The Iola register., 1901-06-28
DEATH IN
A FLOOD
Hundreds of Lives Lost in
West Virginia
Visited by a Flood Which
Rivals the JOhnstOwn
Disaster
CAUSED BY A WATERSPOUT
All Telegraph COmmunica-
ton is cut off
Many Other States are Visit
ed by Severe Storms of
Wind and Rain
CAUSED BY A WATERSPOUT
All Telegraph COmmunica-
ton is cut off

Blueheld, w. Va, June %. This
entire section has just been visited by
a flood, the extent of which, in all
probability, will rival that of Johns
town, in 1899, so far as the loss of
property is concerned. Early yester-
day morning, shortly after midnight,
heavy down pour of rain began, ac-
companied by severe electric storm,
which violently increased in volume,
and continued for several hours.
Many miles'of the Norfolk & West
ern railway track, bridges and tele-
graph lines are entirely destroyed and
communication is entirely cut off west
of Elkhorn, so that it is impossible to
learn the full extent of the loss of life
and property, but officials Of the coal
operations located in the stricken dis
trict have sent out messengers to Elk
horn, the terminus of both telegraphic
and railroad communication, and have
received report that conservative
estimate as to the loss of life is 200.
Some of the drowned are among the
most prominent citizens of the coal
field.
The Pocahontas coal field is located
in 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 in
width. From Ennis, w. Va, to Wv
ian 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 small streams coming from
the mountain side, rises very rapidly,
and this water spout came so suddenly
that the entire basin between the two
mountain ranges was flooded, and be-
fore the ror-stricken people realized
what was upon them they were carried
down by the flood, which swept every
thing in its path.
The little town of Keystone, with a
population of about ., 200, seems to be
the greatest sufferer, practically the
entire town being washed away. This
town is the principal one lin the Poca-
hontas coal fields and is located near
its center.
MAY BE 600 DEAD.
Thirteen mining towns are partly or
completely devastated thirty miles OF
track is gone; two hundred miles is
temporarily useless; a score OF coal
plants are put out of operations one
hundred cars are swept away; about
thirty bridges are missing; steam
boat is wrecked and nine locomotives
are gone. The area Hooded is sixty
miles The towns struck, are Vivian,
IangrafT, keystone, Northfork, Ennis,
Mayberry, Coaldale, Cooper, Blue
stone Falls mills, Graham, Powhatar
and Elkhorn.
NEGROES ARE PLUNDERING.
by scrpps-M -McRae ,re-s Assocmunu.
Roanoke, Va, June 24.--The whites
are organizing bands of vigilants tC
protect property and to make the ne
groes work. The negroes are stealing
from the debris. All efforts to reacl
the flood district on horseback hav,
failed on account of the swollel
streams and missing bridges. Unit
communication is established the wild
est conjecture on loss of life will con
tinue. Eight hundred men are EN-
ployed in repairing the Norfoll
Western track. The survivors sa.
the food came with such suddennes
that they barely had time TO climb tn
hillsides.
TO SEND TROOPS AND SUPPLIES.
BY scripps-M McRae Presr Association,
Charleston, w. Va, June 24.-Th
National guard company stationed a
Branwell has been ordered to tn
flooded district to protect property
Other troops will probably be ser
later. Relief supplies are being co
lected II the Norfolk Western can
deliver them, a wagon train will
started over the mountains.
By scripps-M -McRAs Press Association.
BlueAeld, w. Va, June 24.--R,
turns from the Elkhorn Valley foo
are necessarily incomplete: on accouI
of the entire destruction OF all lines (
communication but they show fro
two hundred to six hundred are dea'
OHIO WIRES SYMPATHY.
Ry scripps- -MSRas Press Association.
Columbus, Ohio, June 24.-Gove
Nash, wired Governor White of We
Virginia, his sympathy, and ask
what Ohio could do for the suffe