The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-24
keystone, Elkhorn and Other Small Towns
Reported to Have Been Washed Away.
Coal and Coke Plants Destroyed Railway Tracks Torn
Up and Cars Carried Down Stream-Prop-
erty Loss Probably Millions

! below, catching the merchandise and oar-
rels of whisky and beer as they float down.
A great number of the coal and coke
plants throughout the Pocahontas region
are reported practically destroyed. and are
in some instances entirely washed away.
Owing to the very high water. which has
flooded the region and prevented communi-
cation, anything like correct estimate of
the loss of property is impossible. but
from the best information obtainable so
far to-day the loss TO property will
easily reach 81 900, 600. Landgraf the beau
tiful home of General Manager Ord is re-
ported gone, but his family is said to be
safe
Passenger train No. 4, OF the Norfolk &
Western Railway, reached Vivian about
$50 a. m, met the flood and was unable
TO proceed farther. The waters reached
such depth that the coaches had TO be
abandoned, the passengers being rescued
by means of ropes strung from the win
dows of coaches 10 the tops of remaining
coke ovens some distance away. Between
Elkhorn and Vivian yard. distance or
ten miles, one hundred cars said to
be washed from the tracks. and many of
them were carried down the streams.
A rough estimate places the number of
bridges washed away between Bluefield
and Vivian yard. a distance of twenty
eight miles, at from fifteen to twenty, and
from present indications it will be impossi-
bic to get trains through to Vivian and
points west of there under a week or ten
days. This will render it impossible to get
relief into the stricken district, and with
those who escaped with their lives. homeless
and without food. indescribable suffering
is inevitable.
On the Clinch valley branch of the Nor
folk & Western Railway between this city
and Norton, Va, communication is entire
ly severed west of Tazewell. Va. Reports
come from that point of great loss of life
and property throughout that entire sec
tion. In Shakerg. a negro settlement on
the outskirts of Tazewell the water stands
TO the depth OF six or eight feet in the
streets and houses. all of the occupants
having been removed TO points of safety
by means OF a boat Three miles west OF
Tazewell the Higginbotham farm the
home of Paris vandyke, a farm hand. was
swept away. carrying with it Mrs. Van
dyke and four children, two of the Van
Charles. fve-being drowned. Mrs. Van
dyke with the two remaining children
Edgar and Laura. aged nine, were found
in a dying condition one mile from where
the home stood by Mr.. Vandyke. who was
absent from home at the time of the cloud
burst. While the rescuing party was
searching for the vandyke family they
found the body OF a white woman we'll
clad floating down Plum creek No one
thus far has been able TO identify her. and
1t is supposed the body had washed down
from some distance.
A report comes from witten's MIL a
small station between Blueield and Taze-
well. that three children, Christian names
unknown. belonging TO Raleigh Brush were
drowned early yesterday morning There
Is no telegraph station at witten's Mil
and it is impossible TO ascertain particu-
lars.
The railroad and telegraph companies are
working between 1000 and 1900 men day
and night. ofhcials are on the ground
pushing the work OF constructing telegraph
lines and are building the road. and hope
TO be able to communicate with both the
storm-swept districts by noon Monday
Nothing whatever has been heard from the
section OF country between Vivian and
Williamson other than that the Tug river
is reported as being entirely over its banks
and higher than ever known by the old
est inhabitants.
The town of welch, county seat of Nc
Doweii county. necessarily must have