The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-06-29
TOLD BY An EYEWITNESS.
The Recent Flood at Keystone, W.
Va, Vividly Described by
One Who Was There.
FOR SIX HOURS RAIN FELL IN TORRENTS
The Narrow Valley Became Rng-
ing, Seething Torrent. sweeping
Everything Before It-Many Peo-
pie Drowned While Attempting
to Reach the Mountain.

keystone, w. Va. June 26.-The fol-
lowing story is told by an eye-wit-
ness Of the great flood
Keystone is the metropolis of the
Elkhorn mining country. 1t has but
narrow streets, and because of limited
space many houses We're built on piles
or walls over the Elkhorn or 2lose
up against the mountains. The town
follows the mcGnderings Of the
stream for a mile.
A Six Hours Torrential Rniu.
"On Friday night at II o'clock the
storm struck the mountain, and for
six hours rain ieil in torrents. by
9 a. m, Saturday, the narrow valley
was raging, seething, angry torrent.
Houses, barns, bridges. fills, live stock
and human beings were swept away
by the mighty current and dashed on
the rocks or trees below.
Eyewitness of the Disaster.
Il was an eyewitness Of the dis
aster at Keystone, stopping at a hC-
/ tel. At the first warning many of the
inhabitants took refuge on the noun
tainside overlooking the town and
river More than hundred people,
/ however. remained in the town to
look after the women and children
who did not escape early. The bridge
leading to the depot was soon swept
away then The angry waters rushed
through the only street in the town.
and we found hundreds cut of from
the mountain retreat, and the hotel
10, 81. Loo
by means of a line.
Hundreds Were saved.
Hundreds of lives were saved. But,
in attempting to cross the muddy,
surging waters which swept like an
avalanche down this street, many lost
their hold, and in plain sight Of
friends were carried on into the river
and drowned. Houses plunged ard
danced in the mighty stream, with
screaming women and children on thy
roofs. Horses, ca,tle and other ami
mails were drowned about US.
Railroad FIJI Gave Way.
The Norfolk ~ Western railroad
fill at this place gave way, and more
than mile of track now lies in the
/ DeQ OF the river. IN TACT, II Is NdTu
to tell how many miles of track lnd
how many bridges have been swept
away. The destruction is tremendous
to the railroad alone, and it may be
many days and perhaps weeks before
trains can run.
Loss of Life Uncertain.
The loss of life can not be esti-
mated here. 1t is known eight lives
were lost here. Six bodies have been
recovered at Ecknau. two miles be-
low here. Several were drowned at
Shawnee, and good part of the town
swept away.
Women Cared for First.
"All the women were conveyed from
the hotel to the mountainside by
means of the lifeline. Then the men
left as the place was unsafe. When
it came my turn | seized the line and
plunged into the muddy current. In
an instant my feet were swept from
under me. and It was the fight of my
life to reach the house on the south
side of the street. The distance was
not great, and the water not more
than three feet deep, but the current
was almost il "esistible. and even
cows and horses were swept past me-
as l clung TO the rope, which was the
only hope. Friendly hands pulled me
.Nr,+ : ~, oil ha al