WE :
300 Ltoes May 3c Lost
IA cloudburst in the Pocahontas coal
fields in West Virginia destroyed hun
dreds of lives and millions of dollars
of property Sunday. The wall of
water swept through a narrow moun
tain valley already flooded by thirty-
three hours of continuous , heavy
rains. Two ridges of the Allegheny
Mountains hemmed it in and helped it
to gather force. It swept a dozen busy
towns. It destroyed many miles of
railroad tracks and telegraph lines. It
tore from the hillsides the outer build
ing of hundreds of coal mines , and it
carried locomotives and trains of cars
down the valley. The cataclysm
crushed and drowned the inhabitants
by hundreds as they struggled to es
cape up the mountain sides. The loss
of life is estimated at OO. The loss to
railroad and mining property is at
least § 2,000,000 and the loss to other
property probably as much more.
These figures are , however , merely
approximations , for communication
with many of the villages is yet im
possible.
Fearful tow Is Possible.
The flood may prove to have been a
more disastrous one to life than the
Johnstown horror , and the list of the
dead may mount into thousands , or it
may be that there was sufficient warn
ing to permit the escape of the great
majority of the people. Reports from
many places indicate , however , that
hundreds of bodies are floating down
with the flood. The difficulty of get-
MAP OF DISTRICT FLOODED.
relief to the district for perhaps
week or ten days until the railway
"lines are replaced means that there
will probably be great suffering among
gpeople who were fortunate enough to
.save their lives , as all their stores
swept away. Fifteen hundred
men are already at work trying to re
store the tracks.
Elkliorn Valley Devastate *
The scene of the worst part of the
flood was the Valley of the Elkhorn ,
in McDowell county , in the south
western part of West Virginia. An
other valley to the south of this one
DEATH OF SECRETARY HAY'S SON-
ADELBERT S. HAY.
Adelbert S. Hay , who was killed at
Tale college last week , was the eldest
son of the secretary of state and was
born while the latter was living in
Cleveland , 0. , about twenty-five years
ago. His second name is Stone , which
he bears in memory of the late Amasa
Stone , his maternal grand sire. He was
educated in private schools of Cleve
land and prepared at St. Paul's Acad
emy in Concord , N. H. , for Yale. At
the university he was a popular schol
ar , for , though outwardly reserved in
manner , he was capable of warm and
steadfast friendships , and was of
charming manners. At Yale Adelbert
gave much time to athletics , and thus
splendidly developed his naturally
robust frame , so that he stood at 21
full six feet high , with chest and limbs
of corresponding proportions. The
jstalwart figure of young Hay , with the
'look of reserve power in his face , un
doubtedly went far towards securing
for him the respect and consideration
which is net always exhibited to one
of his years.
With the physique went a degree of
personal bravery that , though never
recklessly or boastingly evidenced , was
still manifested on more than one oc
casion.
An extended public career was
Bcarcely possible for one of his years ,
yet in the short time that elapsed be
tween his graduation from Yale and
his death he had achieved a reputation
worthy of emulation. Upon his return
from the Philippines trip he was ap
pointed United States consul at Pre
toria , the capital of the Transvaal re
public.
Secretary of State Hay collapsed at
New Haven , Conn. , under the strain
of fatigue and mental agony Sunday
evening as he stood by the remains of
his son Adelbert , whose dead body
was found on the sidewalk in front of
the New Haven Hotel at 2:30 a. m.
The secretary was at once assisted to
his bed and a physician summoned.
An hour later his daughter , Miss Helen
Hay , arrived , and , although herself
nearly prostrated by the news of her
brother's sudden death , assumed the
care of her father.
TRAIN CAUGHT IN THE FLOOD ,
A passenger train was caught in the
flood near Vivian , W. Va. , and the
lives of the passengers were saved by
the use of ropes thrown over from the
coke ovens which lined the Vivian
yards. The passengers caught the
ropes and willing hands dragged them
from the flooded train and over th.3
oven barricades.
