The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-10-01
PRIESTS STORY OF The FLOOD
FATHER BECKER ARRIv ED SOON
AFTER THE DISASTER CANE.

Tells Of q Physician AT an Operation Who
saw His Home and Family Lost
some Of the Dead as the Name,
Were Given Hin,--Peoplc In Despair
PORT AlLEGANY, Pa. Sept 3o.-Fathel
Becker OF Port Allegany. not far from
Austin. went to tho wrecked village az
soon "a the news spread of tn, disaster
He caid tonight that there is no telling
yet the extent of the catastrophe. by
7o'clock, the hour at which he was Obliged
to leave Austin and return to Port Alle-
gany, the committee of relief had on
its list only forty-thrac namcs Of thos,
who were known to be dead The num-
Der OF missing ran into tho hundreds.
Father Becker said that u conservative
list OF tho dead would includs at least
800 names. but he edded that he had nc
personal doubt that when the roll is
ct las: completed it will include many
more than that.
The village of Costello has not been
"lt was two and a half miles further down
the valley than Austin and il is certain
that 1t too mot with disaster. How com
pletely IL was wrecked we can only inn
agine. hut it is certain that there was
loss of life thers also"
Only six bodies had been recovered
when Father Becker left.
One of the most pathetic incidents
ot the flood that came to- my notice" said
Father Becker. was that which befclI
the physician Of the village. DR.. Mansue
lie was engaged in performing an opera
ton in the hospital when the pulp mill
whistle blew announcing danger. The
hospital is on hillside and the windows
OF the operating room looked out over
the valley toward Freemln Run. DE-.
Mansue could see his own house from
where he was at work
When the whistle began to scream he
turned from his table and glanced out
the window to see what was the matter.
He caught the line of water sweeping
down the valley. and his own house was
in the path Of the tide. Dr. Mansue saw
the water sweep against the side OF his
house. saw it crumple under the force Of
the blow, and inside it were his wife and
children"
Father Becker said that two girls work
ing in the pulp mill had been overtaken
by the water and had been washed into
drain. Nobody was able to help them
and their bodies were still there when
he left tonight.
Father o Brien Of Austin and Fathe-
Sheehan of Coudersport The three
priests did what they could TO comfort
the survivors and to help the injured.
or these there we're twenty five in the
hospital.
The three priests worked waist hign
in the water looking for bodies. Father
Becker said that until the water receeies
and the fire in the debris stops burning
there will be no way of telling how many
lives have been lost. He fears that many
were caught in the broken houses and
we're burned to death, unable to help
themselves.
senses after the first rush for safety
an effort was made by the coolest among
, the survivors to organize a systematic
reliet corps. All the men who were left
and many of the women went to WORK
to see what they could do to relieve the
suffering OF the injured and to save those
who were still alive. To save such of the
town from the flames as had not been
swept away in the flood was almost i'm
possible. for the pumping plant of the
village was in the bed Of the stream a nd
had been wrecked.
"tiili II snott time OF tne ulSdstei
automobiles from the country rounC
about were on their way to help the sur.
vivors. Father Becker estimated that
at least 60J cars We're ready for sarviC.
within an hour after the flood Sptca
trains were started for the devastated
district from Buffalo. Olean. Port ALE
gany and Coudersport. These were
loaded with food, blankets and hospita
supplies and there wer, many volunteer,
on The trains ready to help in the work o
rescue.
Father Becker brought back with hin
from Austin list Of dead as made up by
the general committee. He explained
that II made no pretensions Of being com
plete even in giving full names, But i,
was as good as the committee could DC
to face. This is the list:
Baldwin. Mr.. and Mrs. ----. father anc
mother of State Senator Baldwin.
Ballou y r
Balou Mrs.
Barnes, Mrs. s.----
Collins. Mrs Michael. sister-in-iav o
State Senator Baldwin.
Elliott. Mary.
Filio. Ronald.
Fi,z Gerald, Mrs. ---
Geary, Frances.
Harmon. W. f..
Harmon. Mrs
Redwood. Maggie
jackson, Anna
Lawler. Mrs. Thomas and child
Nansue. Mrs. DR.. and child.
Mckinney. Gilbert.
Mcnamara. Leo.
McQuinn. Mrs. Thomas.