The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-06-28
ECHOES OF THE
W. VA. DELUGE.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER ON TUG
RIVER AND ITS BRANCHES.
Tho story Comes from Huntington, West
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Plants AS well IA
Collieries and Railroads Suffered
Severoly and tho Destruction OF Pri.
vate Property WAS Very General

Aho IleLuondOuS rlSn Wator IN the
lug river, caused by q cloudburst
along the headwaters of that stream
on Saturday, is thing unprecedent-
ed in the history of that section, and
the destruction Of property along the
Elkhorn and Dry Fork and down the
lug river to it's mouth is something
appalling. Though it comes far
short of rlvalling tho famous Johns
town flood, it serves as vivid re-
minder of that tervible deluge, and
it will, no doubt, be many day ore
such q disastrous result is witnessed
again from like cause. Owing to
the fact that wires have been down
and no other means Of communica-
ton was available with the sections
OF country where the greatest de-
struction was wrought much is left
to be surmised, yet lower down the
river, where the river bed was wider
and the volume of wator had to be
much greater in order to submerge
tho valley, the wreckage which has
been carried by in tho flood fur
nishes ample evidence of what had
taken place higher up the stream.
Tho cloudburst occurred near the
headwaters of the Elkhorn and Dry
Fork rivers, whose confluence near
Welch forms the main Tug river.
Though both of these streams we're
swollen far beyond any proportions
which they were ever before known
to assume, the former, the valley of
which is traversed by the Norfolk
and Western railway for a distance
Of about 20 miles, was by far the
highest, and it is reported that for a
distance Of about 10 miles that road
is practically wreck, and several
days will be required to repair the
great damage which has been done.
1t is further stated that had this
road not been constructed along the
highest available ground along the
valley that much moro of it would
have been swept away. Along the
coal regions Of the Elkhorn and the
humorous big lumber plants lower
down box cars were, swept away in
the rushing flood and are lodged
along the stream against the rugged
mountain sides and in a few in
stances were CARRIED down the Tug
river even as far as below the falls
of it before being checked. Many
of these cars were loaded, ready to
be moved and with their cargoes
they are practically total loss. All
the lumber plants, and there are
many of them, arc great losers, to
an extent that many who have wit
messed the passing wreckage conser-
vat;vely estimate the loss sustained
at million and half.
At lager station the water rose to
the immense height of 81 feet inside
of three hours from the time it be-
gan, deluging every house in the
little town and washing away many
of the outbuilding and in some in
stances dwellings were swept from
their foundations, but lodged against
large and more substantial ones and
were thus saved from destruction.
Higher up the river tho destruc-
ton is said to be even greater. At
Vivian many houses were washed
away and several lives arc reported
lost. Here q passenger train was
caught by the water and the passen-
gers had to be rescued from tho train
by means of ropes, which were
thrown to them. Not over 100 yards
or the railroad between there and
Ennis, distance OF 10 miles, is said
to have been left intact. All towns
above thore occupying lowlands were
submerged and many houses were
washed away. Ritter's saw mills, at
Panther, are reported to have been
destroyed and every lumber plant in
Mcdowell and Mercer counties have
suffered great damage.
1t is impossible to approximate the
loss of life. EARLY reports sent out
indicate that it had been very great,
but each subsequent report has low
cred the number. It is safe to say
thai lees than 100 have perished and