The pathetic story of a Hungarian
family at Keystone , is told. The fath
er was at work in the mines and when ;
the alarm was given , did not reach tto j
at/ng the Clinch river also suffered ,
but not so severely. Elkhorn creek
flows between two mountain ridges ,
Indian Ridge to the north and Big
Stone Ridge to the south. In some
places the valley is not over a quar
ter of a mile wide , the hills rising pre
cipitously from the banks of the
stream , along which ran the track of
the Norfolk and Western railroad.
Over the high valley when the atmos
phere was heated to a high degree the
winds brought clouds saturated with
moisture. The fall of rain that result
ed was tremendous. The swollen
mountain streams all poured their
water into the Elkhorn and the nar
row valley was filled by it
Dreadful Ucln o of Waters.
Then came the cloudburst. Its wall
of water started down the valley short
ly before 9 o'clock in the morning , and
the damage had all been done by 11.
There was nothing in its path that
could resist it. Houses were whirled
away like sticks , railway embank
ments melted like snow in the sun
light. There was just a few minutes
drift mouth until the town was partly
inundated. He made his way to the
cabin that served as his home , where
his wife and new-born babe were lying
helpless. He tried to rescue both , and
after a fierce battle with the flood ,
which was filled "with logs and debris ,
he reached a place of safety only to
discover that both were dead.
From Enns , W. Va. , to Vivian , a
distance of ten miles , the country was
lined with debris of all kinds. .
At Elkhorn the lower floors cf all the
given the people to save themselves on
the hilla , and then all was over for
those who had failed. The region of
the worst destruction stretches from
Welch , the county seat , on the west
to Coaldal on the east , a distance of
about twenty miles. Of the towns be
tween , Keystone , a place of 2,000 in
habitants , is reported to have suffered
the most.
Tvro Hundred Are Dead at Keystone.
The death list there is reported to
mount up toward 200. Sixty-six dead
bodies have been recovered. There
were thirty-five saloons in that town ,
and of them only one is left standing ,
it being located high on the hillside.
The rumor is that it is the only build
ing in the town still standing. Vivian ,
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF SCENE OF WEST VIRGINIA FLOODS.
the next largest town , is reported to
have been almost wiped out of exist
ence. In both of these towns the min
ers had assembled with their Satur
day night's pay. They cannot hart *
got back to their mountain huts , and
must have shared the fate of the in
habitants. After the flood the railroad
company started men on foot to walk
along the hillsides to survey the con
dition of the line. A trainmaster , who
walked the twelve miles between
Vivian and North Fork , counted thir
ty-eight dead bodies floating on the
surface. That is an indication of what
may be expected when full information
is obtained.
Flee from Water.
The remarkably heavy rains of the
past few weeks have caused the flood
ing of a number of mines in the Carbondale -
bondale section of the anthracite coal
belt in Pennsylvania and operations
have been suspended at four collieries ,
throwing about 7,000 men and boys out
of employment.
At the Glenwood mine the water has
reached the height of 38 feet , and is
still rising despite the fact that extra
pumps have been put in says a special
telegram from Scranton. At several
of the mines the pumps generally used
are under water and others will have
to be put in place.
The damage at all the mines will
reach tremendous figures.
Some Historic Disasters.
1880 Barry , Stone , Webster and
Christian counties , Missouri ; 100 kill
ed , COO injured , 200 buildings destroy
ed ; loss § 1,000,000.
18SO Noxubee county , Mississippi ;
22 killed , 72 injured , 55 buildings de
stroyed ; loss , § 100,000.
1880 Fannin county , Texas ; 40
killed , 83 injured , 40 buildings destroy
ed.
1882 Henry and Saline counties ,
Missouri ; 8 killed , 53 injured , 247
buildings destroyed ; loss , ? 3COOCO.
1883 Kemper , Copiah , Simpson ,
Newton and Lauderdale- counties ,
Mississippi ; 51 killed , 200 injured , 100
buildings destroyed ; loss , 300,000.
