Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-06-27

Estimates of the loss of life by the food
have been raised again and tonight
are placed at more than one hundred.
Parties reached here this evening from
the upper end of the flooded district,
bringing the first authentic information
received from the scene of the disaster.
The party just arrived consisted OF
Judge Z. S. Doolittle, of Huntington,
Judge Flournoy, OF Charleston, and
Elias Hatfield. deputy sheriff OF Mingo
county.
these gentlemen left Vivian Sunday
morning, and their journey to this city
has been perilous one Judge Doc
little started to wade one stream,
Laurel creek, and came near being
drowned, floating some distance before
being rescued by two colored men.
Judge Flourney and Mr. Hatfield gave
the same colored men twenty-five dol
lars to carry them safely across the
stream.
Judge Doolittle said tonight that
words could not describe the scene OF
devastation between Vivian and Davy.
1t was a tidal wave from a cloudburst
and swept everything before it. In the
track of its course everything is gone,
Including coke ovens and pillars of
stone. AT Vivian, the water came roar
ing down the mountain sides in mon
stcr waves and people who attempted 10
flee to the hills for safety were wash
ed back and carried away by the rag
ing current of the lIlknorn.
The section visited by the flood was
thickly settled, but as the population
consists chiefly of miners who were at
work at the time, the large majority OF
the dead are women and children, and
they tell thrilling stories of rescue.
At one point a mother climbed a pill
lar Of railway trestle, holding to the
brearst her only child. This was at
Eckman trestle Her home was wash
ed away, but the mother and child were
saved. Fifteen people are said TO have
been drowned at Eckman.
At Keystone the loss OF life was great
Probaly thirty persons persisted there.
Mothers ard babes were swept away by
the raging current, strong men battled
for their lives, but without avail, in
many instances.
In one instance people fed to an isl
and and climbed small trees only to be
swept away fifteen minutes later by the
tide, which was filled with debris of
every kind.
Judge Dcolittle was on a Norfolk &
Western train at Vivian when the flood
Oh 4
on awakening, discovered water rush
Ing through the centre aisles. He
climbed. as did many others, from win
dows, and was rescued by people near
by on coke ovens by means of boards
being placed to the windows. No pas
sengers were drowned.
At Took Eleven Hours
TO dig the debris away from the train
after the flood had passed. Passenger
train No II was also lost at Eckman,
being carried away with box cars,
houses. etc.
More than two hundred cars, many of
which were loaded with merchandise,
were washed away at that point
Among the buildings lost at Vivian
was that OF w. j. McLaren, the Norfolk
w
family was rescued with great diff
Guilty. Fourteen miles Of telegraph
wire were swept away in one stretch,
just below Vivian. On Dry Fork the
loss of life is exceedingly great. Bodies
are scattered all along the stream.
many of which will never be identified.
Seven saloons at Keystone were washed
away. four lives being lost in one OF
them.
DR.. Hatield's home at this point was
net washed away, as formely reported,
and his family is safe. At Brooks the
loss OF property is also severe, but only
three lives are said TO have been lost
there.
The region from Ennis to Davy. 4s
miles. is completely in ruins. Hun
dreds OF mine mules can be seen il
heaps, mingled with human bodies
Coal operators and mill men have lost
unknown amounts. Near Davy. a horse
was found lodged in drift and a hui
man body dangling to the same, the
mans foot having hung in the stirrur
OF the saddle. A report has just reach
ed here that fifteen bodies are lodged in
drift at Hatfield tunnel, twenty miles
east of this city. Parties have gone tc
the scene with the hope OF recovering
them. Near Burke man
Saw Ms Brother sinking
in the food and plunged in to rescue
him. Both were drowned.
g. +. Clifford, train dispatcher fol
the Norfolk & Western walked from
Ennis to Davy. fofty -three miles. AMI
now has control Of the telegraph line
ct ~ l1tter point He says on 81