Morehead, KY (Other Areas), Flash Flooding, July 1939

SEARCH FOR FLOOD VICTIMS CONTINUES.

FIFTY-FIVE BODIES RECOVERED AND MANY STILL MISSING; FIGHT LAUNCHED ON DISEASE.

Jackson, Ky., July 7. (AP) -- The 55th body was recovered today in eastern Kentucky's mountain flood.
Forty-one persons still are missing.
Property damage estimates run into the millions.
Disease-prevention work was rushed throughout the area. In Morehead, County Health Director Dr. T. A. E. Evans issued a bulletin ordering all persons innoculated for typhoid fever. Dr. Evans said "danger from disease is great." Already 1,200 have been innoculated there.
Sight-seers began interfering with the work of searchers for additional bodies and state highway patrolmen stepped in, refusing to permit persons, other than those on legitimate business and former residents, to enter the flooded area.
Revised fatally toll by counties:
Breathitt County, 28 (27 missing).
Rowan County, 25 (13 missing).
Lewis County, 2.
The Red Cross at Baltimore arranged to send 500 children's garments to this county for refugees.
(Approximately 10 bodies of Breathitt County victims were recovered at Beattyville, in adjoining Lee County. Police Chief Virgil Smith said other bodies were reported seen floating in the Kentucky River.)
Sheriff Walter Deaton estimated 75 persons drowned in Breathitt County's Frozen Creek Valley. Searchers expressed the opinion bodies of some of the victims might never be found.
Dr. P. E. Blackerby, assistant Kentucky health commissioner, said in Louisville it would be impossible to reckon the full loss of life and property for several days.
Mayor Warren C. Lappin of Morehead, Rowan County, estimated the property loss in that college town alone would approximate $1,000,000 and Dean Thomas P. Cooper of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture said reports from his field agents indicated damage to crops and farms in that county would be about $500,000.

Louisville, Ky., July 7. (AP) -- Latest figures by counties of bodies recovered in Wednesday's "flash" floods in the eastern Kentucky mountains:
Breathitt County (21) :
BARNEY DEATON, 65.
SHELDON MANN, 18.
CUSTER CORNETT, Hazard, Ky., 35.
LILLY M. DEATON, 12.
ADMIRAL TAULBEE, 18.
ESTHER SPICER, 38.
ROXIE SPICER, 17.
IRENE SPICER, 12.
MRS. EMMA TRENT, 40.
FLORENCE TRENT, 9, her daughter.
MRS. DORA KING, 23.
MRS. GILLA PRADER, 79.
BLANCHE KING, 5.
SHIRLEY KING, 3.
GEORGE L. BANKS, 70.
IRENE CHILDERS, 16.
Infant Daughter of WALTER ROSE.
ANNA MANN, 15.
GEORGIA BANKS, 3.
EARL HOWARD, 45.
ESTILL DEATON, 40.
Lewis County (2) :
MRS. OSCAR HILLUM and Child.
Rowan County (25) :
MRS. RUBY McROBERTS and Infant Child.
MRS. CANNA AMBURGEY, 46.
EVRA LEE AMBURGEY, 8, her daughter.
MARJORIE AMBURGEY, 14, her daughter.
MRS. NOAH G. CARTER, 38, and son.
JUNIOR BAYS, 11.
MR. and MRS. ALBERT PORTER.
MRS. CURT SALYERS, 25 and her three children.
IVAN EUGENE SALYERS, 8.
BOBBY CARL SALYERS, 6.
ALBERTA MAY SALYERS, 3.
MRS. MINERVA BOGGESS, 77.
MRS. EMMA TOLLIVER, 77.
SYLVIA LEE PERRY, 14.
MRS. LULA MAE PERRY COLLINS, 30, and daughter, MAGGIE COLLINS.
MRS. MAHALA MAY RATLIFF, 49, and son, LORON RATLIFF, 8.
THELMA LEE SPARKMAN, 3.
PAUL EDWIN SPARKMAN, 6.
BOBBY EVERETT SPARKMAN, 7 months.
JAMES ELMER SPARKMAN, 8.
EVRA LEE GOEBEL.

Kingsport Times Tennessee 1939-07-07
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!