New-York tribune., 1901-06-24
KEYSTONE SWEPT AWAY.
FLOOD PoURS DOWN ELKHORN CREEK
VALLEY.

VALLEY
Bluefeld. W. Va June o3-This entire region
mas Just been visited by flood. the extent of
which in all probability will approach that of
Johnstown in 1880. at least so far as the loss
of property is concerned. Early yesterday morn
Ing, shortly after midnight. a heavy downpour
OF rain began accompanied by severe electric
storm, and steadily increased in violence until
10 O'Clock. then ceasing for several hours
and beginning again with renewed violence
This continued throughout the entire day and
night. and at 10 o'clock this morning while the
storm has abated. the lowe ng clouds would in
dicate another terrific downpour at any mo-
ment.
Many miles of the Norfolk and Western Rail-
road tracks and bridges are entirely destroyed
and communication is entirely cut off west of
Elkhorn. so that II Is impossible to learn the
full extent of the loss of life and property but
officials of the coal mines in the stricken district
have sent out messengers to Elkhorn the
terminus Of both telegraphic and railroad COM
munications. and have received a report that a
conservative estimate as to the loss of life will
easily reach two hundred Some of the drowned
are among the most prominent citizens of the
coal fields.
REGION WHERE FLOOD OCCURRED.
The little town Of Keystone. with a population
OF about two thousand, seems the greatest suf-
ferer, practically the entire town being washed
away. This town is the principal one in the Po-
cahontas coal field and is located near It's centre
1t was TO a great extent headquarters from which
the mining population purchased supplies and
was also the only place in the field where whis-
key could be purchased. At this place there
were some twelve fifteen saloons all Of which
were washed away. The report comes that the
mining population occupying the banks
OF the streams below. catching the merchandise
and barrels of whiskey and beer as they float
down. great number Of the coal and coke
plants throughout the Pocahontas field are re-
ported practically destroyed and in some in
stances entirely washed away
The Pocahontas coal field is located in a basin
with high mountain ranges on either side Elk
horn Creek flowing through the centre of the
basin' which ranges from one fourth to one mile
In width. From Ennis. w. Va, TO Vivian Yard
w. Va. distance Of ten miles miners cabins
coal company commissaries and coke plants line
this basin. Elkhorn Creek being fed bv nuner
Gus small streams coming from the mountain
sides rises rapidly and the waterspout came
so suddenly that the entire basin between the
TWO mountain ranges was flooded. and before the
terrorstricken people realized what was upon
them they were carried down by the flood.
which swept everything in its path
PROPERTY LOSS OF s2OooooO
On account of the very high water which ,os
Hooded the region and prevented communica- =
ton, anything like correct estimate of the Ioss
OF property is impossible. but from the hes, in
FORMATION obtainable at D. m. Sunday the
loss to property will easily reach 50 600 Onc A.
Landgraf the beautiful home of General Man.
ager Ord is reported gone. but his family is
said be safe.
Passenger train No. OF the Norfolk and
Western Railway reached Vivian about $50 q
m. met the flood and was unable IN nroceed ,,,r
ther. The waters reached such a depth that the
coaches had to De abandoned the passeneers
being rescued by means of ropes strung from
the windows Of coaches to the tops of remaining
coke ovens some distance away. Between Elk
horn and Vivian yard. distance of ten miles
hundred are said to be washed from
the tracks. and many of them were carried down
the streams.
A rough estimate places the number OF bridges
washed away between Bluehed and Vivian
yard. distance OF twenty-eight miles, at from
fifteen to twenty, and from present indica tions
it VIII be impossible TO get trains through to
Vivian and points west of there under a week or
ten days. This will render II impossible TO get
relief into the stricken district. and with those
who escaped with their lives homeless and with
out food. indescribable suffering is inevitable.
DAMAGE IN CLINCH VALLEY
On the CIinch Valley branch of the Norfolk
and Western Railway, between this city and
Norton Va communication is entirely severed
west OF Tazewell. Va Reports come from that
point OF great loss Of life and property through
out that entire section. In Shakerag, a negro
settlement on the outskirts Of Tazewell, the
water stands to the depth OF six or eight feet In
the street and houses all of the occupants hav-
ing been removed to points Of safety by means
Of boat.
Three miles west OF Tazewell. on the Higgin-
botham farm the home OF Paris Van Dyke, a
farmland was swept away, carrying with ii
Mrs Van Dyke and four children, two of the
Van Dyke children-John, seventeen. and
Charles fve-being drowned. Mrs Van Dyke
with the two remaining children. Edgar and
Laura were found at 8 o'clock this morning in
a dying condition one mile from where the home
stood by Mr.. Van Dyke. who was absent from
home at the time OF the cloudburst While the
rescuing party was searching for the Van Dyke
family they found the body Of white woman
we'll clad floating down Plum Creek No one
,bps far has been able TO identify her and it is