Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-06-24
TO-DAY'S TELEGRApHIC NEWS
The Recent Floods.

Bluefeld, w. Va, June N.-Commu-
nicatiou is entirely cut off west OF Elk.
horn, which makes IL impossible to learn
the full extent or loss OF life and prop
erty BY the food. Officials OF the coal
operators in the stricken district have
sent messengers to E'khorn, the ter
minus of both telegraphic and rail-
way communication, with report that
q conservative estimate of the loss OF
life will reach 200, some Of the drowned
being among the most prominent citi'
zens OF the coal fields. From the best
Information obtsinable now the prop
city loss from the food will exceed
81, 000, 900. On the Clinch Valley branch
OF the New river, between this city and
Newton, Va. communication is entirely
severed west of Tszwell. Reports come
of great loss OF life and property
throughout that entire section.
Thirteen prosperous little mining
towns dottipg the fifteen miles of the
Elkhorn were entirely or partially de-
vastated by the cloudburst on Saturday
night. The towns beginning on the
eastward are Vivian, Langraff, Key
stone, North Fork, Powhstan, Elkhorn,
Eonis, Msyberry, Cosldale, Cooper.
Bluestone, Falls Mills and Graham.
Huntington, w. Va, June Palate
reports received here state that the
towns of Elkhorn, Cooper and Key
stone, all mining settlements In the
lower valleys along the Norfolk and
Western, were completely washed away,
and that probably 1000 lives have been
| lost. A correspondent OF the Adver-
tiser reached here this morning from a
portion of the region affected by the
cloudburst, and states that there Ia moth
ing 10 bear out this statement. The
property loss, however, may reach
81. OOO, 900.
Roanoke, Va, June 24.-Some OF the
survivors OF the food in the Elkhorn
Valley reached here this morning.
They think the loss of life has been
overestimated that it will be about
one hundred.
Roanoke, Va, June 24.-News from
the food devastated district shows that
there is grave danger OF lawlessness
following on the heels OF want and
waste. Negroes are the disturbing
element. They have been offered EN-
ployment at 81 day to aid 10 the work
OF reconstruction but refuse and are
finding more profitable employment 10
stealing from the debris all the valu
ables upon which they can lay their
hands. The whites are organizing Into
bands of vigilantes and the word hes
gone out that the blacks must work oil
be driven from: the district that Ia
marked with ruin and devastation
The negroes are ugly and the whites
determined. A clash may follow al
any moment. The state militia has
been ordered out. A company from
Charleston has been ordered into the
Pocahontas coal field, where the ne
groes are dangerous and refuse TO
work at any wages.
Huntington w. Va. June 24.-Gov'
ernor White who has arrived here from
Charleston says that the death roll
from the food on the Elkhorn will be
enormous. He fears it will pass the
1000 mark and may probably reach
1900. At Keystone, town OF 200 10
habitants, but one house was left stand
ing.
Roanoke Va. June PAL. =. John
son, General Manager of the Norfolk x
Western Railroad, says: "From the
best Information obtaipaoie about sixty
people were drowned 10 the North
Fork and Elkhorn. The property loss
is about $30O,0 The Norfolk & West
ern r. Il. suffered serious damage bu,
we expect to be open for traffic some
time Wednesday,n