The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-10-03
FLOOD WATERS SWEEP
HUNDREDS TO DEATH
MILL DAM NEAR AUSTIN, Pa,
LOOSENS MIGHTY TORRENT.
Estimate of Dead Between l5O and
35O-Heroism of Telephone
Girl.

ern part Of the State, was swept out
of existence today, and several hum
dred of it's people were killed by a
flood which followed the breaking of
the Bayless Pulp and Paper COM
pany's dam mile and Aalf north OF
the town.
Almost 5OO,OOO,O00 gallons of water
rushed over the place in a wall ten
feet high, wrecking every structure in
the patti
In Austin the bursting Of scores OF
natural gas mains as the buildings
were swept away added fire to the
general horror of the flood, and hun
dreds of those imprisoned in the
wreckage were burned to death.
The contents of the great dam,
which was filled to oVerfowing by
the heavy rains Of the last two weeks,
were swept through natural gorge
in which the towns of Austin and
Costello were situated.
While many Of the residents of Aus
tin escaped to the hills bordering each
side Of the town, the warning given
by the blasts of the Bayless mills
whistles and a telephone girl were too
brief for hundreds of others.
The catastrophe paralleled in many
respects the destruction by food of
Johnstown, Pa, in 1889, in which
more than 1000 lives were lost.
The extent of the loss of life and
the destruction of property can not
be known for several days.
Within an hour Of the first general
knowledge of the calamity special
trians bearing physicians, nurses and
food supplies were on the way to the
scene
Food supplies of the town were de-
stroyed and immediate aid to surViV-
ors is urgent. Hundreds Of those who
escaped were seriously injured.
Temporary hospitals were fitted up
in nearby farm houses and improVis-
I'd structures fashioned from wreck
age. The Red Cross made prepara-
ticn for immediate AID to survivors.
The intense heat or fire sweeping
from the natural gas main made it
impossible for rescuers to visit the
scene of destruction for many hours.
Latest Estimate.
Austin, Pa, Oct. 1.-Estimates of
the loss of life in the flood that over
Whelmed the town OF Austin yester-
day diminished today when an army
of volunteer rescuers worked its way
into the masses of Wreckage. In the
opinion of many on the ground the
number of deaths will not reach $50,
while the less hopeful place the list
Of fatalities at 800.
The property loss will exceed s6,-
100000, and it is the general opinion
that the town never will be rebuilt.
Two at least, of the large plants will
not be reconstructed, and a majority
of the business of the place has been
ruined.
Credit for the quick spreading OF
the alarm yesterday of fire and flood
was given to Lena Binekey, a tele-
phone operator. Upon receiving the
message that the dam was broken she
pushed the alarm button connecting
with the fire department. and the en-
gineers of the Goodyear lumber mill
below the town. The engineer tied
his whittle down and the fire bell in
the town was sounded continuously.
She then rushed to the street, scream
ing the warning cry, "The dam has
broken!" Then she fed for her life
toward the steep hillside at the north
end of Main street. Turning toward
the valley she saw the great wall OF
water descending upon the town.
Only Three Lost ct Costello.
"The people of Costello" said J. c.
Borchard, who lived within half a
mile of Costello, received ample
warning from Austin that the dam
had broken, and although 40 or so
houses were demolished, only three
fatalities occurred"
The annihilation of the town of
Austin came in a beautiful autumn