The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-06-25
ESTIMATED THAT TWO HUNDRED PER|SHED
Ekhorn Creek Which Flows Through Basin Became
From Mountain Streams. Following Waterspout-Fiood
Came on Terror Stricken People SuddenIy-Prep-
3 erty Loss May Reach So, 100000

AT the Gillian company's colliery the
powder house and IA houses damaged
and the stock lost. The residence of
! Captain @. Botsford, the manager, Is
wrecked also. The north fork track
Is nearly all washed away. all the
trestles being gone except one.
Railroad and Coal Loss Heavy.
In the Elkhorn valley it Is estimat.
ed that the loss to the railroad and
coal interests will exceed $4,000. 900.
Out Of IL miles of main line double
track only one mile remains, and all
the bridges are gone. Some Of them
were Of the heaviest masonry and
iron, but they could not resist the
force Of the flood. The Croser coIl-
pany, one of the largest in operation,
lost its 1,000-horse power electric
plant and many buildings and coke
ovens. Their loss is said to be $780,
OO0 The Houston company is dam
aged some 100000. The Tierney in
terests. consisting of four collieries.
will lose $4,000.
| There are over 20 collieries whose
lamage is immense. Many miles of
their tracks leading to the coke ovens
and mines are gone. In some in
stances mine locomotives and cars
have been swept for miles down the
stream. Fifteen hundred laborers
have been rushed to the scene 10
work on repairs, and it is expected
that telegraphic communication will
be established by this afternoon.
Later advices from the Clinch Val.
ley division confirms the reported
irowning OF 10 persons.
The railroad people said yesterday
1t would be at least FIVE days before
their lines are open for trains. They
have been sending work trains to the
storm-strieken district from all direc.
tions. The loss to the railroad will
reach 100000.
A private message from BramwelL
w. Va, on Simmons creek, says there
has been great damage done there,
! but no loss Of life has been reported
up to the time the telegram was sent.
Saturday morning, shortly after mid
night, a heavy downpour Of rain be-
gan, accompanied by a severe electric
storm, and steadily increased in vio-
lence until 10 o'clock a. m, then cess-
ing for several hours and beginning
again with renewed violence. This
continued throughout the entire day
and night and at 10 o'clock yester-
day morning, while the storm was
abated, the lowering clouds would in
dicate another terrific downpour at
any moment. Many miles of the Nor
folk and Western railroad track,
bridges and telegraph lines are en-
tirely destroyed and communication
Is entirely cut off west of Elkhorn, ST.
that 1t is impossible to learn the full
extent Of the loss OF life and prop
| htrt off to1c nf IN
| tions, located in the stricken district,
have sent out messengers to Elkhorn,
the terminus Of both telegraphic and
railroad communications, and have re-
ceived q report that conservative
estimate as to the loss Of life will
easily reach 200. Some Of the drown
ed are among the most prominent
citizens Of the coal fields.
Topography Of Coal Fields.
The Pocahontas coal field is locat-
ed in q basin. with high mountain
ranges on either side, Elkhorn creek
flowing through the center of tho
basin, which ranges from one-fourth
to one mile in width. From Ennis,
| w. Va, to Vivian Yard, w. Va, dis
tance Of about 10 miles, miners cab
ins, coal company commissaries and
creek being fed by numerous small
streams coming from the mountain
sides, rises very rapidly and this wa
terspout came SO suddenly that tho
entire basin between the two moIn-
tain ranges was flooded, and before
the terror-stricken people realized
what was upon them they were CIR
ried down by the food, which swept
everything In Its path. The little
town OF Keystone, with q population
or about 1000, seems the greatest
SUFFERER, practically the entire town
being washed away. This town Is the
principal one In the Pocahontas coal
lends and Is located near its center.
II was to a great extent headquarters
from which the mining population
purchased supplies and was also tho
only place in the field where whisky
could be purchased. At this place
there were some IL to 15 saloons, all
OF which were washed away. The re-
port comes that the mining popula-
tion are now occupying the banks of
the streams below, catching the mer-
chandise and barrels OF whisky and
beer as they float down. A great num-
Der or the coal and coke plants
throughout the Pocahontas field are
reported practically destroyed and IN
some Instances entirely washed away.
ON account OF the very high water,
which has flooded the region and pre-.
vented communication, anything like
correct estimate of the loss of prom.
erty is impossible. but from the best
Information obtainable the lass to
property will easily reach $4,000, 600.
Al Landgraf, the beautiful home OF
deneral Manager Ord Ia reported
zone but bis family is said to lie