Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-07-27
HEAVY RAINS CAUSE
GREAT FLOODS|N
WEST VIRGINIA
Cl0udbursts and Landslides
Cause Much Destruction.
RAILROADS SUFFER
AND TRAVEL IMPEDED


Greatest Flood Known for. Years in
Central and Western West Virginia
and Loss of Life Reported-Damage
Done Cannot Be Estimated at This
Time-Ail Trains Run Late.
The latest estimate of the dead md
missing in the Pittsburg district re-
sulting from the rain storms yester-
day, which swept over Western Penn
sylvania, Ohio and West Virginia is
fifty-eight, distributed as follows:
Pennsylvania: Uniontown, IA;
Smock Mine, IA; Grinstone, ~ miners
missing; Lynn Mine, 2. West Virgin
ia. Wheeling. 9; New Martinsyille, 6
Ohio: Belmont. 4, and Fleetwood g.
The heavy rains during the past
few days have caused great floods IN
the valleys of West Virginia. All Of
the lowlands are inundated. the small
streams are raging torrents, houses
washed away, and in many places
small towns have suffered greatly.
The people have been compelled to
move 70 the highlands to save their
lives. Today they are returning to
their homes which they find in ter
cred with mud several inches deep.
furniture ruined the walls defaced,
and, in all, everything in such condi-
ton that ii will require much time
to again have the houses ready for &C
cupancy.
AS a result of the food the railroads
have been greatly injured. Landslides
are reported on all branches of the
different roads and these with the
raging waters overflowing the ira cks
have made railroading attended with
much danger. East of Cumberland,
Md, the Baltimore and Ohio suffered
the most.
Between Clarksburg and Grafton,
the landslides and washouts were 50
numerous last night that ii was almost
impossible for the trains to run. Train
No. IL due here at 1928 a IN. arrived
today at 11:05. One passenger, in
discussing the matter said: I'VE were
four hours last night coming from
Clarksburg TO Grafton, a distance of
% miles In some places the people
were travelling in boats. while the
train was running through several in
ches of water. At one time IL was
feared that we would be tied up COM
pletely, but we kept on moving and
finally reached Grafton.
"Then the trip over the mountain
was not at all pleasant. We encoun-
tered numerous landslides and wash
outs. The worst landslide is near
Keyser, w. Va. where we were held
up for some time"
Yesterday afternoon cloudburst
at Keyser w. Va. wrought great dam
age. which will amount TO several
thousands of dollars. Sweeping down
on the town the water rose and rush
ed through the town, carrying two
houses down. The county bridge, con-
strueted of iron, was moved four feet
and the large bridge over the railroad
was only saved by putting large
u dlh Oi ~. OA w dAtl ollttAs NhN ""
ter rose five feet in an hour In the
New Creek Valley tracks were wash
ed away and great damage done.
AT Westenport, Md. about 5 miles
from Keyser a number of outbuild-
ings were washed away and all tele-
phone service crippled. 1t was nee
essary to call out the wreck train
from Piedmont and Grafton to clear
the tracks of debris. The equipment
of the Potomac and Twin Mountain
railroad was carried away. At Blaine.
w. Va. the water raised four feet in
an hour and nine houses were carried
away by the rushing torrent.
The Potomac river rose and at many
places was way out OF it's banks, and
continued to rise until a late hour
this morning when 1t reached it's crest
At Cumberland. Md, the Potomac
reached such stage that 1t was fear
ed great damage would result, and
perhaps the loss of life would follow.
The work of saving the launches, pow
er boats and skiffs along the river
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