Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-06-27
SWEPT BY A FLOOD.
An Awful Calamity in the Section
Around Blut 6slo, ". Va.
W0HUBDRED LIVES PROBABLY LOST
Railroad Tracks, Bridges and telegraph
Lines Entirely Destroyed and It ID I'm
possible Yet to Learn the Foil
Extent Of the Disaster.

| ~ $50 "~HN Afio CA-
tire section has just been visited by
flood, the extent Of which in all
probability will equal or exceed that
of Johnstown in 1889, so far as the
loss Of property is concerned. Early
Saturday morning, shortly after mid
night, heavy downpour Of rain be-
gan, accompanied by severe electric
storm which violently increased in
volume and continued for several
hours. Many miles Of the Norfolk &
Western railroad track, bridges and
telegraph lines are entirely destroyed
and communication is entirely cut off
west Of Elkhorn, so that it is impos-
sible 70 learn the full extent Of the
loss Of life and property, but officials
OF the coal operations located in the
stricken district have sent out mes
sengers to Elkhorn, the terminus of
both telegraphic and railroad commu.
nications, and have received a report
that conservative estimate as to
the loss of life will easily reach 200. |
Some OF the drowned are among the
most prominent citizens of the coal
fields. !
The Pocahontas. coal field Il To-
Gated in basin, with high mountain |
ranges on either side, Elkhom creek |
flowing through the center Of the
basin, which ranges frNm 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 by numerous streams com.
ing from the mountain side. rises very
rapidly and this water spout came
30 suddenly that the entire basin be.
tween the mountain ranges was food.
ed and before the terror-stricken PEG.
pie realized what was upon them they
were carried down by the food, which
swept everything in It's path. The 1t.
tie town Of Keystone with a popula.
ton Of about 1000, seems the great
est sufferer, practically the entire
town being washed away. This town
ID the principal one in the Pocahontas
coal fields and Is located near its CEN
ter. II was to 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 12 to Is sa-
looms, all OF which were washed away.
The report comes that the miring
population are now occupying the
banks Of the stream below catching
the merchandise and barrels of
whisky and beer as they flow down.
A great number of the coal and coke
plants throughout the Pocahontas
are reported practically destroyed
and are in some instances entirely
washed away. Owing to the very
high water which has flooded the re-
gion and prevented communication.
like a correct estimate of {
the loss of property is impossible, {
but from the best information OBJ q
ta!nable yesterday the loss to prop.
erty will be S2,Ooo,ooO.
Passenger train No. 4 Of the Nor. {
'olk e. Western railway. reached 0
Vivian, met the food and was unable 8
70 proceed further. The waters
'eached such depth that the coaches {
rad to be abandoned, the passengers I
,eing rescued by means Of ropes s
'trung from the windows Of coaches '
% the tons of remaining onka nvars
ZONE distance away. Between Elk s
horn and Vivian Yard distance Of q
Ten miles, 100 cars are snid to be
washed from the tracks and many Of !
hem were carried down the streams. q
A rough estimate places the number IL
u bridges washed away between d
and Vivian Yard, a distance
IT 2S miles, at from Is TO 20. and Il
rom present indications It will be
impossible for trains to 90 through v
c Vivian and points west Of there h
lnder week or ten days. This will
ender II impossible to get relief in. +
o the stricken districts, and with 0
hose who escaped with their lives.
homeless and without food. indescrib- =
blc suffering is inevitable.
On the Clinch Valley branch of the =
Iorfol' & Western railway. between :
his city and Norton. communication
$ entirely severed west of Tazewell,
n npnnrtr mama fr,,, tl,,t ,No;,+