Sunday Gazette-Mail from Charleston, West Virginia • Page 1

CITY I I THE OUTLOOK--Sunny with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Details on Page 10A. Charleston, West Virginia, Sunday Morning, February 27, 1972 By George.Steele MAN--At least 37 persons were killed Saturday when a slag heap collapsed, releasing thousands of gallons of onto communities along Buffalo Creek downstream from the Logan County coal camp of Lorado. Guardsmen and "state troopers, who finally reached Lorado Saturday night after trekking across the mountains, said the hamlet was "completely destroyed:" Some reports described the wall of water as high as 20 feet. FLOOD AREA Logan, Mingu State police reported 37 bodies hap; been recovered by evening.

But: the, number of dead could be much higher. Moore, who tried to fry into the stricken area by helicopter but was by foul, weather, announced in Charleston Saturday-night that I am advised by an official of Saturday Amberst Coal Co. that the town of Lorado. may. have been com-, pletely wiped Lt: Hi Ellis of state police Company D.

headquarters said his command post here had received reports that the number of dead could total 50 or 60.. Senate Okays Liquor Rift; Police Dropped By John G. Morgan The State Senate Saturday knocked state police inspectors from the private, club liquor bill and passed it 26-4. In another action, the Senate voted 20-10 to extend-insurance coverage to about 38,000 em- ployes of the State Board of Regents and county boards of education. The insurance bill, branded as bad legislation by Minority Leader Chester R.

Hubbard; R- Ohio, was sent to the House. The private club bill is practically ready for the-Governor's signature. It was returned to the House 'for concurrence "in a minor title amendment AS FINALLY passed by the Senate; the bill retains its main purposes--to repeal the $1.25 bottle tax and to establish two fee categories. The fees stand at $1,000 for memberships under 1,000, and for memberships of more than 1,000. Controversy in the Senate swirled, around an amendment that would have authorized any state policeman to enter any private club for the purpose of i i whether it is complying with the law.

This Majority Leader -W. T. Brotherton D-Kanawha, was approved 16-15 Friday. But the Senate reconsidered by a roll call vote, of 22-8 Saturday on a-motion by Sen C. N.

Harman, R-Taylqr. Voting against the motion were Democrats Galperin, Nelson and a 1 and Republicans Deem and Pdifenbarger. THEN THE proceeded to defeat the Brotherton amendment by an overwhelming voice vote. The Senate's change of heart brought expressions of wonderment from Brotherton. In a floor he said be couldn't understand How the majority of the Senate would vote for the death penalty in an earlier action, and then decide that state police i shouldn't inspect the private clubs.

1 "You increase the penalties on crime, but you say that no inspections shall be made in a field of activity which breeds crime," he declared. (Please Turn to Pg. HA, Col. 1) HOWEVER, an Amherst Coal' Co: official in Charleston said he lad been in contact with company employes in the area but could find rio confirmation for. the figure.

"There could be more," he said, "but at a time like this rumors fly. I one man expressed the opinion that as many as 50 or 60 could be up along the creek." Gov. Moore said he had received unconfirmed estimates that the dead-could number up to 90. Preliminary reports from the area erroneously said the deluge was released from behind a broken earthen dam. The Amherst -official said, however, the barricade was in fact a slag pile that dammed up the waters of Elk Lick, a small tributary to Buffalo Creek.

"It is hard to understand," he said, "how 'that much water could- be backed up'behind-that slag pile. SPOKESMAN for the Logan County Sheriff's Department reported, that the Logan (Please Turn to Pg. 10A, Col. 1) Torrential Waters Gave No Warning LACOMA--The first truckload of survivors from Lorado were delivered to the Lacbma Baptist Church, here, late Saturday after their homes were; destroyed by One of them was Hebert Trent; 17, who lived about two miles below the slag heap which collapsed, releasing thousands of gallons of backed up water. IT CAME too fast for us to have any warning," he said; "Suddenly it was there--water, mild and boards from houses." One' of the survivors said the Housing is constantly a problem in West Virginia.

The West Virginia Development Housing Fund is seeking legislation to increase its financial clout to make a greater impact on those problems. Chairman John T. Copenhaver Jr. declares that increased investment ability coupled with authority to make uninsured construction and mortgage loans is imperative to the program. Business-Labor writer Edward Peeks will examine this effort in a Monday "Living" page article.

THERE'S A trooper assigned to Company of the state police who strictly enforces the law when he catches drivers drag racing on the open road. The policeman isn't fanatically opposed to drag racing, however. He does it himself. Only he does it legally. On a drag strip.

