The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-24
CLOUDBURST CAUSES FLOOD

pire. Two iron bridges were washed
away at Vivian and another at North
Fork Junction, and three persons are
reported to have been drowned near
the latter place All the bridges and
trestleWork nave been washed away
on the Simmons river branch of the
Norfolk & Western system All tele-
graph lines are down and tracks are
badly washed out on this division
The people who came from Vivian did
not come through the town of Key
stone, but around it. They state, how
ever, that the damage done there Is
nothing like as great as at first re-
ported. They think that not more than
a dozen houses were washed away.
They cannot say how many, if any,
lives were lost at Keystone. OF the
ten miles of railroad between the
towns of Vivian and Ennis it is stated
there is not ore hundred yards of track
in one place, and it is thought this di-
vision viii not oe repaired for a fort
night. Fifty people walked over this
washed out territory Sunday to get
from Vivian to Ennis.
The damage done all over the coal
fields is immense, but everyone seems
to have been too greatly excited and
too anxious to get away to take time
to inquire into the affairs of their
neighbors. It is certain, however, that
much valuable machinery has been
washed away Many of the wrecked
cars along the Elkhorn valley have
been washed down the river, and prob
ably will be q total loss. East of
Ennis the train had little trouble get
ting through to Bluefelds. Two bridges
are gone between Vivian and Welch-
At Shawnee. the Shawnee Coal COM
pany lost all their mine mules which
were in the stable when the storm
swept down on them A report from
keystone has it that a mob of negroes
there refuse to work for 81 a day, but
are lOahng around and watching their
chance to steal from the debris An
other report says that the number of
= - A1-sr
ber 10 have been buried Newspaper
men have gone to the coal fields to get
reliable information. and it is expect
ed that something definite VIII De
known within the next "A hours.
THE HEAVENS OPENED.
Shortly after midnight Saturday
night. it seemed as if the heavens had
opened their floodgates over the town
Of Vivian, W. Va. Here passenger ger
train was caught in the flood and the
lives of the frightened passengers were
saved by the use of ropes. which We're
quickly thrown over from the coke
ovens, which skirt the railroad yards at
Vivian. The passengers We're glad to
catch the ropes and willing hands drag
ged them from the submerging train
and over the oven barricades to
point of safety Owing to the fact that
the telegraph lines had been Frustrated
by the storm, the Norfolk & Western
officials detailed messengers by foot to
cover the territory as best they could
they returning in a short time with
reports of the terrible destruction which
had been done in their respective terri
tory. One of these messengers in walk
ing over the devastated district came
back and reported having seen thirty
eight dead bodies. There are supposed
tn be many who will never be accounted
for. The loss Of life viii probably reach
500 or 600. and possibly this number
Will be swelled when fuller details are
Obtainable. Many people in this city
have relatives in the coal regions which
1,a ST
a word can be heard from them. as
there is positively no way of commun1-
eating with them The telegraph orIlces'
railroad offices and officials and tele-
phone offices are besieged by many
eager people seeking information OF
their relatives and friends
The Norfolk & Western railroad gen
eraI officers in this city are reticent,
but they admit that at least 200 lives
have been lost. the town of keystone
destroyed and millions of dollars
worth of property destroyed. 1t is not
known how far back into the noun
tains the storm extended, and it will be
days and perhaps weeks before all the
storm stricken country is heard from.
The flood has not only damaged the
E1khOrn valley, but it is stated that
every one of the thirty-three Flat Top
to some extent. Great damage is also
reported to have resulted in the Cllnch
valley section. which extends south
from Graham, Va. No lives, however,
are reported to have been lost along
this valley.
GREAT PROPERTY LOSS.
A message reached the Associated
Press last night from Coldale, W. Va,
fourteen miles west of Bluefeld, saying
that there had been an immense loss or
property and some lives at that point
The Western Union Telegraph op-
orator at Bluefield wired the Associated
Press correspondent that the loss OF
life at the lowest estimate is 200
The railroad people say it viii be at
least five days before their lines are
open for trains. They have been send
ing work trains to the storm stricken
district from all directions. The loss to
the railroad will reach half million
dollars.
A private message from Bramwell. w.
Va, on Simmons creek, says there has
been great damage done there but no
loss of life had been reported up to the
time the telegram was sent. The little
town of Vivian, at which place the rail-
road yards were swept away and a
passenger train flooded, is the shipping
point of all west bound coal and coke
and there is a succession of prosperous
mining towns extending all the way to
Pocahontas, Wa. Nearly every mile
post along this portion of the road
marks a mining operation At North
fork Junction, seven miles from Wv
ian, there is a branch road extending
five and a half miles up the north fork
of Elkhorn to several prosperous min
ing plants. From Cooper, eleven miles |
further, a branch road extends through |
the Bluestone district of the coal field |
to Goodwill, and another to Bramwell, |
a town Of about 600 inhabitants. This |
is the home of many of the coal opera !
tors and their handsome residences |
which added a charm and attractive |
ness to the town already favored by i
nature with a beautiful situation, no 1
doubt have suffered greatly from the /
storm. Bramwen is the headquarters /
Of the Flat Top Coal Land association /
The town is reputed to be the richest
town per capita in West Virginia. Moth
ing has been heard from Tazewel. Va