The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-06-29
AWFUL CLOUDBURST.
Coal Region In West Virginia the
Scene Of Disaster.
q Loss of Life ysriousIy Estimsted
~ from 200 20 900 Results from
Flood which sweeps Through
the District.


tire section has just been visited by
food, the extent of which in all PROB
ability will equal or exceed that OF
Johnstown in 1889, so far as the loss
of property is concerned. Early sun
day morning. shortly after midnight
a heavy downpour Of rain began, &C
companied by severe electric storm,
which violently increased in volume
and continuing for several hours,
These continued throughout the en-
tire day and night. and while the
storm has abated the lowering clouds
would indicate another terrific down
pour AT any moment.
Estimated Loss of Life 200.
Many miles Of the Norfolk d West
ern railroad track, bridges and tele-
graph lines are entirely destroyed and
communion ton is entirely cut off west
Of Eikhorn. so that il Is impossible TO
learn the full extent of the loss of life
and property, but officials of the coal
operations, located in he stricken dis
trict, have sent out messengers to Elk
horn. the terminus OF both Geographic
and railroad communications, and
have received report that II conser-
vatiyc estimate as to the loss of life
will easily reach 200. Some of the
drowned are among the most promi-
nent citizens of tbe7coal fields
Town washcd Away.
The Pocahontas coal field is located
in basin, with high mountain ranges
on either side, Elkhorn creek flowing
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
pany's commissaries and coke plants
line this basin. Elkhorn creek be-
ing fed by numerous small streams
coming from the mountain side rises
very rapidly, and this waterspout
came so suddenly that the entire basin
between the two mountain ranges was
flooded, and before the terror-strick-
en- people realized what was upon
them they were carried down by the
food, which swept everything in its
path. The little town of Keystone,
with a population of about 1000, seems
the greatest sufferer, practically the
entire town being washed away. This
town is the principal one in the Poca-
hontas coal fields and is located near
its center. 1t was to a great extent
headquarters from which the mining
population purchased supplies and was
also the only place in the field where
whisky could be purchased At this
place there were some - to Is saloons,
all of which were washed away. The
report comes that the mining popula-
ton are now occupying the banks of
the streams below, catching the mer-
chandise and barrels of whisky and
beer as they float down.
Coal and Coke Plants Ruined.
a great number of the coal and coke
plants throughout the Pocahontas are
reported practically destroyed and are
in some instances entirely washed
away. Owing to the very high water
which has flooded the region and pre-
vented communication, anything like
n correct estimate of the loss of prop
crty is impossible, but from the best
information obtainable the loss to
property will reach $2,O0O,0OO. At
Landgraf, the beautiful home of Cen
eral Manager Ord is reported gone, but
his family is said to be safe.
A rough estimate places the number
of bridges washed away between Blue
field and Vivian yard, distance of 2S
nt 4 IN. frA
ent Indications it will be impossible
to get trains through to Vivian and
points west of there under n week or
ten days. This will render it impossi-
bic to get relief into the stricken dis
trict, and with those who escaped with
their lives, homeless and without food,
Understandable suffering is inevitable.
Awful Destruction.
The food seems to have extended
over a vast area of mountain coun-
try, and the hundreds of mountain
streams becoming swollen only
served to swell the Elkhorn river
until 1T had assumed large pro-
portions and carried destruction in
its wake. Railroad ties and tracks,
sHiaii DuIAulHRS Oh all descriptions,
trees, telegraph poles, huge powders
and every imaginable movable thing
that came within the sweep of this
mighty torrent of maddened waters
went down the mountainous district in
a seething, roaring mass of debris.
Dead bodies could be seen floating
along the valley by those who had
gained place Of safety on the high
hills. All day Saturday the rain fell
in sheets. and it is evident that IL II
did not cease there would be food
and great destruction must result
from II, but il was not until after dark
ness had enveloped the coal regions
that the great catastrophe was upon
the country and was making a clean
sweep of the valley for miles around.
messenger, in walking over the
devastated district, came back and
reported having seen 3s dead bodies.
New wheat Marketed,
Ninheld, KAN, June 24.-The first