The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-11
Eight Mountain Towns Wash
ed Away In West Virginia 9
Great Flood
THOUSANDS ARE NOW
HUNGRY AND HOMELESS
Chesapeake and Ohio officials
Are Now Bending Every
Effort to Aid the Flood
Stricken People

Charleston, W. Va. Aug 1o.-In-
%estigations conducted ever since day.
break in the face of such obstacles
~ Frustrated telegraph and telephone
Zines. vanished or impassa BILE roads
and bridgeless streams prove that the
storm which swept the mining and
lumber regions OF Coal River and Its
tributaries yesterday took A toll OF
more than 100 lives and caused prop
erty damage of approximately s5.-
U0o.o00 and made between 5000 and
10000 homeless.
The flood extended over an area
OF nearly 400 square miles and reach
Eed Its greatest destructiveness IN the
valleys of Paint and Cabin Creeks.
(which are lined with coal mines The
snines are flooded and otherwise in
Jured TO such an extent that 1t may
weeks before they can be again
4 acrated
Relieved In Security of Homes.
Normally tranquil mountain strea ms
were converted into swiriing rivers in
ban incredibly brief space of time. The
oss OF life was largely due to the
kaaith of jewellers IN miners cabins in
The security Of their frail homes.
~ Sii SAi tDdHdtG DN TusHlnE waters
they dared net leave, and many of
the houses were lifted off their foun-
iations and toppled over. the occu-
pants drowning like rats In trap.
Those who took TO the hHlsides
were poweriess 10 help others who
struggled In the water for their lives
In several instances fathers and
3.us bands who tried TO reach members
of their families were carried off
their feet by the torrents and drown
I'd. The Lykens family OF eight re-
ported missing yesterday. were drown
I'D except the father, who has gone
mad and is confined under guard
Bodies have been recovered at va
kious points
Two relief trains which started out
turing the night picked their way for
b few miles. found IL unsafe to ven
hure further and returned
The town of jarroIds Valley. Boone
Bounty. with population OF 400.
was completely washed away. many
being drowned Seth and Comfort
Coal River villages. have been oblit-
grated. a train carrying a Sunday
%chool excursion from St Adams,
with many aboard. reported lost. was
marooned throughout the night. The
passe myers were rescued this morning
rhe property loss OF the Cabin Creek
consolidated Company will reach
$500. 900
C. q O. Cooperating.
Governor II. .. Hatfield was at the
Telephone at Huntington until late
hast night directing plans for rescue
work President George w. Stevens,
|of the Chesapeake and Ohio. is here
+>o-operating with local authorities.
{This afternoon Freight Agent w. o.
be handled gratuitously on that road.
The National Red Cross wired w.
4. CraicrAft, a Charleston banker Of
kerinx assistance. but word was sent
back that local authorities could han
lie the situation for the present The
most urgent need IL relief for the
homeless and hungry. In some sec
eions all food supplies were swept
AWAY It Is probable that for a few.
bays supplies can reach the sufferers
oniy by pack trains
II " estimated that 1t will require
sully two months to repair the lines
nave been washed out or rendered
lnsa&e.
Bodies Recovered.
TWenty-three bodies have been re-
.0vered from the debris carried down
81 The flood which swept the Cabin
reek Valley. near here. yesterday.
Rescue parties have penetrated
soms distance Gbsve Cabin Creek
Function. and meager reports brought
sack by couriers and from ths rail-
-oads indicate that the loss Of life
las been heavy. although no accu-
ate estimate can be made. Belief
expressed that more than 100 are
head. Persons driven from their
homes to the mountains are return
M to md whole villages of mining
kabins swept away. while distress and
uffering Is seen on every hand.
Militia Sent TO Rescue.
Two companies of the Second West
Virginia Infantry left Camp Kanawha
BY trolley this morning and were
AIKEN to Cabin Creek Junction. with
brders to penetrate the valley and ex-
end relief to all who needed IT, They
carried provisions and tents
special train is being made UP
here on the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad and will go as far az the
hastily repaired tracks will permit.
from that point numbers OF men pro-
dded with provisions will seek out
re spots where restitution Ia most
Pronounced. 1t Is expected that they
vii be able to go the entire length
Il the valley and penetrate adjoining
alleys, also hard hit. before tomor-
low.
reports reached here today from
howard c. Smith, United States COM
missioner, who led a relief party for
number Of mining companies last
Iight. that looting had commenced
nd Z number of arrests had been
made and some properly recovered
soldiers to Preserve Order.
The comm ander Of the military has
~ ordered to detail men to guard
foporty and restore order. leaving
ke greater part Of the relief work to
|{Ta IfsnuA4a - 1aAanA paeA -.