| Family |
Samuel Dail MCKINNEY, b. 9 Jan 1912, West Union, Doddridge Co, WV  , d. Jan 1984 (Age 72 years) |
| Notes |
- The Hagerstown (Md.) Morning Herald
Tuesday, June 27, 1950
Stood by Helplessly
MAN SEES WIFE AND CHILDREN CARRIED TO DEATH BY FLOOD
(Editors Note: Samuel Dail McKinney, 38-year-old Columbian Carbon Company employe, stood helplessly on high ground early Sunday as a flash flood swept his wife and four children to their deaths at Smithburg. Here is his story as told to the Associated Press.)
By Samuel D. McKinney
Smithburg, W.Va., June 26 (AP) -- I saw my wife and four children carried away to their deaths by the flood and there wasnt anything we could do.
When the water first began to rise, I was in a boat with several others helping to get people to high ground. Those with me included my father-in-law, R. W. Rothwell.
Then we went to the Rothwell house where my wife and children were visiting. I told Mrs. McKinney to take our four youngsters ranging in age from two to 11 and Mrs. Rothwell and walk along the railroad track to the home of a friend on high ground.
They left with Mr. Rothwell and instead went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clive Bailey, I guess to help the Baileys out a bit. We stayed at the Rothwell house to move furniture until the water began pouring in over the window sills.
Moving on to the Bailey home then, where 15 people had gathered, we decided to go to higher ground to leave some of the men so we could empty the Bailey house in about two trips.
I couldnt swim, so I was one of those who stayed on the ground. It was pitch dark, and the rain which started about 6 oclock Saturday night kept coming down like it was being poured from buckets.
Three men, two of them excellent swimmers, went back with the boat to the Bailey house, but they couldnt get all the way there in the current. One, Gib Davis, either jumped or fell out of the boat and got hold of a grapevine. Then he pulled himself up to the house.
The other two drifted downstream with the boat until it lodged on the roof of the garage building, and later escaped from there.
The Bailey house was one of eight lying between Middle Island Creek and the railroad track. All eight were swept away.
I was on the high ground with the others when the Bailey house went. And there wasnt anything we could do.
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| Children |
| | 1. Naomi Loraine MCKINNEY, b. 18 Jul 1938, Borger, Hutchinson Co, TX , d. 25 Jun 1950, Smithburg, Doddridge Co, WV (Age 11 years) |
| | 2. Norma Lee MCKINNEY, b. 21 Jan 1940, Borger, Hutchinson Co, TX , d. 21 Jan 1940, Borger, Hutchinson Co, TX (Age 0 years) |
| | 3. Samuel Lennie MCKINNEY, b. 20 May 1942, Smithburg, Doddridge Co, WV , d. 25 Jun 1950, Smithburg, Doddridge Co, WV (Age 8 years) |
| | 4. Margie Sue MCKINNEY, b. 21 Sep 1945, Ohio , d. 25 Jun 1950, Smithburg, Doddridge Co, WV (Age 4 years) |
| | 5. Jo Ann MCKINNEY, b. 19 Jan 1948, Smithburg, Doddridge Co, WV , d. 25 Jun 1950, Smithburg, Doddridge Co, WV (Age 2 years) |
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| Family ID |
F41593 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
1916 - 1950 (33 years)
