proclaim the neu-
trality of the United States, probably to-
morrow. The official notification of Italy
carries out The Hague conventions of
1907. STIMULATING that neutral powers must
be notified of the declaration of war.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01

seen two story brick building crumple
up like house of cards. Dwellings suf-
fered because Of their construction, and
while no accurate estimate of the real
damage can be made until tomorrow, it
is stated that there are not enough houses
left in the village to cover the survivors.
Railway Shops a Charnal House.
The railroad shops, where the debris
piled high, and which resisted for a time
the force of the water will probably
prove to be the death chamber of the ma
jority of men who We're employed there.
A rescuing party attempted to reach the
interior of the ruins. but We're driven
back by the smell of burning flesh. Strong
men became towards, and until help
comes from the outside little can be done
I to ascertain the loss or succor the in
jured. Those SO fortunate as to live
above the line Of flood We're called to
help the survivors from the valley, and
the food supply was soon exhausted as
every grocery store. with the exception
Of small establishment on Costello
street. was swept away. Many went with
out their evening meal. and unless help
comes they will have no breakfast to-
morrow.
The five or six churches in the town
are all gone. the only public. institutions
left standing being the hospital and the
schoolhouse They were above the flood
line.
Principal Places Destroyed
Among the principal places destroy ed
was the plant of the Emporium Lumber
Company, not a vestge of il being left
part of the plant of the Bayless Pulp
and Paper Company, whose dam gave
way, also disappeared under the raging
waters. and the Commercial Hotel and
Davis House went down before the rush
The White House. another hotel. was
burned. and ii is believed that a number
OF persons persisted with the building
Whole families have been wiped out.
Among them are some of the leading peo-
pie in the town, but in the darkness and
confusion it is Impossible to tell just who
is left
Voting Place Overwhelmed.
One of the spots where the force of the
flood was most severely felt was at the
junction of Freeman run with another
small stream in the middle of the bust
ness section. The primary election was in
progress in a building not far away. and
many men were in the vicinity They
did not heed the warning shout. and all
of them are believed to have been car
ried away. Not a trace of the building
in which the election was being held can
be seen tonight. With the building went
all the eles ton returns. The misery and
suffering of the survivors and the terri Bile
force of the calamity overtops all other
considerations.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Fence Proves Death Trap.

The people rushed for the hill here
when they saw the water coming he
said. but the fence was too high and
the barbcd wire netting made getting
over it almost impossible. They were
simply caught in death trap.
Behind the fence piled in IA pocket form
ed by the swelling waters more than
thirty bodies gould be seen.
One man said he stood on the fence apC
pulled eight little children over IL into
safety while maddened men and women
were clawing at the children. trying to
thrust them aside and chamber over the
barricade TO safety
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Officials Hold Conference.

Acting Secretary of State Adee held a
long conference yesterday with Secretary
OF the Navy Meyer. Mr.. Meyers service
as American ambassador at st. Petersburg
and at Rome gave him familiarity with
the political conditions in the Balkan
states and Tripoli. The safety of Ameri-
cans and their interests in the war zone
was discussed by the officials. The adj
ministration is said to be satisfied that
American citizens will be protected.
There We're sensational rumors afioat
here last night that this government Was
apprehenSive of an anti-Christian upriS
ing in Turkey and was considering the
rushing of additional warships to rem
force the cruiser Chester and gunboat
scorpion, now in Mediterranean waite. s.
These stories met with quick denial from
officials, VINO express confidence in Italys
declaration that the interests of all
foreigners in Tripoli would be respected
and conviction that any anti-foreign
sentiment that might develop in Turkey
would not extend to Americans.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
RED CROSS TO GIVE AID
Ernest P. BickneIl. National
Director, on the Way TO
Austin.

