Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-06-24
TERRIBLE LOSS Of LIFE
IN WEST VIRGINIA FLOOD.

uOOQ, the extent OF WHICH, III dill
probability, will equal or exceed that OF
Johnstown, in 1889. so far as the loss
OF property is concerned. Early yester-
day morning, shortly after midnight.
heavy downpour of rain began, accom-
panied by a severe electric storm, and
steadily increased in violence until 10
o'clock a. M, the ceasing for several
hours and beginning again with renew
ed violence. This continued throughout
the entire day and night, and at 10
o'clock this morning, while the storm
has abated, the lowering clouds would
indicate another terrific downpour at
any moment. Many miles of the Nor
and telegraph lines were entirely de-
stroyed and communication is entirely
cut or west of Elkhorn so that it is
impossible to learn the full extent Of the
loss Of life and property, but officials
of the coal operations, located in the
stricken district, have sent out messen-
gers to Elkhorn, the terminus of both
Geographic and railroad communica-
lions, and have received report that
a conservative estimate to the loss of
life will easily reach two hundred.
Some of the drowned are among the
most prominent. citizens of the coal
fields.
The Pocahontas coal field is located in
basin with high mountain ranges on
either side, Elkhorn creek flowing
through the center of the basin, with
ranges from one-fourth to one mile in
width. From Ennis, ". Va. to Vivian
Yard, w. Va, distance of ten miles
miners cabins, coal company commits
saries and coke plants line this basin.
Elkhorn creek being fed by numerous
small streams coming from the noun
tain sides, rises very rapidly and this
water spout came so suddenly that the
entire basin between the two mountain
ranges was flooded, and before the ter
ror-stricken people realized what was
upon them, they were carried down by
the food, which swept everything in its
path. The little town of keystone, with
a population of about two thousand,
seems the greatest sufferer, practically
the
Entire Towns Being Washed Away.
This town is the principal one in the
Pocahontas coal fields, and is located
near its center 1t was to a great ex-
tent headquarters from which the mir
ing population purchased supplies ard
was also the only place in the field
where whiskey could be purchased At
this place there were some II to Is sa-
looms, all Of which were washed away.
The report comes that the mining pop
ulation are now occupying the banks
OF the streams below, catching the mer-
chandise and barrels of whiskev and
beer as they float down. A great num-
Der of the coal and coke plants through
out the Pocahontas field are reported
practically destroyed and in some in
stances entirely washed away.
On account of the very high wster
which has flooded the region and pre-
vented communication, anythiny like
c"rect estimate of the loss CT property
is impossible. but from the best infor-
nation obtainSble at p. m. sunday.
the loss to property will easily reach
Two Million Dollars.
At Landgraf, the beautiful nome OF
General Manager Ord, the residence is
reported gone. but his family is said to
be safe.
Passenger trim No. 4 OF the Norfolk &
Western railway reached Vivian about
$3.50 a. M, met the flood and was I'M
able to proceed further. The waters
reached such depth tina. the coaches
had to be abandoned. the passengers
being rescued by means OF ropes strung
from the windows o. the coaches TO tna
tops OF remaining coke ovens some dis
lance away. Between Elkhorn and vi
Wan yard, distance of ten miles. one
hundred cars are said to be washed
from the tracks and many of them were
carried down the streams. :. rough es-
innate places the number of bridges
washed away between Bluefeld and VI
Wan yard distance of twenty-eight
miles, at from fifteen to twenty. and
from present indications it will be i'm
possible to get trains through to Vivian
Under a Week or Ten Days,
ana points west there
This will render it impossible to get
relief inc the stricken district, and with
those who escaped with their lives.
homeless and without food, indescrtb-
able suffering is Inevitable.
On the Clinch Valley branch Of the
Norfolk & Western railroad, between
this city aid Norton. Va. communities
ton = entirely severed west of Ease
vel, ~ Reports came fron that poizIt
n tzeot - y III ~ prupsrs