Staff writer George Steetle relates the story in a midweek feature. THE WEST Virginia Conference Baketball Tournament ened yesterday, but new tournaments are scheduled this week. And if you want to get in the swim, the state conference swimming meet will be held Thursday through Saturday at the Morris Harvey pool. Up at Herbert Hoover High School, the girls basketball team, is excited about its season. Look for these sports features and more this week in The Charleston Gazette The State Newspaper i water was 30 feet deep and 200 yards wide when it came through the, Other 'survivors at the church included Mrs.

Mildred Kilgore, who liVed about five miles her low the slag heap with her husband, Willard and two of their Sitting in a church pew, Mrs. Kilgore 'put her arm around her youngest child, eight-year-old Debora Lynn and recalled how it was luck permitted her family to escape the raging waters. "My husband didn't know why," she said, "but he walked to the door just about the time the water was coming. He saw it just in tune. We ran to the garage and-tried to start the car.

We began to back it out and we saw that we could not make it. We got out of the car and ran up the hill. All we had time to dp was run. Our house was wiashed away." The Kilgores owned their home. It was five rooms, all electric.

Along with the building, they lost all their possessions- even the car which was washed away with the water. "I just don't know what we're going to do now," she said. "My mother lives in Kentucky. I (Please Turn to Pg. 10A, Col.

1) Logan FLOODING JORDAN CREEK SURROUNDS HOMES, ROLLS Backwater From Elk River at Falling Rock BANV lilt LOGAN i -'s! HIGH 'HIGH SIGN APPEARS UNNECESSARY 119 Near.Marniet Uunderpass Nixon, Chou 'Agreements' Are Reached SHANGHAI (AP) President Nixon and Premier Chou En-lai arrived here this morning in cloudy "weather for the President's last day in China. Earlier, before the party left Harigchow, it was learned Nixon iad reached some areas of agreement with Chou in the five days the President has been in A joint communique later in the day is expected to give details but Nixon seemed to caution newsmen not to expect a great deal. "NOTE THAT I said some areas," he told them in explaining that an' agreement of some form had been reached. He also. asserted that it had been' necessary to keep details of the negotiations secret in order not to jeopardize the new relationship with a i a China.

The flight to Shanghai is Nixon's last stop on the mainland. He began his visit there last Monday, but it was merely a stop to pick up a Chinese navigator and some Chinese officials for the flight to Peking in the presidential jet, the Spirit of '76. In Hangchow, a Chinese gar- ien city, the President and Premier Chou En-lai spent a re(Please Turn to Pg. 10A, Col. 1) FOR LITTLE girl born on Feb.

29 four years ago, Tuesday will be her first chance a honest-to-goodness birthday party. The Daily Mail has such a young leap year lady in mind, and she has a special treat that'she'd like to share with readers. A color photograph by.Chet Hawes will introduce the f-yearold girl and her special friend on her "First" Birthday, t' AT A TIME when the question of reviving the death penally is a subject of concern in the legislature, an "Uncommon Conversation" with Robert Sehteunes is "must" reading. He lost his daughter to a rapist- strangler and he has some pointed comments to make in this, popular question-answer feature in the Daily Mail. THE MONTH of February has been some thing special for the -48 nursing students at Morris Harvey College who will be graduating soon.

Each drew the assignment of building a relationship with a woman pregnant with her first child and staying with her during labor, delivery and a few days afterward. Standout students of the class have been two males! It's a story by Reporter Ann Haas that you won't want to miss in next week's news- and-feature-packed Olharlcston Patio Spotlight Always on Sunday IB Building News 11C Business News 4D Classified Ads 5D-9D Columnists ID, 2D Community News 88 Current Affairs ID Editorials 2D Home, Family 1E-10E Magazine 1M-24M Obituaries IOC Page Opposite 3D Sports 1C-8C Your Bridgework 5B Area River Crest Levels feet at Kanawha Falls at 7 a.m. Saturday, expected to crest there at 21.5 feet at 10 a.m. today, 5.5 feet below flood stage. Reading at Charleston was 28,4 feet at 1 p.m.

Saturday, expected to crest at 29 feet today. feet at p.m. Saturday at Clay. Crested there at noon at 19 feet. Also crested at Queen Shoals Saturday at 21 feet.

feet at Tornado at 1 p.m. Saturday. Expected to crest six inches above flood stage at 25.5 feet at 2 a.m. today. GUYANDOTTE 27.2 feet at Logan at 1 p.m.

Saturday. Crested there Saturday night at 29 feet. At Branchland, the Guyandotte was recorded at 40.2 feet si 1 p.m., 10 feet above flood level. Crested Saturday night. TUG FORK OF BIG feet at Williamson at 1 p.m.

Saturday. Crested there Saturday night at 31 feet. Reading at Hermit was 42.8 feet at 1 p.m. Saturday, crested at 43.5 feet Saturday night. GREENBRIER--15 feet at Alderson at 1 p.m.

Saturday. Expected to crest at 18 feet at 4 a.m. today. GAULEY, NEW and Little Kanawha rivers posed no problems..