The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-06-26
FLOOD WORKS DESTRUCTION.
Hundreds of Lives Lost and Millions of
PropertY DESTROYED.

BLUEFIELD, w. VA, June "a
This entire section has just been visit
ed BY flood. the extent OF which in all
probability will eq ual or exceed that
of Johnstown in 1889, so far as the loss
of property is concerned. Early yes
terday morning, shortly after mid
night, a heavy downpour of ~ain began
accompanied By severe electric
storm and steadily increased in VIC
lence until 10 o'clock in the morning,
then ceasiug for several hours, and
beginning again with renewed VIC
lence.
This continued throughout the
entire day and night and at 10 O'Clock
this morning, while the storm had
abated, the lowering clouds indicated
another terrific downpour at any mo-
ment. Many miles of the Norfolk and
Western railroad track, bridges and
telegraph lines are entirely destroyed
and communication is entirely cut off
west of Elkhorn. 1t is impossible to
learn the full extent of the loss of life
and property, but officials of the coal
mines located in the stricken district
have sent out messengers to Elkhorn,
the terminus of both telegraph and
railroad communications, and have re-
ceived a report that a conservative es-
innate 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 is located
in a basin with high mountain ranges
on either side. Elkhorn creek flows
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, distance of ten
miles, miners cabins, coal company
commissaries and coke plants line this
basin Elkhoru creek being fed by
numerous small streams coming from
the mountain sides rises very rapidly,
and this water spout came so suddenly
that the entire basin between the two
mountain ranges flooded and before
the terror-stricken people realized
what was upon them they were car
ried down by the food which swept
everything in its path.
The little town of keystone, with a
population of about two thousand,
seems the greatest sufferer, practical
ly the entire town being washed away.
This town is the principal town in the
POcahontas coal fields and is located
in its center
1t was to a great extent headquarters
from which the mining population
derived supplies and vas also the only
place in the field where whisky could
be purchased. At this place there
were some ;welve to fifteen saloons,
all of which washed away. The report
comes that the mining population are
now occupying the banks of the
streams below. catching the merchan-
disc and barrels of whiskey and beer
as they folt down.
A great number of the coal and
coke plants throughout the Pocahon-
tas field are reported practically deS.
strOyed and in some instances entirely
washed away.
In the ElkhOrn valley it is estimated
that the loss to the railroad will eX-
coed two million dollars, including
coal interests. Out of twelve miles of
main line double track only one mile
remains and Ill the bridges are gone.
Some of these were of the heaviest ma
sonry and iron, but they could not
resist the force of the food
Later reports estimate the number
of people drowned at 400.
Are you dull and stupid? Do you
miss the snap, vim and energy that