Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-06-28
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST
BY WEST VIRGINIA FLOOD

Blueiiclds, W. Va, June .23.-ThIs
entire section has just been visited by
Hood, the extent OF which In ull prob
ability will equal or exceed that OF
Johnstown In 1850 10 far as the loss
OF property In concerned.
Early yesterday morning shortly af-
ter midnight. u heavy iownpour 0f
rain began. accompanied by IA severe
electric storm. which Increased In vol.
ume. continuing FOR several hours.
The storm continued throughout the
entire day and night. and at 10 n. iu..
while the storm has abatcd. the lower
Ing clouds threaten another terrific
downpour nt any moment.
Many miles OF the Norfolk 4 West.
crn railroad track. bridges and te.c.
graph lines are entirely destroyed an,i
communication IL entirely cut on west
OF Elkhorn. so that Il IN impossible ~
learn the full extent Of the loss OF life
and property hut officials OF the conl
operations located In the stricken dis.
trict have sent out messengers TO Elk.
horn. the terminus Of both tcicgraphic
and railroad communications. AMI
have received rrport that cons.r.
rnfivc estimate ms tn the loss Of lifc
viii easily rcach 40. Some OF III"
drowned arr among the most prom.
ncnt citizens Of the coal fields.
tn. focahonins coal Held IL locnic.i
In basin. with high mountain ranges
ON either side. Eikhorn creek flowing
through the center of the basin. which
ranges from onc-fourth to one mile IN
width.
fpm Tennis. West Virginia. To VI.
Sinn Yard. West Virginia. n disian...
Of ten miles. miners cabins. coal com.
pany cpmmissari-s and coke plants
line the ba.in. The Eikhorn creek.
being fed 10y numerous small streams
comm. frum the mountain side. risr.
very rapidly. Thi. wascrspout came
80 suddenly that the cntir. basin la.
tween the two mountain rnnrr~ wins
Hooded AMI before the t-rror..trickci,
i-,opl- realized what wa. upon ih.in
they wcrc carried down by the nooi
which sw-p; everything In hs path.
The little town of Keystone. with
q population Of about :.SS. seems ;h,'
rrrat-~t sufferer. practically the cn,irc
town being washed away. This iow.i
IL th- principal one In the rocuhonlas
cnal fields. nnd is located near It's
crnirr. u was 'o rr-at cSicn, inc
headquarters from which the mini, !:
population purchased supplies. nn'i
WINS also the only place in che feed
| where whisky could is- purchased. a,
this placv 'hcfv wcrv somc twelve 10
fifteen saloons. all Of which wcTc
washed away. The rrt-rt conc. thu,
the mining population arr now occn.
pyinE the hank. of the strain iriov.
catching the merchandise and iarr,,l.
Of whisky nnd t-rcr a. sh-y naa' down.
4 srrat number Of the coal and coke
plants throughout the rc-ahon'as ji..
trict arr reported practically i-
stroycd. aud arr In some instances 80.
tirriy washed away. Owing to the
very hirh water which ha. flooded she
region aud prevented communication.
anything like corrcct estimate II
the loss of property IL impossible. hut
from the i..., Information ob,ainnb.c
at (: =. IN. Sunday the loss To che ptop.
crty will EASILY rcach t:.s1Sp.
AZ lahdsraf the i-,auiiful home of
General Manager Or,i is rripri-i 1oir.
but hi. family is said Z. b- safe.
Passenger train No. I oS the Norfolk
4 Western railway rCattc'i Vivian