Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-06-24
AWFUL FLOOD In
WEST VIRGINIA
Two Hundred Lowest ESti-
mate Of Lives Lost
RIVAL TO JOHNSTOWN FLOOD
Precipitated by TOrrential Rains, the
Deluge Came Before People Had
Chance 30 Escape

rluefeld, W. Va. June 2f-This en-
tire section has just heen 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 ccaccrnod. Early Sat
urday morning, shortly after midnight,
q heavy downpour Of rain began, ac-
companied by a severe electric storm,
and steadily increased in violence un-
til 10 O'Clock q. m, then ceasing for
several hours and beginning again
with renewed violence. This continued
throughout the entire day and night,
and at 10 O'Clock yesterday morning,
while the storm had abated, the low
ering clouds would indicate another
terrific downpour at any moment.
Many miles of the Norfolk and West
ern railroad track. bridges and tele-
graph lines are entirely destroyed and
communication is entirely cut of west
of Elkhorn, so that it is impossible to
learn the full extent of the loss of life
and property. but officials of the coal
operations located IN the stricken dis
trict have sent out messengers to Elk
horn. the terminus Of both telegraphic
and railroad communications. and have
received a report that a conservative
estimate as to the loss of life will
easily reach 200 Other reports say
that 500 or GOO have been drowned.
Some assert that at keystone alone
200 lives were lost. Some of the
drowned are among the most promi-
nent citizens of the coal elds.
The TOeahontas Coal Fisld.
The Pocahontas coal field is located
In a 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, q distance of 10 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
tain sides, rises very rapidly and this
waterspout came to suddenly that the
entire basin between the two mountain
ranges was flooded. and before the ter
ror stricken people realized what was
upon them they were carried down by
the flood, which swept everything in
its path
The little town of Keystone, with o
population of about 1000, seems the
greatest sufferer. practically The entire
town being washed away. This town
is the principal one in the Pocahontas
coal fields, and is located near its cen
ter 1t was to great extent headquar-
ters 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 30 to 35 saloons. all but one
OF which were washed away. Report
comes that the mining population are
now occupying the banks of the
streams below, catching the merchan
disc and barrels of whisky and beer as
they float down. A great number o
the coal and coke plants throughou
the Pocahontas field are reported prac
tically destroyed, and in some in
stances entirely washed away.
On account of the very high waite
which has flooded the region and pre-
vented communication, anything like
correct estimate of the loss of prOI
erty is impossible. but from the be'
information Obtainable at this hon
the loss to property will easily reae
S2,0OO,O0O