Packing his grip on the strength oi
press dispatches telling Of the appalling
disaster at Austin. Pa, communicated
to him at about g O'Clock last night by
Washington newspapermen. Ernest Z
Bicknell. national director OF the Red
Cross Society. caught the 1915 O'Clock
train out OF Washington on his way TO
the scene OF the flood
He should arrive At the stricken 'ltY
early this morning. barring train delays.
Red Cross relief will begin Immediately
upon his arrival on the scene.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Severed Leg to Free Girl.

one little girl-she could not have been
more than fifteen years oid-had been
caught i'm the crush. The flames were
annroaching her with the rapidity only
et,I1aled nv the speed OF the flood which
had made her plight possible. Pinned
down under heavy timber, one leg
crushed il was impossible Tor her 10
free herself No one seemed to know her
name. but her cries fer help were not
unheeded As in the fire in the machine
shoTS, AN unknown man rose Ia the oc-
casion Running into part of tie fac
tory not destroyed by the Hood. lie seized
an ak. and. returning to the spot where
the helpless child was imprisoned, he
chcpped at the timber. But his strength
gave out Meantime crowd had gath
ered-tFere were not more than dozen
men. But this in lumber country. and
every man had his training in the woods.
When the volunteer showed signs of
weakening another spranS forward
scratched the AK from his hand and al
tackled the timber with Vigor. Meantime
the fire was approaching. The heat drove
him away. Another took his place. and
they say he WIS doctor whose family
had not been seen since the flood OF a
few hours before.
He saw at a glance the fire would be
,lpou them before the timber would be
made TO Weld Carefully he looked at
the girl. Then with calm precision. he
ieyeled the AN at the leg of the helpless
victim. A stroke or two and it was over.
The leg was severed. Willing hands
caught I'm the poor Scorched and bleed
ing girl and carried her TO the hospital
on the hill. She may die from shock
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Telephoned an Alarm.
Score of Fires at Once.

Il don't know how the fire started but
it seemed though it began in a score
of places at once The post office es-
capped, but nearby was a store. and there
the flames appeared first Then | look ed
for the Bank of Austin, but it was gone
swept away, | guess; because | did not
see it burning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Dreadnought Leaves Spezia.
Europeans in Wild Flight
When Bombardment Begins

LONDON. September :'o-The second
day of the Itaio-Turkish war passed
without any conflicts at arms being re-
ported that are likely to attain a note
worthy position in history
From Tripoli which is the foremost
objective of Italian aggression, con-
ficting reports continue to reach the
outer world The most definite of these
tonight was that the Italian fleet began
a bumbardment at II O'Clock this morn
ing. but no details, beyond the bald an
nouncement, was permitted to be given
out The Italians have possession Oh the
TripoH end OF the single cable. which
runs from that port to Malta. and Malta
descr. hes it as blocked with official mes
saeeS
Only the consuIs and = few CORES
pondegts remain in Tripoli- The rest of
the Europeans who fingered TO the
eleventh hour escaped on merchant yes
sells when announcement of the lombard
ment was given. many feeling panic
stricken with the few fleets they could
carry.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Survivors Completely Terrorizeo.

In the valley, where few hours before
the town of Austin had stood flames and
smoke We're ascending from hundreds of
piles of wreckage protruding above the
water.
The first glance showed the leaders of
the party that the reports OF devastation
had been In.nim .zed. 1t was impossible
TO get coherent story from any OF the
survivors When asked a question they
would look up hopelessly and mutter I'M
ineligible words shrek wildly the
names of those they had lost
My God. it is awful. one woman
shrieked- Down there my three little
girls maybe are drowned. or maybe burn
ing. Down there-there.' she pointed to
the flames, shr.eked and tainted.
Come down here" shouted man to
the Associated Press representative, who
had reached the scene after an arduous
ride by special train and automobile and
climbed across the hills. Down by the
fence. Do YOU see that pile over there?
Well. | counted 80 dead bodies within
fifty feet of that foundat ton before the
darkness came
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01

