The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-24
NUMBER 1871.
THE VEST VIRGINIA FLOOD
Indications That From 250 to 600
Persons Were Drowned.

The Property Loss ConservntiveIy
Estimated ut $4,000,
nicatfon with the Storm-Swcpt
Region Not Yet Established
WHEELING, W. Va. June 2A-Not un-
til means Of communication have been
repaired viii the exact situation in the
Elkhorn Valley, which was swept by
food resulting from d eloudburst yester-
day, be known The reports to date are
meagre and not to be depended upon
Such information as has been received
here, however, indicates an increase OF
fatalities over the first reports.
1t is now estimated that from go to Goa
persons lost their lives in the New River
and Tug River valleys Thirty small
towns and villages are said to have been
destroyed by the roaring flood Thirty
miles OF railroad have been torn up and
at least 200 miles have been rendered i'm
p2ssabIe \ steamboat said to have been
the Two Brothers, was pounded to pieces
in the waters OF Tug River.
From Vivian, on the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad, for distance of twenty
miles east, every town and mining hamlet
has suffered. The fact that definite re
ports as to the identity of those drowned
are still lacking gives those not in touch
with the fiood-swept district a faint hope
that the less Of life has lie, n exaggerated
The Waters are still very high and pre-
vent any sort of communication with the
stricken district. 1t is known that the
Norfolk and Western Railroad has lost
100 freight cars and a score Of coal compa-
Mss all their tipples, machinery, and set
Elements The most conservative estimates
place the property loss alone at $5,0oo,tg9.
In Keystone, which was a town of 1900
lima bitaHtl, only one house is standing.
Hundreds Of persons fled to the hills for
safety and are in great distress for the
want Of necessities The telegraph wires
are still down and further details of the
disaster are not to be obtained.
BLUEFIELD w Va, June 24-Relief
parties, on horseback, left here at day
break for the hood-swept EIkhorn valley
The meagre details which continue TO
come in from the stricken region indicate
an even greater loss of life and damage
to property than was at frs reported
There is no telegraphic communication
on west of Bluefield, except one wire to
Ennis, eighteen miles from here, as the
telegraph lines We're swept along with the
railroad tracks. Telegraph officials state
that the lines are useless between Kenova-
w. Va, and BIuefeId, . distance OF 200
miles
But The railroad and telegraph compan-
les are working between leo and SEQ
men day and night and officials Of BON
companies are on the ground, pushing the
work Of constructing telegraph lines and
rebuilding the roads. They hope to COM
municate with at least the edge Of the
storTn-sweF}t district today
It is not known how far the storm ex-
tended back into the mountains Messeu-
gers arriving here at midnight from Key
stone report a great mob Of negroes gath
cred at that place. ret=sir-- &C work at
any price, preferring 10 pilIage the piles
Of debris near by a large number q
special officers have been sworn in and
the place is well guarded No reports Of
violence have been received so far.
The dead are being buried in the best
manner possible, but no collins being
available, are being put away in rude
boxes, made from the debris lodged along
the banks Of EIkhorn Creek
Saturday was the regular monthly pay
day at the mines. but the coal companies
did not pay of and it Is thought that this
VIII hep to keep the restless negroes and
foreign element in check