The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-06-27
Horror at Johnstown in 1889
Equalled so Far as Loss Of
Property is Concerned.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE DROWNED
Pocahontas Coal Fields in West Vir.
ginia Ruined by High Water
in Elkhorn Creek.
The Town of Keystone, Population
of About 1000, Almost Washed
Away-Much Damage at
other Points.

Bluefield, w. Va, June 24.-This en-
tire section has just been visited by
a flood, the extent of which in all
proba bility will equal or exceed that
of Johnstown in 1889 so far as the loss
of property is concerned. Early Sat
urday morning, shortly after mid
night, a heavy downpour of rain be-
gan. accompanied by severe electric
storm, which violently increased in
volume, and continuing for several
hours. This continued throughout
the entire day and night, and at 10
a. m., while the storm has abated,
the lowering clouds would indicate
another terrific downpour at any
moment. Many miles of the Norfolk
and Western track, bridges and tel
egraph lines are entirely destroyed,
and communication is entirely cut
Oft west of Elkhorn, so that it is i'm
possible to learn the full extent of
the loss of life and property, but
officials of the coal corporations To-
Gated in the stricken district have
sent out messengers to Elkhorn, the
terminus of both telegraphic and
railroad communications, and have
received report that conservative
estimate as to the loss of life will
easily reach 200. Some of the drown
ed are among the most prominent
citizens of the coal fields.
The Pocahontas coal field is located
in a basin, with high mountains on
either side, Elkhorn creek flowing
through the center of the basin, which
ranges from on-fourth to one mile
in width. From Ennis, w. Va, to
Vivian Yard, Va, distance of ten
miles, miners cabins, coal company
commissaries and coke plants line
this basin. Elkhor'n 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 be-
tween the two mountain ranges was
flooded, and before the terror-strici-
en- people realized what was upon
them, they were carried down by the
food, which swept everything in it's
path.
The little town of keystone, with
population of about 1000. seems
the greatest sufferer, practically the
entire town being washed away. The
town is the principal one in the Poca-
hontas coal fields, and is located near
it's center. 1t was to great extent
the headquarters from which the
mining population purchased supplies,
and was also the only place in the
field where whisky could be pur-
chased. At this place there were
some IL to Is saloons, all of which
was washed away.
On the Clinch valley branch of the
Norfolk and Western railway, be-
tween this city and Norton, Va, COM
munication is entirely severed west
of TaZewell, Va. Reports come from
that point of great loss of life and
property throughout that entire Sec
ton. In Shakerag, a Negro settle
ment on the outskirts of TaZewell,
the water stands to the depth of six
or eight feet in the street and houses,
all of the occupants having been re-
moved to points of safety by means
of boat.
A rough estimate places the number
of bridges washed away between Blu
field and Vivian Yard, a distance Of
2s miles, at from Is to 20, and from
present Indications it will be i'm
possible to get trains through to
Vivian and points west of there under
week or ten days. This will rem
der it impossible to get relief into
the stricken district, and with those
who escaped with their lives, home
less and without food, indescribable
suffering is inevitable.