The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-26
FIFTY BODIES Found.
List Of Missing In West Virginia Flood
Is Now 249.
coRPSEs BURIED In DEBRIS.
Horrors of scenes In stricken He
Hion Increased by GhoaIs, Two
of Whom Have Been shot
Dead by a Doctor.

Bluetields, w. Va, June 25.-Fifty
bodies of flood victims in the Pocahon-
tas Flat Top coal region have been re-
covered The list of missing and re-
ported drowned is 2iD. The exaet.loss
OF life viii probably never be known.
Estimates Of the property loss are
growing larger. Leading officials OF
the Norfolk and Western fix the dam
age to railroad property between
Sooper and Vivian, w. Va, Mt $1,000
900 This covers territory % miles
in length, and the same officials con
slider that the damage to the property
of the coal operators of the field will
| far exceed this amount. The total loss
is now approximately estimated al
| $2.5O0,000.
General Manager Il. u. johnson Is on
| the scene. and is being assisted by
| General Superintendent q. @. Cassell.
| Mr. Cassell hopes to have the line open
| for passenger traffic in a few days. 1t
will be 10 days before the road will be
I, In condition for heavy freight. A new
roadbed will have to be made Tor many
| miles of track, but mt least 200 men
| are now Mt work repairing the damage.
| A like number of hands are at work at
| the various collieries.
/ w. II. McQuail of the Turkey Gap
| Coal and Coke company states That
men. women and children are employed
| in clearing M the debris and ruins ana
| getting matters in shape for 4 resnnhp-
tion of work. The passenger service
extends to Ennis, but the real damage
begins at this place, where a half mile
Of track was destroyed and the depot.
postotfice and telegraph office were
swept entirely away. Telegraphic com
munication extends only to Ennis, and
the only way to get into the district
where the greatest havoc prevails Is by
footpaths.
! story of n survivor.
i An eyewitness of the flood Whlcl
devastated keystone has arrived here
{, He was n guest of the National hotel
one of the few buildings which escap
ed destruction.
In speaking Of his experience he salt
the town was built along one narrow
, street. which followed the stream fully
Il mile. Because of limited space tht
houses on one side stood on piles 81
walls over the Elkhorn and on the 9th
er against the mountains.
At daybreal, Saturday the people re
J allied their danger. The narrow val
! ley gradually became filled with rag
ing torrent, sweeping away small build
ings and causing n scramble TO TIL
mountain side. More than a hundre'
persons remained to look after womel
and children.
When the railway bridge was finall
swept away. The flood poured down til
narrow street, carrying many person
, with it. Eight lives are known to hay
been lost.
i Rescned by Life Line.
i From the hotel life line was throw
to Il building opposite and then to til
i rescuers on the hillside. All those
the hotel and those fortunate enoug
/ TO reach it We're thus enabled to reac
!, Il place of safety, ut the imminent riS
il of their lives, however.
i At Shawnee several persons are sa
: to have been drowned. The great
:, part of the town was destroyed.
:. \ colored miner named Harper fioa
ed down astride his cabin and after
% was demolished miraculously escaped
!. It is reported that DR.. Hatfield,
y prominent physician and kinsman
Il The famous feudists of his section III
i Kentucky, was compelled to shoot Y
negro plunaerers who We're robbing q
N fenselrSs flood sufferers.
!, Few bodies have been recovered. i
If corpseS are hidden in mammoth pill
u of debris. Some of these piles are
feet high and cover in some instanc
~ ms much rs half an acre of ground, n
- it will be the work of days to scar
IN them.
~ II has been suggested that the b.
E plan would he to burn the debris, !
- the friends of the dead protest loud
So bitter is the feeling regarding Il
10 matter that.if it is attempted blOodsll
NJ will be the result.