The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-25
FIFTY BODIES REMOVED.


BLUEFIELD. w. Va, June A.-Details
of the fearful food in the Pocahontas Flat
Top region are slowly drifting into this
town. which is twenty-five miles south of
the scene OF the wrecked homes, and fully
bear out the fears early entertained as to
the havoc wrought by the storm. Fifty
dead bodies have been found. Thousands
OF people are homeless, and II is feared
are without food at the best with only
food enough to last at most several days.
The work OF establishing railroad communi-
cation is being pushed with vigor. There
Is little hope Of sending the sufferers sue
cor until railroad connection is again re-
newed. Men are at work clearing away
the debris and recovering the bodies of the
dead. The dead are being augmented hour
ly. The relief trains are running between
this city and the stricken districts and
everything is being done to relieve the
suffering. The latest estimate is that il
will take at least ten days to repair the
track.
The recovery of bodies for the past twen-
ty-four hours has not amounted TO many.
The reason assigned is that the corpses of
the missing are hidden in mammoth piles
OF debris. Some of these piles are thirty
feet high and cover in some instances as
much as half an acre of ground and ii is
the work of days to search through them.
II has been suggested that the best plan
would be to burn these masses OF debris
but friends of the dead are loud in their
denunciation OF the idea. So bitter is the
feeling regarding this matter that IL II is
attempted bloodshed will be the result. Up
to tonight only some fifty bodies have
been recovered. yet the list of missing and
reported drowned is 249. IL will probably
never be known how many have perished.
Passengers from the train that was over
taken by the flood and compelled to stop
have reached this city. They were rescued
from the train by means OF ropes. Debris
has washoc in the cars half way TO the
ceilings and is piled about the outside. al
most covering them over.
A messenger arrived who traversed the
fun length of the stricken district. He re-
ports that the destruction to property is
great deal worse than was apprehended,
but that the loss of life is not heavy.
The home OF Coal Inspector Dinsmore at
Keystone was washed away and his three
daughters. aged twelve. fourteen and six
teen. with II. They were rescued several
miles further down stream. At Algoma
number OF miners standing on a high point
in water waist deep rescued twenty-three
women and children as they fioated past
A number whom they threw ropes 10 were
so excited that they made no effort 10 save
themselves. Thirty-four houses fioated
dcwn and were dashed TO pieces against
the sides Of the iron bridge at North Fork
before that structure collapsed. The food
left several narrow gorges through which
only the creek and the railroad had room
10 pass. choked with shattered houses and
household furniture. merchandise and every
imaginable article. A sawmill belonging
TO Belcher Bros. was entirely swept away
and no trace OF II has yet been found ex-
cept the boiler, which jammed into
the end CT box car
Further details from the Clnch valley are
70 the effect that three members OF the
vandike family are now dead from injuries
received I'm the food.
At Pounding Mil four persons were
drowned. John p. Tate. Mrs. Clara Hoops
and two children.
Tne town or Liberty Hill. in Tazeweil