1884 North and South Carolina ,
Mississippi , Georgia , Tennessee , Vir
ginia , Kentucky and Illinois ; 800 kill
ed , 2,500 injured , 10,000 buildings de
stroyed. These storms constituted an
unparalleled series of tornadoes.
1890 Louisville , Ky. ; 76 killed , 200
injured , 900 buildings destroyed ;
loss , § 2,150,000. Storm cut a path 1,000
feet wide through the city.
1893 Savannah , Ga. , and Charleston ,
S. C. , and southern coast ; 1,000 killed
and great destruction of property.
1893 Gulf coast of Louisiana ; 2,000
killed ; great destruction of property.
1896 St. Louis cyclone ; 500 killed ,
1,000 injured ; great property loss.
1900 Galveston , Texas , flooded by
tidal wave from gulf ; 6,000 lives lost ,
thousands more injured ; property loss ,
over § 40,000,000.
A Manila Jllnt Discussed.
A prominent government official in
discussing the proposition for the es
tablishment of a mint at Manila said
recently :
"I have heard nothing about the
matter since the adjournment of Con
gress , but I know that it is receiving
the attention of the war department ,
which is obtaining all the information
possible on the subject. Army officers
seem to favor the establishment of a
mint at Manila and an effort to sub
stitute American coinage for the Mexi
can now in general use. There is con
siderable opposition , however , as it is
certain that to attempt to push the
American dollar and redeem it in gold
would precipitate commercial disturb
ances that might result in disaster.
Secretory Gage is opposed , and I am
inclined to think that this plan will
not be adopted * "
houses were overflowed and the fami
lies took refuge in the second stories ,
from which they were rescued.
In the mad rush to escape the fami
lies were separated and the children
lost , and this added to the general ex
citement , making it impossible to ac
curately estimate the loss of life.
The scene along the Elkhorn Valley
beggars description , and the full dam
age and loss of life cannot be correct
ly ascertained for several days. Relief
movements have started and telegrams
are being received from other citi 3
offering assistance.
: - > ; sWj , , .
A Story of
the
By
SYLVANUS
COBB. JR.
Copyrighted 1891 by Robert Bonncr's Soni.
INTRODUCTION.
Horam , King of Damascus , then at
Its glory as the zenith city of the
east , bemoaned the coming of old age
without prospective heir to the throne.
In his younger days he had loved
Helen , his queen , but fearing that she
was disloyal to him had her cast into
the black , swift flowing Phorpar. At
the time the story opens Ulin , the
daughter of AboulCassem , the king's
prime minister , three times dreams
that she has become the wife of the
king and that a son being born to
them is heir to the throne. Cassem
tells the story to the king. The latter
having long admired the many charms
of Ulin , seeks an interview with her
and on the sixth day following they
are to be married. He thereupon
abolishes his harem. Within the week
Albia , the pretty slave maid-in-wait
ing to Ulin , tells the story of the tragic
fate of Helen. The story makes a deep
impression and preys upon the mind of
the bride-to-be. But her father urges
Jer on and she now deems it a sacred
duty to become the queen. On the
morning set for the wedding Ulin'a
mother dies. According to the laws of
Damascus she must go into mourning
retirement for thirty days. Horam
agrees with her father that she shall
pass the period of mourning in a se
cluded palace in the beautiful Valley of
Lycanius. This valley is the sole pos
session of the king and can only be
reached by one passage through a
mighty mountain , capable of admitting
but one person at a time. Thither
Ulin goes with Albia , where they are
placed under the protection of the
attendants by the king and Ulin's
father. Six days after their entering
Horam returns unexpectedly. Olin
acting on the suggestion of Albia ,
treats him kindly.
CHAPTER I.
Julian the Scouge.
She asked if her father had come.
"No , my s.weet lady , " returned Ho
ram. "He Was busy. It may appear
unseemly for me to come hither alone ;
but my great love and my deep solici
tude for your welfare , must be my ex
cuse. I h'ope you have found it pleas
ant here. "
The maiden said she could not have
asked for a more pleasant place of
abode.
The king was charmed by her smil
ing speech so different from what she
had ever before given him and he
fondly believed that she was delighted
with his presence.
