Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-27

Bluefields, W. Va, june p. "A flood
disaster of appalling proportions has
devastated the PocRhontas coal fields,
in this State and Virginia, causing a
luHs OF life estimated at between 400
and 600 and property loss exceeding
50, 100000. The great ccal workings
are practically ruined. Sa
The disaster was caused by a mighty
downpour of rain, beginning early
Saturday morning with a furious
thunderstorm and continuing until 10
O'Clock Saturday Eight. The storm
ceased. but began again at midnight,
and continued with great violence until
10 o'clock yesterday morning.
The havoc wrought almost surpasses
comprehension. The country is noun
famous, and every laughing stream
became mighty river, monster Of
destruction. In every valley was a
maelstrom, overy mountain cove be-
came lake, aud hnndreds Of cottages
became but the hopeless life4raits of
their dwellers. 14n. X
Last night the thousands of in
habitauts who escaped were lining the
banks of the streams and, by the light
Of great fires, were recovering bodies,
debris and things of value from the
torrents. 59f
The greatest damage was done at
Keystone. a town of 1900 inhabitants,
in tho centre of the coal district. 1t
is reported that 200 persons were
drowned there. and that the only build
ing left standing is a saloon, which is
Iperched uron hill. 1t was tho only
place in the district where whisky
could be bought. and on, Saturday
night IL was crowded with miners.
Among the other towns which suffered
terribly IN the disaster are Welch,
Virian, Northfork, Algamat, Powhattan.
Coaldale, Norwood, Cooper, Bramwelj,
tug River, Dial Rock II Hemphill, Kale,
Gillian and Elkhorn, in this State,
and Tssewell, Shrader' Gap Store, Tip
Top, Bfuestone, Pocohontas, Bailey and
Abb's Valley, in Virginia, M
The storm centrs. where the greatest
damage was done, is between Elkhorn
and Vivian Yard. on the Elkhorn
division of the Norfolk & Western rail-
road Terror r-stricken people made
their way to Elkhorn last night with
stoi les of awful desolation and loss of
life. They report that among the
drowned are some of the mostprominent
people of this section. Al pstt- J,
The tfaiumaster of the Norfolk &
Western railroad walked the track be-
tween Vivian and Northfork, a dis
tanoe of IL miles. He discovered 30
bodies floating in the river. -. (.
at Landgraf, the beautiful home of
General Manager Ord, is reported gone,
but his family is said to be safe. 4.
Passenger train No. A of the Norfolk
& Western railroad, reached Vivian
about $50 a. M, met the flood and
WAS unable to proceed further. The
waters reached such a. depth that the
coaches had to be abandoned the
passengers were rescued by means OF
ropes strung from the windows OF
coaches to the tops CT remaining coke
ovens some distance away
Between Elkhorn aud Vivian Yard, q
distance OF 10 miles,; 100 cars are said
to have been washed from the tracks.
A rough estimate places the number OF
bridges washed away between Bluefield
and Vivian Yard, q distance of %
mics, at from 10 to 90 This will
render it impossible to get relief into
the stricken district for week, and
for the homeless indescribable suffering
is inevitable.
The Pocohontas coal field ia located
in basin with high mountain ranges
on other side, Elkhorn Greek flowing
through the centre Of the basin, which
ranges from one fourth to one mile in
width. From Ennis, w. Va. to Vivian
Yard, W. Va, distance of 10 miles,
mfinsra' cabins, coal company comm is.
saries and coke plants line this basin.
Elkhorn Creek. being fed by numerous
silsll streams coming from the noun
tain SIDES, rises very rapidly, and this
wasbrsrout came so suddenly that the
entits basin between the two mountain
ranges was flooded, and before the
terror sttin.Sen people realized what
was upon them they were carried down
by the fluod, which swept everything
in its path. I%
1t IS reported that below the site OF
the town of Keystone, which was
washed away, and where there were
II to Is saloons, the mining population
are now occupying the banks of the
streams below, catching the mer-
ohandise and barrels Of whisky and
beer rs they float down.
The flood seems to have extended over
a vast area Of mountain country, and
the hundreds of mountain streams be-
GUtuiuB sWOll6T UuIy h6rN6u 10 dW6ll L0b
Elkhorn River until it had assumed
large proportions and carried de-
struotion In its wake.
Railroad ties and tracks. small build
ings Of all descriptions, trees, telegram
poles, huge powders and every imagin-
able movable thing that came within
the sweep of this mighty torrent of
maddened waters went down the noun
tainons district in a seething, roaring
mass of debris. sal,5t.
Dead bodies could be seen Floating
along the valleys by those who had
gained place of safety on the high
hills.
\ On the Clinch Valley branch of the
Norfolk & Western railroad. between
this city and Norton, Va, oommunica-
tion is entirely severed west of Taze-
we'll, Va. Reports come from that
point Of great loss Of life aud property
throughout that entire section.
In Shakerag, negro settlement on
the outskirts of Tazewell, the, water
stands to the depth Of six or eight feet
in the streets and houses, all of the
occupants having been removed to
points of safety by means OF boat.
Three miles west OF Tazewell, ON the
Higginbotham farm, the home of Paris
Vandyke, farm hand, MAS swept away,
carrying with it Mrs. Vandyke and four
children, Two of the Vandyke children,
John, II, and Charles.g5, being drowned.
Mrs. VsndYke, with the two remaining