Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-25
Latest News From Elkhorn Valley
Confirms First Reports.
AWFUL SCENES OF DESOLATION
Railroad Bridges Swept Away by
the Torrent.
PILES OF DEBRIS AROUND

RICHMOND, Va, June 25.-At o'clock
this morning the Dispatch correspondent
returned from the scene of the keystone
ilood disaster. There is no possible way
TO estimate the loss OF life or property.
hundreds of people either are missing or
reported missing, and a large number of
dead bodies have been recovered
The scene of the foods course battles de-
scription. Everywhere is debris composed
of wrecked homes, demolished railroad
cars, broken and splintered household fur
niture and now and then the corpse of a
victim. Railroad iron was bent by the
force OF the water, iron bridges resting on
their piers of solid masonry withstood the
strain but moment and We're swept away
like empty casks. The eddying waters ate
away embankments and great railroad
cars laden with half a hundred tons of
black diamonds tumbled to destruction.
Entire Valley Devastated.
The Elkhorn valley and North Forge val
leys, but a few hours before teeming with
busy thousands, were made desolate scene
of devastation and death in a few hours
The financial loss is unobtainable but Is
estimated that it will take millions to re-
pair the damage. The Norfolk and West
ern tracks for miles are washed out. and
il is impossible to say when their trains
can be operated. Although the damage be-
gins at Coaldale, keystone and Burke are
the greatest sufferers The two towns are
practically one and form the largest place
in the coal fields. Many nSl-resdent min
ers We're In Keystone on Saturday morning.
and numbers of them, whose names will
never be learned, lerished in the food.
A special from Tazewell received at
o'clock this morning, says at Cedar Bluff. west
OF there, nine houses and eight outhouses
We're washed away. but lives were lost,
as far as known. Many mill dams are gone.
The town of Liberty, nine miles west Of
Tazewell, is badly damaged. The flood
seems to have embraced the whole coun-
try, extending into the eastern part of Rus
sell and Forty Mile road The reported
loss OF 200 lives at keystone is not con-
firmed by passengers coming in from Blue
field.
Story of Eyewitness.
BLUEFIELD, W. Va, June 25.-An eye
witness of the flood which devastated Key
stone has arrived here. He was a guest
of the National Hotel-one of the few build
ings which escaped destruction. In speak
ing of his experience he said the town was
built along one narrow street, which fol-
lowed the stream fully a mile. Because OF
limited space the houses on one side stood
on piles or walls over the Elkhorn, and, on
the other, against the mountains.
At daybreak Saturday the people realized
their danger. The narrow valley gradually
became filled with raging torrent, sweep
ing away small buildings and causing a
scramble to the mountain side. More than
a hundred persons remained to look after
women and children. When the railway
bridge was finally swept away, ths flood
poured down the narrow street, carrying
many persons with II.
Eight lives are known to have been lost
From the hotel a life line was thrown to
the building opposite and thence to rescuers
on the hillside. All in the hotel and those
fortunate to reach ii were thus enabled to
reach a place of safety-at the imminent
risk Of their lives. however.
At Shawnee several persons are said TO
have been drowned. The greater part of
the town was destroyed.
Damage to Norfolk and Western
Official advices to the Post Office Depart
ment show that the break on the Virginia
and Ohio division of the Norfolk and West
ern caused by the foods extends for a dis
tance of fifty miles, from Williamstown to
Ennis, except in spots. The branch line
running from Goodwill to Bramwell is prac-
tically entirely washed away. Special SER
vice will be arranged to take the mails into
and out of the fiood-stricken towns. Chief
Sales. from Lynchburg, of the railway mail
service have gone in the flood district to
make report the situation and needs
in a postal way. telegram from the post
master at Duhring, w. Va, asking for i'm
service probably will be necessary for three
weeks