Ulin , fearing that the least sign of
coldness or reserve might excite the
jealousy of the grey-headed-monarch ,
and bring down upon her some terrible
evil , exerted all her powers of pleas
antness , and wore the smile upon her
face while a pang was in her bosom.
But Horam's visit was destined to
be cut short. While he was , for the
sixth time making excuses for his
visit the door of the apartment was
unceremoniously opened and a black
entered not one of those who had
been on guard in the valley but a
stranger to Ulin , covered with sweat
and dust , as though he had been riding
hard and fast.
"Ha ! " cried the king , starting to his
feet. "How now , Sadak ? What is the
meaning of this ? "
"Pardon , sire. I knew not that you
were thus engaged. They only told
me that you were here and I stopped
to inquire no further. "
"Not that not that Sadak. Why
have you come from Damascus in such
hot haste ? "
"I came to inform you sire that Ju
lian the Scourge of Damascus is approaching
preaching our city ! "
"Death and devastation ! " cried Ho
ram starting back with alarm. "How
know you this ? "
"We heard from him by way of a
merchant who was in a caravan that
he had robbed. "
"What caravan ? "
"The caravan from Tadmoor , with
the riches which were on their way
from Bassora. "
"Those riches were mine , " said Ho
ram.
"Aye , sire ; and Julian took them
took all that belonged to you , but
spared the poorer merchants. But
that is not the worst. He sends word
that he v/ill lay Damascus in ashes.
Aboul Cassem bade me hasten hither
and give you warning. "
The king was fairly beside himself
with fear and rage. The name of Ju
lian was a terror to him , and at the
sound thereof he trembled exceedingly.
And he seemed to fear more than the
mere physical prowess of the Scourge.
There was a mystic quality in his fear
a nameless dread of the avenger.
"Where is the demon now ? " he ask
ed , after he had gazed awhile in sience !
upon the messenger.
"He is not far from the city , sire.
Somewhere to the eastward , we think.
Your journey back , if you make haste ,
will be safe. "
"I will return , " cried the monarch ,
smiting his fists together ; "and I will
bring out an army and sweep this ter
rible Scourge from off the face of the
earth ! "
He bade Sadak go and make ready
for the start , and then he turned to
Ulin.
"You will be safe here , sweet one ;
and it will not be long before our hap
piness shall be complete. "
His words of parting were few , for
he was much excited , and his voice
trembled as he spoke. He turned back
once after he had reached the door ,
as though he would say something ,
but finally went away without givmg
the intended speech. From a window
Ulin watched the royal cavalcade until
*
It had disappeared within the narrow
pass , and when the last man had gone
from her sight she turned to her com
panion.
"Albia , what is It about this terrible
robber this Scourge of Damascus ? I
have heard something about him. I
heard my father once speak of him ;
but my little knowledge of the world
did not lead me to be inquisitive. Do
you know anything about him ? "
"I have heard a great deal of him ,
my lady. He has been a" terror to Da
mascus for a great many years.
"How many years , Albia ? I was
thinking that my father said he had
not been long known in this section. "
"I may be mistaken , " said Albia ,
trying to recollect herself. "I know
that he is a terrible Scourge , and that
men fear him ; but I do not know how
many years he has been so. It may
not be so many as I thought. "
"But who is he ? Where did he come
from ? "
"Ah , there is a mystery , my dear
mistress. Nobody knows where he
came from ; but it is said that he is
one whose family has suffered some
great calamity at the hands of Horam.
He is alone in the world , so far as rela
tives are concerned , and Horam hath
done it ; and so he conies to seek ven
geance. He has a large body of bold
men under him , and twice has he met
and overcome the forces which the
king had sent out to capture him. He
does not rob as common robbers do.
