The Van Buren press., 1901-06-29
TOLD By An EYEWITNESS.
The Recent Flood at Keystone, W.
Va, vividly Described by
One Who Was There.
FOR SIX HOURS RAIN FELL IN TORRENTS
The Narrow Valley Became h"s-
ing, Seething Torrent, sweepAs
Everything Before It-Mnny reo-
nle Drowned While Attempting
to Reach the Mountain.

keystone, W. Va, June 26.-The fol-
lowing story is told by an eye-"i'-
ness of the great flood;
"Keystone is the metropolis OF the
Elkhorn mining country. II has pn.
narrow streets, and because OF limited
space many houses were built on pies
or walls over the Elkhorn or close
up against the mountains. The town
follows the mcGuderings Of tht
stream for mile.
A Six Homrs' TOrrential Rain.
"On Friday night at II o'clock the
storm struck the mountain, ana ior
six hours rain ie,l in torrents By
o a. m, Saturday, the narrow valley
was raging, seething, angry torreA''
Houses, barns, bridges, fills, live stock
and human beings were swept away
by the mighty current and dashed op
the rocks or trees below.
Eyewitness of the Disaster.
81 was an eyewitness of the dis
aster at keystone, stopping at he
tel. At the first warning many OF the
inhabitants took refuge on the noun
| tainside overlooking the town and
river. More than hundred people,
however, remained in the town 10
| look after the women and children
who did not escape early. The bridge
leading to the depot was soon swept
away, then the angry waters rushed
through the only street in the town,
| and we found hundreds cut off from
the mountain retreat, and the hotel
was made fast to the telephone poles
by means of a line.
| Hundreds Were saved.
Hundreds of lives were saved. But,
in attempting to cross the muddy,
surging waters which swept like an
avalanche down this street, many lost
their hold, and in plain sight of
friends were carried on into the river
and drowned. Houses plunged and
danced in the mighty stream, with
screaming women and children on the
roofs. Horses, cattle and other ami
mails were drowned about us.
Railroad FIJI Gave Way.
"The Norfolk d. Western railroad
fill at this place gave way, and more
than a mile of track now lies in the
bed of the river. In fact, it is hard
to tell how many miles of track dnd
how many bridges have been swept
away. The destruction is tremendous
70 the railroad alone, and it may be
many days and perhaps weeks before
trains can run.
Loss of Life Uncertain.
"The loss of life can not be est.
mated here. 1t is known eight lives
were lost here. Six bodies have been
recovered at Eckman two miles be.
low here. Several were drowned at
Shawnee, and good part Of the town
swept away.
Women Cared for First.
"All the women were conveyed from
the hotel to the mountainside by
means Of the lifeline, Then the men
left, as the place was unsafe. When
II came my turn | seized the line and
plunged into the muddy current. In
an instant my feet were swept from
under me, and IT was the fight of my
life to reach the house on the south
side Of the street. The distance was
not great, and the water not more
than three feet deep, but the current
was almost irresistible, and even
cows and horses were swept past me
rs clung TO the rope, which was the
only hope. Friendly hands pulled nc
out more dead than alive. The motel
IL still standing"