The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-27
MAY EXCEED ONE HUNDRED.
Victims of the Flood I'm the ElkhOrn
Valley Are Increasing.


WILLIAMSON, W. Va, June 2e.-There
is no longer any doubt but that the list of
the dead. the result Of the recent flood, will
exceed one hundred. Parties reached here
this evening from the upper end of the
flooded district, bringing the first authentic
information received from the scene of dis
aster. The party just arrived consisted
of Judge E. s. Doolittle, of Huntington
Judge Flourney, of Charleston, and Elias
Hatfield, deputy sheriff of Mingo county.
These gentlemen left Vivian Sunday
morning. and their journey to this city
has been a perilous one. Judge Doolittle
started to wade one stream, Laurel creek,
and came near being drowned, floating
colored men. Judge Flourney and Mr.. Hat
field gave the colored men SIS to carry them
across the stream safely.
Judge Doolittle said to the Associated
Press correspondent tonight that words
could not describe the scene of devastation
between Vivian and Davy. 1t was a tidal
wave from a cloudburst and swept every
thing before it, In the track of its course
everything is gone, including coke ovens
and pillars of stone. At Vivian the water
came roaring down the mountain sides in
monster waves and people who attempted
to flee to the hills for safety were washed
back and carried away by the raging tor
rent of the Elkhorn.
The section visited by the flood was thick
ly settled, but as the population consists
chiefly OF miners. who were at work at the
time, the large majority of the dead are
women and children. and thrilling stories
of rescue are told. AT one point a mother
climbed a huge pillar of railway trestle,
holding to her breast her only child. This
was at Eckman trestle. Her home was
washed away, but the mother and child
were saved. Fifteen people are said to
have been drowned at Eckman. At Key
stone the loss of life was great. Probably
thirty persons perished there. Mothers
and babes swept away by the raging
current strong men battled for their lives,
but without avail in many instances.
In one instance parties fed to an island
and climbed small trees only TO be swept
away fifteen minutes later by the tide,
which was filled with debris Of every kind.
Judge Doolittle the Norfolk &
Western train No. 4 at Vivian, when the
foodtide overlook it. He was in a sleeper,
and on awakening discovered water rush.
ing through the center aisles. and all was
confusion. He climbed, as did many 9TH
ers. from windows. and was rescued by
people near by on coke ovens by means of
boards being placed TO the windows. No
passengers were drowned.
1t took eleven hours to dig the debris
away from the train after the flood tide
had passed. Passenger train No. II was
also lost at Eckman, being completely car
ried away with box cars, houses, etc. More
than 200 cars. many Of which were loaded
with merchandise, were washed away at
that point.
Among the buildings lost at Vivian was
that of w. ]. McLaren, the Norfolk &
Western supervisor. 1t was magnificent
home. Mr. McLaren's family was rescued
telegraph wire was swept away in one
stretch just below Vivian. On Dry fork
the loss of life is exceedingly great. Bodies
or which will never be identified Seven
saloons at Keystone were washed away,
four lives being lost in one of them.
DR.. Hatfields home, at this point, was
not washed away, as formerly reported
and his family is safe. AT Brooke the loss
of property is also severe. but only three
lives are said 10 have been lost there The
miles, is completely in ruin. Hundreds of
mine mules can be seen in heaps intermin-
gled with human bodies. Coal operators
and mill men have lost untold amounts
Near Davy a horse was found lodged in a
driIt and a human body dangling 10 the
same. the mans foot having hung in the
stirrup Of the saddle. report has just
reached here that fifteen bodies are lodged
in a drift at Hatfield tunnel, twenty miles
east of this city. Parties have gone TO
the scene with the hope OF recovering
them. Near Burke man saw his brother
sinking In the flood and plunged in TO res
cue him. Both were drowned.
c. +. Clifford. train dispatcher for the
Norfolk & Western. walked from Ennis 10
Davy, forty-three miles, and now has con-