Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-06-25

Implying into Basin. Overlooked the
Region Before the TerrcF-StrIcken In
habitants Knew What Was Upon Them.
Bluefield, w. Va, June 24.-This en-
tire section has just been visited by a
flood, the extent of which, in all
probability, will equal, or exceed that
of Johnstown in 1889, so far as the
loss of property is concerned. It is
impossible to learn the full extent of
the loss of life and property. but
officials of the coal operations located
in the stricken district have sent out
messengers to Elkhorn and have re-
ceived a report that conservative
estimate as to the loss of life will
easily reach 200. Some of the drowned
are among, the most prominent citi-
zens of the coal fields.
The Pocahontas coal field is located
in basin, with high mountain ranges
OIL either side, Elkhorn creek flowing
through the center of the basin, which
ranges from one-fourth to one mile
in width. From Ennis, w. Va, to
Vivian Yard, w. Va, distance of ten
miles, miners cabins, coal company
commissaries and coke plants line this
OdSAus A1AAAOAA leu 10y
numerous small streams coming from
the mountain side, rises very rapidly
and a water spout came so sudden
ly that the entire basin between the
two mountain ranges was flooded and
before the terror-stricken people re-
allied what was upon them, they were
carried down by the flood, which
swept everything in its path.
When the cloud burst over the town
of Vivian there was passenger train
standing in the railroad yards. About
10 passengers, of whom three were
women, were in the car. The water
rose rapidly and was soon 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 cars 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 adjoin-
ing hill. The ladies were too much
frightened to get into the water and
were placed on the tender of the en-
CINE where they were safe. Other
portions of the railroad yards were
wrecked.
The people who came from Vivian
did not come through the town of
Keystone, but around it. They state,
however, that the damage done there
is not nearly SO great as was at first
reported. They think that not more
than a dozen houses were washed
away. They cannot say how many, if
any, lives were lost at keystone Of
the ten miles of railroad between the
towns of Vivian and Ennis it is stated
there is not 100 yards of track in one
place and it is thought this division
will not be repaired for weeks.
Fifty persons walked over this washed
out territory yesterday to get from
Vivian to Ennis.
Everyone seems to have been too
greatly excited and too anxious to get
away to take time to inquire into the
affairs of their neighbors. Many of
the wrecked cars along the Ellshorn
valley have been washed down the riv-
er and probably will be total loss.
East of Ennis the train had little trou-
BILE getting through to Bluefeld Two
bridges are gone between Vivian and
company lost all their mine mules,
which were in the stable when the
storm swept down on them.
Gov. White is at Huntington making
arrangements to get tents and provi-
sions for the food-stricken district
along the Norfolk & Western railroad.
He says he fears the death list will ex-
coed 1000.
Conflicting reports received at Rich
mond place the loss of life in the Flat
Top region from the flood at from 200
to 300. It is pretty certain that Key
stone has been virtually washout out,
but the loss of life there probably is
overestimated.
It is estimated that the storm and
washouts did $4,000 damage to prop
erty at Montgomery. The greatest
damage was to the coal tipples, which
were partly demolished, but no lives
are known to have been lost.