The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-04-11
|HARROW|NC(?) EXPERIENCE
Of Prof. Hoslng When he is Said to
Have Padded Across Well
Bidged Rivers.

frankfort, KY, April 2.-Prof. j.
b. Hoeing, director OF the Geological
Survey, has returned from the vici-
nifty OF Whitesburg, Letcher county,
after covering 200 miles either on
foot or In boat, arriving at Ashland
with the first authentic news out of
the Big Sandy Valley. He said when
he passed through Jenkins and Nc
Roberts provisions we're growing
scarce In those towns Efforts were
made to carry provisions there in
wagons, but the roads were washed
out and in many places impassable,
and the railroads have ceased op-
Grating. He doubts whether proyis-
ions can be taken into the towns
any way except on the backs of
men. The fall is so great, howev-
the Ohio permits the water will run
out of the mountains.
Prof. Hoeing was with survey
camp q short distance from Whites
burg. He started away as soon as
the perils of the situation became
apparent. He left Whitesburg Thurs
day and did not reach Ashland un-
TIL Sunday. He had attempted to
telegraph to his family at Lexing-
ton, but after he reached home he
received by mail the money he had
paid for sending the message. The
wire was useless.
He found that 1t was Impossible
to make his way over the mountains
horseback and set OUT afoot. He
caught a ride on a handcar for sew
en- miles in binding snowstorm,
climbed mountains, the roads OF
which were obliterated by landslides
and washing, and slid down the op-
posite slopes, risking his life every
hour.At Louisa he was rowed across
the river and made his way to Ke-
nova, w. Va, wnere trainloads of
passengers had been abandoned. All
the way up the river he saw freight
and passenger trains standing on
the tracks in the water, abandon
/. d with their engines. He tried TO-
secure the only motor boat In Ke-.
nova to go to Catlettsburg, but the
chief OF police said 1t was the only
means they had OF rescuing people
from the flood, and just at that
moment the boatman announced to-
the chief that they were out of gas
oline and there was no more in
town.
Another wayfarer suggested to-
Prof. Hoeing that II they could get
to Catlettsburg they would find a
good hotel. They secured a skiff
and were rowed across, but when
they approached the hotel, lodging
the branches of trees that almost
brushed them out Of the boat. they
saw boatmen taking guests out of
a second-story window. Their own
boatman then rowed them to the
nearest hill, whence they made their
way by circuitous route into Ash
land. With the water supply cut
off and the gas gone, guests at the
hotel in Ashland were living neag-
erly, and candles were burned for
lights. Courier-J ournal.
After reading the foregoing one
will conclude that the Prof. had
hard time escaping after so many
adventures by flood and field. Cross
ing the river at Louisa in skiff,
witha fine bridge from shore to
shore, y equaled only by that ia
nous cblt of Thompson, that ran
into the river to get out of the
rain From the narrative as relat-
ed above 1t appears that the way
farer and his guide failed to pay
any attention to the Big Sandy
bridge, reaching from the suburbs of
kenova to some distance into Cat
lettHburg.