The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-24
HAPLESS MINERS CAUGHT
IN ONE OF NATURES TRAPS.


increased h Volume and continued for sew.
eral hours. This continued throughout the
/ entire day and night and at 10 a. m. while
| the storm has ahated lowering clouds would
| indicate a terrible downpour at any mo-
| ment.
Many miles Of Norfolk and Western track,
| bridges and telegraph lines are entirely de-
| stroyed and communication is entirely cut
| on 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 opera
| tions located in the stricken district have
sent out messengers to Elkhorn. the ter
minus Of both telesraphic and railroad CON-
| munications, and have received a report
| that conservative estimates OF the loss Of
| life will easily reach 2C0 Some Of the
drowned are among the most prominent
citizens Of the coal fields.
The Pocahontas coal field Is located in
| a basin. with high mountain ranges on
| either side. Elkhorn Creek flowing through
| the center Of the basin. which ranges from
one-fourth to one mile wide.
From Ennis. W. Va, to Vivian Yard, w.
Va. a distance of ten miles. miners cabins
! coal company commissaries and coke plants
line this basin.
Elkhorn Creek being fed by numerous
side. rises very rapidly. and this waterspout
came 50 suddenly that the entire basin be-
tween the two mountain ranges was flood
ed, and before the terror-stricken people
| realized what was upon them they were
carried down by the flood. which swept
everything in its path
TOWN OF KEYSTONE
SORELY AFFLICTED.
The little town of Keystone with a popu-
| lation of about 2.00O. seems the greatest suf-
| ferer. practically the entire town being
washed away.
This town was the principal one in the
Pocahontas coal fields and Is located near
its center 1t was to a great extent head
quarters from which the mining population
purchased supplies and was also the only
place in the field where whisky could be
purchased. At this place there were some
twelve to fifteen saloons. all Of which wero
washed away.
The report comes that the mining popu-
lation is now occupying the banks OF
streams below. catching the merchandise
and barrels Of whisky and beer 40 they now
down.
A great number Of the coal and coke
plants throughout the Pocahontas Railroad
were practically destroyed and are in some
instances totally washed away.
Owing to the very high water which food
ed the region and prevented commu1ica-
tion. anything like a correct estimate OF the
loss of property is impossible. but from the
best information obtainable. the loss OF
property will easily reach $2.0oo.0oo
The railrods and telegraph companies are
working between LOO and 1.5oo men day
olal~ hR
pushing the work Of constructing telegraph
lines and are building the road and hope to
be able to communicate with both the
stormswept districts by noon Monday.
Nothing will ever be heard from the sec-
tion of country between Vivian and Will
hanson other thar that the Tug River IL re-
Lorted as being entirely over its banks and
higher than ever known by the Oldest in
kabitants. The town Of Welch. the county
seat of Mcdowell County. necessarily must
have suffered seriously and q number OF the
large lumber plants situated along the
banks of the Tug River no doubt are entire
ly washed away.
ONE SMALL LIST OF
IDENTIFIED DEAD IS GIVEN.
Details of the great Pocahontas field hood
are hard to obtain. owing to the inacceEi-
biiity OF the mining oistr'c.' ""o
ana havoc OF the angry w0'eiS e.""N
appalling loss of life and property.
At Burke, a suburb oi Aess.o"e' ~
Der are MISSING anu e's"' "'e
dead.
1t Is now certain tnat the to..i "S' VI ,e
dead from one END OF tne HaA""r" '"e'
to the other VIII reach zoo.
full list OF the names oi tne ''c,i"s can
not be ascertaineo AZ this t'"e.
are missing. haSihs TAKEN ieuee
mountains 10 escape .ne iuiy VI u'e 49,.
Inc hs' OF '"e oeao 80 i"'
idenined, tnat IL mas oeeh p'o's''e " Wv
tain at this time. are
Jonn Lewis ana "ar'"a "'"' 's"' "'e'
Sam Pomcexter-
Bette brown.
John baharu.
Annie smith
Laura MCCOY.
Nellie smith.
All OF keystone.
Ivan SonSkey' ""''s' anu negro fanny
named Hairston, consisting OF mother ana
'our cnnoren' NJ Aiso"a.
Al ieast =" mine mules were drowned.
ou' "t'e oamase was zone 10 tne mihe
properly as 'ne orit mouth was hign up
'lS laou"'a'n sue 0e'e'a' mines however,
arc "oooeu' ~. ~ Is n"poesio'e 70 ascertain
ne extent Oh ."e oamase'