Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-06-27
HUNDREDS Of
LIVES LOST
Cloudburst and Floods in the Vir.
ginias Cause Great Loss Of
Life.
RIVALS THE loHNsI0WN FLOOD
At Least 500 Persons Drowned,
and Death List May Be
Much Larger.
OVER A SCORE OF TOWNS SUFFER
DISASTROUS Flood Sweeps Through villages,
Wrecking Houses and Drowning
Inhabitants--Mile of Railway
Track Washed Away.
OVER A SCORE OF TOWNS SUFFER

Roanoke. Va, June 25.-Passcngers
on train from the west report that
about 300 people were drowned Satur-
day evening along the Elkhorn divl-
sion OF the Norfolk and Western rail-
road and that miles Of track and
bridges were washed out. The passen
gers on the train were transferred yes
terday by ropes from the train to the
mountain side near Vivian, w. Va. All
wires are down over the devastated
section and no other particulars are
obtainable. Those drowned are said TO
include the most prominent people Of
the section affected. The general man
ager of the Norfolk and Western rail-
road left here for the scene yesterday
afternoon. 1t will probably be several
days before the road is open.
Tnzewell. Va, June 24.-The train
master of the Norfolk and Western
railroad walked the track between
Vivian and Norfolk, n distance of
twelve miles. He discovered thirty
bodies floating In the river.
Washington. June 24-The following
dispatches have been received by the
Washington Post regarding the re-
ported loss of life by the flood in West
Virginia:
'Bluefleld. w. Voa., June 24.--Flood
IN Pocahontas coal field equaltng that
of Johnstown. Two hundred drowned.
Impossible to estimate the loss of prop
erty."
Roanoke. Va. June 24.-Cloudburst
Pocahontas division Norfolk and West
ern yesterday morning. keystone, Fix
horn, Vivian and other towns wiped
out. Railroad dispatches say that 500
lives lost. One house left in Keystone;
TWENTY-FIVE to thirty miles railroad
track destroyed"
Enormous Property Loss.
Bluefeld. w. Va. June 24-This en-
tire section has just been visited by q
flood which In all probability will
equal or exceed that of Johnstown IN
1889 so far as the loss of property is
concerned.
Early Saturday morning, shortly nf-
y
began. accompanied by q severe electric
storm which violently increased in VOL
ume and continued throughout the en-
tire day and night
Many miles of the Norfolk and West
crn railroad track, bridges and tele-
graph lines are entirely destroyed, and
communications entirely cut off west
of Elkhorn, so that 1t is impossible to
learn the full extent of the loss OF life
n mr. ,ar$,, Al. (,
operations located in the stricken ds-
trict have sent out messengers to Elk
horn, the terminus Of both telegraphic
and railroad communications and have
received a report that conservative esti-
mates as to the loss Of life will easily
reach ZOO Some of the drowned are
among the most prominent citizens of
the coal fields.
The Pocahontas coal fields Is located
In basin. With high mountain ranges
on either side of Elkhorn creek. flowing
through the center of the basin. which
ranges from fourth to one mile I'm
width. From Ennis, w. Va, to Vivian
Yard, w. Va, distance OF ten miles.
miners cabins. coal company commits
saries and coke plants line this basin.
Elkhorn creek. being fed by numerous
small streams coming from the noun
tam side, rises very rapidly, and this
Waterspout came so suddenly that the
entire basin between the two mountain
ranges was Hooded and before the ter
for stricken people realized what was
upon them they We're carried down by
the Hood, which swept everything In
Its path. The little town of keysone.
With q population of about 1000. seems
the greatest sufferer practical
~ the entire town being washed
away. This town is the principal one
IN tne Pocahontas coal fields, and is
located near Its center. 1t was to a
great extent headquarters from which
tne mining population purchased sup
plles. ana was also the only place in
me held where whisky could he pur-
chased. At this place there some twelve
TO flfteen saloons, all of which were
washed away. The report comes thai
the mining population are now occupy-
Ing the banks of the streams below
catcnlng the merchandise and barrels
Oh WHISKY and beer as they float down.
May Reach ee.ooo,oOo.
~ great number of the coal and coke
plants throughout the Pocahontas VAL
ley are reported practically DESTROYED
and are in some instances entirely
washed away. Owing TO the very high
water which has flooded the region
and prevented communication. any
tnlns like correct estimate of the loss
OF property is impossible, but from the
best information obtainable at u. m.
sunday the loss of property will easily
reach $2,0000OO.
AT Landgraf, the beautiful home Of
General Manager Ord, is reported gone
put his family is said to be safe
Passenger train No. a, of the Norfolk
and 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 coac h.s
had to be abandoned the passengers
rescued by means of ropes strung from
the windows of coaches to the tops OF
remaining coke ovens some distance
away. Between Elkhorn and Vivian
Yard, distance of ten miles, 100 cars
gre said to be washed from the tracks
and many of them were carried down
the streams.
A rough estimate places the number
OF bridges washed away between Blue