The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-24

ErouuclhS basln OF the POcuhOn-
tas Fields.
Bluefield, w. Va, June 2S.--This entire
section has just been visited by food,
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. Early yesterday morning.
shortly after midnight, heavy downpour
of rain began, accompanied by a severe
electric storm and steadily increased in
violence until 10 o'clock in the morning
then ceased for several hours and began
again, with renewed violence. This con-
tinued throughout the entire day and
night, and at 10 o'clock this morning
while the storm had abated the lowering
clouds indicated another terrific down
pour at any moment. Many miles of the
Norfolk and Western Railroad track
bridges and telegraph lines are entirely
destroyed and communication is entirely
cue off west of Elkhorn, so that it is i'm
possible 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 Elk
AFShhf NA0 Ol DOln LeleRTaDnlc
and railroad communications, and have
received report that a conservative es-
innate as to the loss of life will easily
reach 200. Some of the drowned are
among the most prominent citizens of the
coal field.
Entire Basin Flooded.
The Pocahontas coal feds is located in
a basin with high mountain ranges on
either side. Elkhorn creek flows 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, a distance of ten miles, miners cab
ms, coal company commissaries and
coke plants line this basin. Elkhorn creek
being fed by numerous small streams
coming from the mountain sides rises very
rapidly, and this water spout came so
suddenly that the entire basin between
the two mountain ranges was flooded, and
before the terror-stricken people realized
what was upon them they were carried
down by the flood, which swept every
thing in its patch. The little town of
Keystone, with population of about 1000,
seems to be the greatest sufferer, prac-
tically the entire town being washed
away. This town is the principal one in
the Pocahontas coal fields and is located
near Its center. 1t was to a great extent
headquarters from which the mining pop
ulatlon purchased supplies and was also
the only place in the field where whisky
could be purchased. AT this place there
were some twelve to fifteen saloons, all
OF which were washed away. The report
comes that the mining population are
now occupying the banks of the stream
below, catching the merchandise and bar
rels OF whisky and beer as they float
down. A great number of the coal and
coke pants throughout the Pocahontas
fields are reported practically destroyed,
and in some instances entirely washed
away. On account of the very high wa
ter which has flooded the region and pre-
vented communication, anything like a
correct estimate of the loss of property
is impossible, but from the best informa-
tion obtainable at p. m. Sunday the
loss to property will easily reach $1,000, 900.
Ropes Used for Rescue.
At Landgraf, the beautiful home of
General Manager Ord is reported gone,
but his family is said to be safe. Pas
senger train No. of the Norfolk and
Western Railway reached Vivian Yard,
the western terminus of the coal field,
about $3.50 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 be-
ing rescued by means of ropes strung
lAOiil the 'WlliOOWS VI COdCHeS 10 lT6 tops
of remaining coke ovens some distance
away. Between Elkhorn and Vivian Yard,
a distance of ten miles, 100 cars are said
to be washed away from the tracks and
many of them carried down the streams.
A rough estimate places the number of
bridges washed away between Bluefeld
and Vivian Yard. a distance of twenty
eight miles, at from fifteen TO twenty,
and from present indications it will be
III -.
and points west of there under week
or ten days. This will render it impossi-
ble to get relief in the stricken district
and with those who escaped with their
lives, homeless and without food, inde-
scribable suffering ds inevitable.
Great Suffering Inevitable.
On the Clinch Valley branch of the Nor
folk and Western Railway between this
city and Norton, Va, communication is
entirely cut off west of Tazewell. Re-
ports come from that point of great loss
of life and property throughout the en-
tire section. In Shakerag, a negro settle
ment on the outskirts of Tazewell the
water stands to a depth of six or eight
feet in the street and the houses. all OF
the occupants having been removed to
points of safety by means of a boat.
Three miles west of Tazewell on the Hig
ginbotham farm, the home of Paris Van
Dyke, a farm house was swept away.
carrying with it Mrs. Van Dyke and four
children, two of the Van Dyke children,
John, aged II, and Charles, aged 5, be-
ing drowned Mrs. Van Dyke with the
two remaining children, Edgar and Lau-
ra, were found at 8 o'clock this morning
in a dying condition one mile from where
the home stood, by Mr.. Van Dyke, who
was absent from home at the time OF the
cioudburst. While the resculng party was
searching for the Van Dyke family they
found the body of a white woman. well
clad floating down Plum creek. No one
thus far has been able to identify her.
and II Is supposed the body had washed
down for some distance.
A report comes from Witten's Mill. a
small station between Bluehed>sand Taze-
well, that three children, Christian names
unknown, belonging 10 Raleigh Brush
we're drowned yesterday morning
working Day and Night.
There is no telegraph station at wit
tens Mill and II Is impossible TO ascer-
tain particulars. The railroad and telc-
graph companies are working between
900 and 1900 men day and night. Off
cials are on the ground pushing the work
OF constructing telegraph lines and re-
building the road and hope to be able TO
communicate with the storm-swept dis
tricts by noon Monday.
Nothing whatever has been heard from
the section OF country between William
son and Vivian. other than that the Tug
river IL reported as being entirely over