Continued From First Page
cover that the rest of the journey must
be made on foot or by automobile along
dangerous hill roads.
The rescuers pushed on in the darkness,
wading in mud knee-deep. and through
fore SITS deep with underbrush. The town
was approachable over this route on
one side only. AS it was dark when the
rescuers arrived, it was impossible to ap-
proximate the number of dead, because
there was no means of communication
with the other side of the valley OF to
learn how many had escaped in safety
to that hillside. The scene beheld by the
resculns party after its siX-nlile struggle
over the hills was one that made many
of its members weep.
On the h llsides 800 to 600 peOple-home-
less ard distracted peOple-were wander
ing about. Women We're waiting and cry
ing loudly for lost ones. Scores of men,
women and children We're lying about
unconscious or in a state of utter col
lapse.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Lives With Her Neck Broken.

Another serves to show the terribly de-
structive force of the flood. Mrs. Barnes,
no one seems to know her first name, but
they all know she was the widow of a
soldier and a pensioner of the govern
ment. had just left the post office when
the water came. She was picked up,
tossed into the air and thrown free of the
water. her neck broken. both legs
crushed and her back injured. Yet at
this hour she is still alive, conscious of
her awful sufferings
Down in the center of the town. where
the full power of the flood was felt, the
scene Is without parallel. Children
scarcely able to toddle. weak from lack
of food and sleep, wander about in
search of their parents, many of whom
are dead. Women mingled freely in the
crowd. some of them crying, others dry
eyed and hollow checked searching for
their lost families
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Workmen Caught at Machines.

Down at the shops OF the Buffalo and
Susquehanna railroad h story was in the
making The buildings were located be-
low the business section, on the banks
of Freemen run, and We're more substan-
tiaI than most of the houses which had
been swept away by the flood. When
the great mass of crushed and broken
timbers. representing the homes OF a few
minutes before, came crashing down they
lodged against the shops. The impact
was SO great that the buildings sh.yered
and the walls We're crushed in. But the
framework stood and formed barrier
against which hotsam and Jetsam OF the
flood found Judgment.
Here as elsewhere. the natural gas
p.pes burst and as the shops were IN
operation fire was quickly communicated
to the heterogeneous mass Men were
caught before they could leave their ma
chimes Some of them We're crushed TO
death without warning. but others less
favored of fortune, We're p nned down
and met a most horrible ceath III uhe
rapidly kindling flames
Nearby was the plant of the Standard
Lumber Company. 1t had on hand "a
large stock of stove wood reacy Tor
shipment 1t was the fuel the names
most desired and when the pipes burst
there and the burning gas broke through
the building it was soon destroyed here
too. debris had piled high and the luck
less ones who had been swept down
stream met death at this point
For hours the machine shops and the
1umber plant burned and the odor of
flesh was so strong as to drive many
persons from the scene. How many died
here will never be known. but counting
the employees of the plants and the per
sons in the flood it will not fall short
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Hotel Guests May Have Escaped.

There are many stories Of how the
people died when one can induce the
busy humanitarians to stop for a mo-
ment and relate what they saw. One
instance will serve to show how little
value life appeared to that great roll
ing growing wall of water. dozen
or fifteen persons We're seen to seek the
shelter of the Commercial House, a sub
stantial brick building. on Main street.
Among them was woman with a
child. The water swept down on the
building, and when the wave had passed
not one brick remained upon another
And the people? Nothing has been seen
of them since. Guests at the hotel, to-
gether with the owner. DIR. Irwin. are
believed to have escaped just before the
water struck the structure. None of the
bodies swept down from this part of the
town has been recovered.
The post office occupied part of the
bank of Austin building. and on the up
per floor was "A doctors office. The flood
crushed in the side of the building,
wrecking the banks quarters and dam
aging the post office portion The doc
tors Office was almost swept bare of its
furniture.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Harassing Turkish Ships.

