River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-06-27

gers declare tHdt the NUMBER of
deaths has been exaggerated, in their
opinions, and feel confident that not
more than 100 people have lost their
lives. though they cannot say with
any certainty as to the number The
mountain districts lying back from
the railroads probably have suffered
heavily and the exact loss of life will
not be known for several days.
Peril of Passengers.
A railroad man who has been
working at Vivian told q correspond
ert that the rain started last Friday
night and continued for some time
in moderation, but shortly after mid
night the heavens seemed to open
and poured forth great volumes OF
water When the cloud burst over
the town of Vivian there was a pas
senger train standing in the railroad
yards. About 40 passengers, of whom
three were women, were in the cars.
The water rose rapidly and soon was
over the trucks of the cars. Houses
and cars were being washed about
before the eyes of the frightened
passengers. Ropes were thrown to
the ears and the male passengers
caught them and waded through the
water. which was now waist deep, TO
places of safety around the coke
ovens on the adjoining hill. The
ladies we're too much frightened to
get into the water and were placed
on the tender of the engine, where
they were safe Other portions of
the railroad yards were washed out
and 100 box cars were wrecked. The
house in which the section master at
Vivian lived was washed away 4
young son of the section master rode
on driftwood for four miles and was
then lodged in a tree. from which he
was rescued. 4 colored section hand
who was in the section masters
when the flood waters struck the
building was drowned.
Streams Gradually Falling.
The rain ceased falling about nine
o'clock Saturday morning. There
has been no rain since that hour and
the streams are gradually falling. 4
big furniture store and a large cloth
ing house were washed away at
Vivian, as also were about a dozen
small dwellings which were situated
in the lower portion of the village
Two dead bodies, both colored men,
were seen at Eckman, and one white
and three colored corpses at En-
pire. Two iron bridges were washed
Nfviov nd uunt bar.
Fork Junction, and three persons are
reported to have been drowned near
the latter place. All the bridges and
trestle work have been washed away
on the Simmons river branch of the
Norfolk & Western system. All tele-
graph lines are down and tracks are
badly washed out on this division.
The people who came from Vivian
did not come through the town of
Keystone, but only around it. They
state. however, that the damage done
there is nothing like as great as was
at first reported. They think that
not more than dozen houses were
washed away They cannot say how
many. if any, lives were lost at Key
stone. OF the ten miles of railroad
between the towns of Vivian and En-
mis- it is stated there is not 100 yards
of track in one place, and it is
thought this division will not be re-
paired for a fortnight. Fifty people
walked over this washed-out terri
tory Sunday to get from Vivian to
Ennis.
Immense Damage in Coal Fields.
The damage done all over the coal
fields is immense, but everyone seems
to have been too greatlyeXcitedand too
anxious to get away to take time to
inquire into the affairs of their neigh
bors 1t is certain, however, that
much valuable machinery has been
washed away Many of the wrecked
cars along the Elkhorn valley have
been washed down the river and prob
ably viii be total loss. East Of En-
mis- the train had little trouble get
ting through to Bluefeld. Two
bridges are gone between Vivian and
Welch At Shawnee the Shawnee Coal
company lost all their mine mules,
which were in the stable when the
storm swept down on them. a re-
port from Keystone has it that
mob of negroes there refuse to work
for two dollars day, but are loafing
around and watching their chance TO
steal from the debris. Another re-
port says that the number of dead
there is II, and that of this number ten
have been buried. Newspaper men
have gone to the coal fields to get re-
liable information, and it is expected
that something definite Will be known
within the next "a hours.
Telegram from Mayor Land.
New York, June 25.-Mayor Land. of
Buefields, w. Va, wires as follows
| 1T is estimated that 200 lives were lost
/ In the Elkhorn food. The damage 10 the
/ Norfolk & Western Railroad company Is
/ estimated at $4,000 and to the coal com
/ panies and individuals at s.. 10000
! There is no communication with any
! point further down the valley than Elk
| horn. ! am unable to tell whether outside
! assistance will be needed until further in
| formation comes in.
! Gov. Nash Offers Assistance.