He never troubles the poor , or those
of the middle class ; but the rulers and
princes of Damascus he causes to suf
fer. "
"Did you ever see him , Albia ? "
"Mercy ! no. I would not see him for
the world. He must be terrible to
look upon. I have heard one of your
father's officers say that he could
strike a blow with his fist to fell an ox.
and that before the lightning of his
eye brave men shrank in terror. 0 ,
I should be afraid to see him. "
"It seems to me that I should like
to see such a man , " said Ulin , in a
musing tone. "I have never seen such
men. The man whose arm can strike
down an ox , and whose eye Hashes
forth such power , could not harm a
helpless maiden. "
"Upon my life , you have a curious
taste , " Albia returned.
"Because , " added Ulin , with a smile ,
"I never had my taste cultivated.
Still , in all seriousness , it does seemJ
to me that I should love to lean upon
a strong , bold man. If I were to love
a man with my whole heart , I should
like him to be so strong and so power
ful and so brave , that his very pres
ence would be protection to me. Is
that very strange ? "
"It is so strange , " replied the slave ,
significantly , "that I fancy the king
would feel new cause for jealousy if he
should hear you say so. "
"When I am the king's wife I shall
be true to him , and I shall honor and
respect him. I will love him if I can.
But , Albia , there is no need of saying
more. We will have our dinner , and
then we will walk out into the gar
den. "
Suddenly a messenger appears ask
ing for assistance from the guard.
With 50 stalwart guards he hurries to
ward the gates.
"What can it be ? " cried the prin
cess , in alarm.
But Albia could not imagine. She
could only beg of her mistress to take
courage , and hope for no evil.
Ere long , however , another messen
ger came to the palace , who made his
way to the room Avhere the princess
was sitting. He trembled with ex
citement.
"How now , Aswad ? " demanded Ulin.
"What is the meaning of all this dis
turbance ? "
"Alas , my lady , an enemy is at our
gates. The terrible Scourge of Damas
cus demands entrance into the valley. "
"What does he seek ? "
"I dare not tell you ? "
"What seeks he ? " cried the princess ,
authoritatively. "If there is danger ,
I would know what it is. "
"There may not be danger for you ,
lady. We may beat the robber off.
We will do so if we can. "
"But the king told me that a hand
ful of determined men could hold that
pass against a thousand. "
"But these are not ordinary men. j
This Julian is a very demon , and I
verily believe that he hath more than
human power.Still we will do the
best that we can. "
"You have not told me what he
seeks. Answer me that question an
swer it without further hesitation. "
"He seeks the maiden whom the
king is to take for a wife. "
"Seeks me ? " uttered the princess ,
with a start.
"Yes , my lady. Such is his avowal. "
"In mercy's name , good Aswad , pro
tect me. Let not that dreadful robber
gain access to the valley. "
"Hurry , hurry ! " cried Albia. "Away
to your companions , and bid them
strain every nerve. If they suffer th *
Scourge of Damascus to gain passage
hither they know what the wrath of
the king must be. "
"Powers of heaven ! " cried Ulin with
clasped hands and quivering frame
"the demon must not find us. '
"You are not so anxious to see him
as you were" remarked Albia. "I
thought your whim was a strange
one. "
"Speak not of that" said Ulin quick
ly and severely. "I meant not that I
would have him come to seek me. O
Albia , what can he want ? "
"Indeed , my mistress , I dare not
think. But let us look In another direc
tion. If ho docs not find us , we care
not why ho comes. Ha ! Sco ! Hero
comes Aswad again. He looks fright
ened. " -
Aswad entered the chamber with
trembling step and seemed afraid to
speak ; but the demand of the princess
opened his lips.
"Lady , I fear that the robber will
prevail against us. He is accompanied
by fierce , furious men , who fight llko
lions.and his own sword Is irresistible.
His body Is covered with scales of fin
est steel and the blows of our men fall
harmless upon him. "
"But the dreadful man has not yet
broken through ? " said Ulin eagerly.
"No , lady. Our bravo men fight as
well as they can. "
"Has the robber entered the pass ? "
"Not far. "
"Then you may hold him at bay yet.
0 , Aswad , if you would be blessed forevermore -
evermore let not the Scourge gain the
valley ! '
"We will do our best , lady ; but you
must be prepared for the worst. If we
are finally overcome you must hldo
yourself. "
"Where ? Where can we hlde"ask-
ed Albia.
