Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-27
CONFLICTING STORIES
Told in Dispatches from the Flood.
Swept District in West
virginia.
MORE THAN 100 LIVES WE'RE LOST
Say Reports from Two Sources, While
a Third Report Says Fifty,
and No More.

Roanoke, Va, June 27.-Word was
received here last night at Il late hour
confirming the report that there has
been another heavy fall of rain in the
West Virginia coal fields. The intelli-
gcnce received here says another storm
has occurred. and that Pocahontas is
damaged more than last Saturday.
Williamson. w Va, June 2T.-There
is no longer any doubt but that the list
Of dead resulting from the recent Hood
win exceed 100. Parties reached here
last evening from the upper end of the
flooded district bringing the first au-
tlentic information received from the
scene of disaster. The party just. ar
rived consistedsof' Judge L. 5. DoOlit-
tie. of Huntington :Judge Flomney, of
Charlt StQn, and Elias Hatfield. deputy
Sheri ffOf- Mingo county. These gen
tlemen left Vivian Sunday morning,
and their Journey 10, tbs city has been
n periloHs one. Judge Doolittle said TO
the Associated Pres correspondent last
night that words could not describe the
scene of devastation between Vivian
ana Dayy. 1t was tidal wave from
torrent of rain, and swept everything
before ii.
[ -.' Nothing Could Withstand l..
r In the track of its course everything
Is gone. including coke ovens and pill
lars of stone. At Vivian the water
came roaring down the mountain sides
in monster waves, and people who at
tempted to fee to the hills for safety
We're washed back and carried away
by the raging current of the Elkhorn.
Th,t section visited by the flood was
thiclly settled, but as the population
consists chiefly of miners who were at
work mt the time. the large ma aiority of
the dead are women and children, and
thrilling stories of rcScues are told.
At one point a mother climbed high
pillar OF a railway treStle, holding TO
her breast her only child.
& They Report sixty-Sevsn Dead.
Taking the number of lives lost at
each place mentioned 10y these gentle
men makes total of SiXty-seven, be
sides those points where the loss of life |
is described as great but no num-
Der are given. The loss OF property by |
the food on the Elkhorn and the Tug |
rivers is now roughly estimated at |
from five TO eight million dollars.
Dead One Hundred-H undreds Starving.
lager, w. Va, June 27.--Early yes
terday morning an Associated Press |
reached this point. which |
is I'M the central part Of the northern |
section of the scene of Saturdays |
Hood. Here is where Dry Fork enters |
Into the Tug river, and at this point |
the greatest destruction prevailed and |
the loss of life here was even greater |
than at first reported. 1t is difficult to /
place an, estimate pn the number of /
dead. 1t is safe to say. however. that /
100 will not qbea far amiss. The in
habitants are desOlate. in fact. hun
dreds are starving. The stories OF eye /
of the wfnl flood are indeed
appalling.
This Tells Another Story
Roanoke. Va. June 27.-The news
from the flOod-swept district in West
shows no reason for increased
estimates of either fatalities or prop
ei'ty losses. Fifty Is the outside limit
of lives lost. -Four more bodies have
been identified at North Fork. They
are Al Beverly and wife and Dug
Gaines and wife. all. colored. The re-
ports from all over the section are to
The effect that while many poor people
have lost all yet there is no danger of
suffering for want of food. The prop
ert losses have not been exaggerated.
but il is not thought that outside aid
will be needed, as the coal companies
are taking care of those of their en-
Dloyes who were despolled by the flood.
Fiant. Entirely Closed Now.
Joliet. His. June 27.-The strike of
at the Bates Machine COM
pany's works has resulted i'm closing
the entire plant. First the molders
the maehinists in quitting
work, alleging excessive heat as the
cause. Then other employees laid down
their tools. and finally the manage
ment was. compelled 10 close the mill.
Two hundred and nifty are out. Eff
forts at settlement have proved fruit