The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-06-25
REPORTS ARE CONFLICTING
Extent of the West Virginia
Disaster Still in Doubt.
FIFTY BODIES ARE RECOVERED.

Estimates OF the Property Loss Vary
From 100000 to $4,000, ooo-AIi
Wires Are Down and Information
Comes In Slowly. :
Bluefield, w. Va, June 25.-Details
of the terrible flood in the Pocahontas
Flat Top region, are slowly drifting
into this town, which is situated 25
miles south of the scene of the wrecked
homes, and fully bear out the fears
early entertained as to the havoc
wrought by the storm. Fifty dead
bodies have been found. Thousands of
people are homeless, and it is feared
many are without food, or at the best
with only food enough to last a few
days. The work of establishing rail
road communication is being pushed
with vigor. There is little hope of
sending the sufferers succor until rail
road connection is again renewed.
Men are at work clearing way the
debris and recovering the bodies of
the dead. The dead are being aug
mented hourly.
u ISRSILy I0SS TtdSCO at YGyJOO,OOOs
Estimates of the property loss in the
flooded district are growing larger,
and the leading officers of the Norfolk
and Western road fix the damage to
railroad property between Cooper and
Vivian, w. Va, at $1,000, 900. This
covers a territory 25 miles in length
II the same officials consider that
the damage to the property of the coal
operators of the field will far exceed
this amount. The total loss is now ap-
proximately estimated at So, SOC, 900.
The recovery OF bodies in the last
"a hours has not amounted. to many.
The reason assigned is that the corpses
of the missing are hidden in NAM
moth piles of debris. The list of miss
ing and reported drowned is 249. 1t
will probably never be known how
many have persisted.
Hundred Miles of Track Destroyed.
Over a hundred miles of track be-
longing to the various coal operations
are practically a total loss. The rails
are bent and twisted like wires. The
force of the flood is better understood
when it is explained that by reason of
a long fill and a log and iron bridge
the water was damned up. When this
obstruction gave way it let down a
great flood on the villages and mining
camps below.
Issues Appeal for Aid.
Governor White has issued an ap-
peal to the citizens Of West Virginia
for contributions to aid sufferers by
the flood in the Flat Top region. The
governor states that while he has no
definite information, it is evident that
an appalling calamity has visited
that region, yet aid will be required to
care for the sick and destitute and
care for the dead.
In response to a message from Gov
ernor Nash of Ohio, asking whether as
sistance would be needed, Governor
White replied that he hoped for def
mite information from the stricken re-
gion tomorrow, but the suffering
would undoubtedly be great.
Deaths in Elkhorn Region Number rs.
Roanoke, Va. June 25.-The follow
ing short statement by one of the gen
eral officers OF the Norfolk and West
ern railroad, summarizing the flood
situation IN the light of the latest dis
patches, was given to the Associated
Press. Restoration of the telegraph
line develops that the damage by the
Hood through the coal fields was exag-
gerated. The loss of life will not ex-
coed %, and the damage to property
including repairs to the railroad and
coal operations, will not exceed $780,
600. 1t is the expectation that the rail
way Will get a line through tomorrow"
Story of an Eyewitness.
d. II. Stewart, a furniture dealer in
this city, was in the midst of all the
storm and travelled on foot nearly the
whole of the route devastated. When
the train on which Mr.. Stewart was
travelling from the north reached Wv
ian, w. Va, about 9 O'Clock Sunday
morning, water already covered a large
portion of the yard, and the trainmen
knew thai no further progress could be
made. The train vas placed at the
highest point in the yard. Rain was
coming down in torrents, and while
in the train Mr.. Stewart saw about 80
cars washed out of the yards and car
rled away by the rushing torrents,
large trees uprooted nearby, while
houses, bridges, furniture went whir1-
ing by in the water. AS the food in
creased the water cut a channel on the
other side of the train, leaving it be-
tween two streams. Then it was de.
cided to take out those passengers
who wished to leave the train and a
rope was attached to the platform of
one of the cars and to a tree on the
bank. Among the passengers was a
lady, who, with the assistance of sew
eral men, was gotten safely to the
bank. A number of men had narrow
escapes from drowning in making the
trip.
There was a let-up in the rain and
the flood subsidized about noon and at
l o'clock Mr.. Stewart and another pas
senger left the train and started to
the next station, Keystone, five miles
distant. Much Of the track and several