"In the palace or somewhere in the
gardens ; or upon the mountains. "
"There is no hiding place which a
keen eye would not detect. I have
looked in every direction. So , Aswad ,
save us by your stout arms. "
"I fear the demons will prevail , "
said Ulin , in a tone of breathless sus
pense.
"I dare not hope otherwise , " return
ed Albia.
"If they do come , we must find
some place in which to hide. "
"Alas , my dear mistress , there is no
such place. If we go up among the
rocks , we not only run the risk of be
ing easily found , but we rim the
greater risk of starving. "
"I would rather starve than fall into
the dread Julian's hands , " said Ulin.
"It would be a terrible death to
starve upon those bleak rocks ! " re
turned Albia , with a shudder. "But I
will share your fate , my mistress , let
it be what it may. " | j
"And would not death by starvation '
be preferable to the fate which must
meet us if that monster captures us ?
O , Albia , I cannot think of it ! "
Before the slave could reply they
saw Aswad again coming toward them ;
but he did not enter the palace. Ho
struck off into a path that led to the
westward , and fled with all his might.
Directly afterwards a score of the
guards came rushing from the pass ,
and when they had gained the open
space , they threw down their swords
and sank upon their knees.
"What means that ? " cried Ulin.
"Are they killed ? "
"No , " answered Albia. "They are
overcome , and have surrendered. See !
there come the victors ! "
"Let us flee ! " exclaimed the prin
cess , starting to her feet. " 0 , we must
find some place of refuge ! "
Albia was more thoughtful. She
saw very plainly that flight would be
useless.
"My dear mistress , " she said , taking
Ulin's hand. "We must hope for the
best. If we leave the palace , we shall
be overtaken at once ; for the way to
the mountains lies only through the
park of fountains. If we flee to the
garden in the rear , we shall be surely
found , and it may be worse for us in
the end. If this dreadful Julian has
the least spark of humanity in his
bosom , he will respect you more in
your own chamber than he would if he
found you hiding in the garden. "
"Spirits of mercy defend us ! " ejacu
lated the princess , clasping her hands
upon her bosom , and sinking back in
her seat. " 0 , Albia , Albia , the pres
ence of the king would now be a bles
sing ! "
The faithful slave crept close to her
mistress , and tried to speak words of
comfort ; but her own fears were too
deep and intense to permit comfort
ing power to her words. She could
not be calm in view of the coming of
that dreadful man , at the sound of
whose name even the monarchs trem
bled.
( To be continued. )
Drr.s * In the Senate.
It is not always safe to judge a man
by his clothes , but dress goes a long-
way in certain localities. If any one
doubts our democracy let him spend a
day in the gallery of the United States
Senate , the least dignified "Upper
House" of legislation in the world.
"Befo" de wah" all members were
clean shaven , wore black frocks and
high stocks , beavers , peg-top trousers ,
and a solemn air of public importance , '
privately expressed. They believed in *
their hearts that they were statesmen , . ,
and the world acknowledged them S.A
such. Dignity was their chief quality ,
pride their most cherished possession.
The old-timers , like Morgan , Teller.
Cockrell , Berry , Proctor and Daniel ,
still wear their before-the-war clothes ,
dignity and pride , but the post-bel- fj
lum regiment of politicians is uni- II
formed in the sack suit or the cuta- si
way. New York Press.
The West Tolnt of Mexico.
In Mexico experience has conclusive
ly shown that officers and even sol
diers cannot be improvised , and the
very first care of General Diaz has
been to establish a good school for in
structing scientific officers. The mili
tary school of Chapultepec in its ac
tual condition is the fruit of his efforts.
Many foreign officers of different na
tionalities have visited that establish
ment and believe that it ranks among
the first in the comprehensiveness and
perfection of military instruction there
imparted and in the severe but just
discipline to which the cadets are sub
jected. National Geographic Maga
zine.
Not all are asleep who have their
eyes shut.