The Italian navy Is harassing the
Turkish ships wherever they can strike
them Italian destToyers sank a Turk; sh
torpedo boat near Prevesa this morning,
and captured Il Yacht ard a steamer with
five Turkish officers and 16 soldiers aboard
in the same neiGhborhood. The Italians
suffered no losses in these encounters,
and the loss OF life on the Turkish side
Is not known
A special dispatch from Constantinopie
to the Chronicle says:
A general army mobilization has
been ordered in all the provinces. From
all parts of the interior of the empire,
from the sheikhs ana Mussuimans OF
Tripoli fiery kilograms have been
ceived by the sultan, expressing their
readiness to shed every drop of blood
for the country and the Islam.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Given Courage by Food.

1t was long. hard trip over the hills
and the roads were muddy. but at II
o'clock the driver saw the flames from
the burning town and FASTENED to reach
the house of Harry Davis There he
unloaded a Iart of the provisions for the
hungry women and children, and pressing
g number of men into service, carried
the remainder down into the town, where
suffering ran riot 1t was the first relief
the people had found. and it gave them
courage.
The hospital is filed with the injured
and many others are being cared for in
buildings not yet touched by the fire.
which continued to eat its way through
the night along the hillside. Many
victims were gathered up in the streets
after the water receded, and others
were brought in from down Freeman
run. beyond the railroad shops, where
they had been thrown up on the hill
side
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Not a House Left Standing.

Turner street was the finest residence
street of the village. Here every man
owned his own home and was prosperous.
Tonight not house is standing. The
entire stretch, half mile or more, is a
barren waste. great trench four feet
deep marks the roadway and devastation
is on every hand. Scarcely "a seinbance
of habitation is left in that part OF the
town. The property loss here, while well
dist ributed is tremendous.
II was rumored tonight that a number
of bodies had been found In the trench
but if this is true they have NOT bean
identified
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
RESCUERS IN PERIL

Continued From First Page }
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Encounters at Saloniki.

AT Saloniki bloody encounters have
occurred between the authorities and
the Italians DESTROYS of leaving. Similar
scenes are reported from other big
centers. An anti-Italian boycott has
commenced in many cities. Niazi Bey
and E.nver Bey. heroes of the revolu-
ton announce their readiness to march
with numerous volunteers to Tripoh-
Great excitement prevails, and the
grand Vizier and his cabinet are &C
cused of sleeping while Italy was max
ing effective preparations The Turkish
newspapers say that the eX-grand viZier,
Haiku Pasha, is To be tried by court
martial. Great indignation Is expressed
against Germany. whose flag has been
hoisted on an Italian dispatch vessel
now here and on Italian houses in TIL
poll Germany is accused of hypocrisy.
The last meeting between the German
nbassador and the Turkish war min
lister is said to have been very stormy
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Rescuers Driven Back.

Here is where the first organized effort
at relief was made Maddened by the
sights about him. one man. with tears
streaming down his cheeks, cried for
volunteers TO save the lives OF men
whose cries for help were gradually
growing fainter The wreck of the Austin
Hardware Company he'd been swept
srom its location on Main street 10 the
lumber mill. Here We're buckets IN
abundance and there was the little
stream. still swollen. although the force
of the flood had passed. Selling bucket
this unknown hero dashed into the
stream. filed il with water and calling
for help ran toward point where IL
appeared one man might be saved. 9th
ers followed his example. But To no
purpose Gas and heat combined 10 drlV"
them back and they eventually gave up
the battle
But the blazing pile continued TO burn
through the nicht, the most conspicuous
and most deadly spot in the valley OF
death. Gradually the cries FOR help ana
the eroans of dying men grew lam ef.
and when the great mass OF debris and
the remnants of the burning buildings
had become nothing more than huge
pile Of glowing Goals the aSonlzlng
sounds ceased. and that chapter o. this
terrible tragedy was closed.
over at the paper nill-the great lac
tory where so many Of the reople OF the
town find emploYment-the situation was
little better. Although not so many per
sons were killed. some of them were
crushed beyond recognition when u part
of the factory went down before the
water t. too. caught fire, ard the
scenes TO which the half-paralyzed peo-
pIe were rapidly becoming accustomed
were re-enacted