The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-24


through the mountains with here and
there a connecting mountain stream
flowing into it. The valley is not over
800 yards wide at any place and some
times for miles there is barely enough
level land for a roadbed. The noun
tains rise abruptly to either side and
through this ravine-like mountainWay
the Norfolk & Western railroad extends
for more than 100 miles. It is in this
district that many mining towns have
sprung up.
EVERY BUILDING DEMOLISHED.
1t is said by the telegraph officials that
the lines are useless between KeaONa, W.
Va, and BIueheld, Il distance of 200 miles.
graph lines viii be restored sufficiently
between these two points to obtain full
It IS stated, however, that every ouilcllles
in the town of keystone was demolished
OF carried away BY ths water save one
and that a barroom which stands On 4
high hill. The normal population Of Key
telling how many miners had gone into
the town to swell its pop nation Il IS
estimated that 200 lives were lost at Kew
stone alone The food seems to have e1-
tended over q vast area of mountain cOun-
try and the hundreds OF mountain IN
streams becoming swollen only served to
swell the Elkhorn river until it had as
sumed large proportloaSI and carried aess
structlon IN ITS wake. Etallroad ties ana
tracks. small buildings of all descriptions.
every imaginable movable thing that
came within the sweep of this mighty
the mountainous district IN seeming.
roaring mass of debris Dead bodies
could be seen floating along the valley Py
those who had gained place OF SAFETY
on the high hills All day Saturday the
that if it did not cease, there would be a
flood and great destruction must result
IRON It, but II was net In rs aIfer qba
the great catastrophe was upon the coun-
try and was making a clean sweep of the
MAYOR LANDS ESTIMATE.
New York, June 24.-Mayor Land, of
Bluefeld, w. Va, wires as follows:
1T is estimated that 200 lives were
lost in the Ellxhorn flood. The dam
age to the Norfolk & Western railroad
company is estimated at half a mil
lion dollars, and to the coal companies
and individuals at two million dollars
There is no communication with
any point further down the valley than
Elkhorn. I an unable to tell whether
outside assistance will be needed I'M
til further information come in.
PLACES DEATH LIST AT 1000
Huntington, w. Va, June 24.-Gov-
ernOr White is here making arrange
ments to bet tents and provisionh for
the flood stricken district along the
Norfolk & Western railroad. He says
he fears the death list will exceed one
thousand.
PROBABLY OvEREsTIMATED-
Richmond, Va, June 24-ConfiictinS
reports received here place the loss of
life in the Flat Top region from the
flood at from 200 to 800. It is pretty
certain that keystone has been vir-
tua1ly washed out, but the loss of life
there is probably overestimated-
The Norfolk & Western people here
know nothing except that they have
suffered heavy damage to tracks.
The track of the c. e o. near Hilton
is also heavily damaged and trains are
tied up. There has been a tremendous
flood at Charleston, w Va. Several
children We're drowned near Tazewell
FURTHER REDUCTIONS.
Roanoke, Va, June N--Norfolk &
Western officials here say that owing
to wires being down and no direct
communication, they are unable to es-
innate the damage caused by the Hood
in the coal fields They do not. believe
the damage to property will amount to
$500. 900. as at first reported. Estimates
of 200 lives lost are now thought to be
too great.
MONTGOMERY, W. Va, June 24.-It is
estin ated that the storm and wash
outs of Sunday did $4,000 damage to
property in this vicinity. The greatest
damage was to the coal tipples which
We're partly demolished, but no lives
are known to have been lost
25 MILES OF TRACK GONE.
Columbus, O., June M.-The local
Norfolk & Western officials have lit
tie information on the flood situation
in West Virginia this morning, their
wires being down. and it is impossible
to get messages through from the de-
vastated district The road will accept
passengers for no point south of VIII
hanson and the information at the
local offices is that 25 miles of track
beyond that point is gone.
LITTLE BUT RUMOR.
Richmond June PA special to the
Despatch from a reliable correspondent
at Bluehelds says all news so far is
based largely on rumors. that facts can
not yet be obtained and it is probable
the reports are exaggerated