The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-26
To Mines and Mining Plants 100000
and tn individuals i'm the Elk
horn Valley $I,0oe,OOo.
FIFTY PERSONS DRO
MOSTLY COLORED COAL DIGGER!
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Many People, However, Are Still Miss.
ing and the Casualty List
May Be Increased.

BLUEFIELD, w. Va, June S.-The West
Virginia flood situation has not many new
developments, but il is automatically stated
that the loss of life has been greatly over
estimated. although the loss of property
can hardly be estimated. The most con-
sentative estimate obtainable places the
loss of life at about fifty, most OF these
being colored miners and their families.
A great many more are missing, and are
supposed to have been swept away. There
great piles of debris, and IL will take
many days to find all the bodies. The Nor
folk & Western Railway Company will
lose, at a conservative estimate, half
million dollars, not taking into considera-
ton the delay OF traffic. etc. Its double
track is practically washed away for
distance of six miles, and at least $500 men
are at work day and night repairing the
roadbed and removing drift The Cumber
land Valley electric light arrived to-
day, and will be used TO prosecute the work
at night 1t will be four days before any
traffic can be resumed The loss 10 the
coal operators Will reach about 500. 900. out
side of the delay at the mines in loading,
etc. The property loss by private persons
is very heavy and cannot be estimated at
this time. 1t is thought 1t will reach the
million dollar mark. General Boggs and
colonel Hudson. of Governor Whites stan.
arrived to-day TO hold a conference with
the general superintendent of the Norfolk
& Western Railroad to ascertain what as
sistance. is needed from the state authori-
ties. The wires are deuged with press
matter, and hundreds Of messages are re-
ceived hourly from anxious friends In all
parts of the United States inquring about
relatives and friends. Until traffic is re-
sumed and all communication opened 1t will
be impossible to estimate with any degree
OF certainty either the loss Of life or prop
erty.
Many newspaper correspondents went
into the center of the devastated district
to-day ana IL was evident that the facts
were not exaggerated far property
loss is concerned. From Ennis down the
loss was the worst. Cars were wrenched
to pieces and piled up in ruins. The track
for several hundred yards was washed
out, houses were overturned and many had
been demolished. Triples were damaged
and many coke ovens are ruined. The two
iron bridges between Northfork and Key
stone were ruined and the rails bent like
hairpns Five bodies lay with the coffin
lids washed away and exposed 10 the gaze
of the curious at this point. They had been
buried on the river bank but were washed
out. 1t is said that no action has been
taken to care for them. keystone. the
town of 1900 inhabitants. was torn TO
pieces The loss was immense huge
drift lies west of the town. Dead bodies
are supposed to be confined in IL.
At Shawnee, where the beautiful homes
of the officers Of the Shawnee Coal Com
pany were located, with their splendid
lawns and tennis courts, the river is now
running.
The following are some of the flood vic
tins whose bodies have been recovered: Joe
White. Nellie Smith. Anna Smith and
Charles Sheely, all white: Mrs. mccoy,
Sam Poindexter. John Ballard, Bette
Brown. Trigg. Jacob Rifiin and John
Bannister, all colored; mother and babe.
unknown.
Eight bodies have been found between
Burke and Eckman. There is no doubt
that many persons lost their lives from be-
ing intoxicated. One white man got on a
section of the sidewalk and left town with
his arms folded. remarkng that he was
going down below TO find out how every
thing was His body was recovered. The
loss at Peerless is estimated at $4,000 and
at Shawnee at $50. 900.