Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-06-18
CLOUD
BURST
Causes Hundreds of Deaths al
heppner, Oregon.
Solid Wall of Water Rushes Down
the Narrow Gorge in Which the
Town Was Located, Carrying
Death and Destruction in Its
Path. Three Hundred Collins
Ordered From Portland.

Path---Three Hundred Collins
Ordered From Portland.
The Dalles, Ore, June ia mes
senger arrived from Arlington this
morning bringing news of terrible
cloudburst that occurred at Heppner,
Ore. last night.
A solid wall of water swept down the
valley, taking everything before it.
1t is estimated that 500 people lost
their lives.
When the messenger left Arlington
at O'Clock this morning the flood had
passed and $50 bodies had been recoy.
cred.
A special train left here at noon for
the scente of the disaster.
Portland, Ore, June ia message
has just been received from the mayor
of Lexington to Mayor Williams of
Portland, saying that a large part of
the town Of Lexington was swept away
last night by terrific cloudburst. An
appeal is made for immediate aid.
Portland, June 15.-Word was re-
ceived here from lone late this after
noon that 800 collins were needed at
once at Heppner. The weather is hot
and it is necessary that the dead should
be buried at once. One hundred collins
were sent on the Oregon Railroad &
Navigation overland tonight More
will be sent from The Dalles and Pen.
dleton.
Portland, June 15.-Engulfed in a
mighty wall of water, whose strength
knew no master, Heppner, the county
seat of Morrow county, Or, numbering
some $500 souls, was destroyed by the
food that resulted from cloudburst
occurring last evening at $50 O'Clock.
There was no time to alarm the people,
the majority of whom were in their
homes, for it had been raining hard,
and those who were drowned met death
without more than an instant's notice
Ut the fate that was about to come down
upon them.
Just how many lives were lost in the
awful disaster will not be known until
there has been thorough investigation
and search of the country, but this
evening it is estimated variously that
from 500 to 600 people are dead. AL
ready 300 bodies have been found upon
the streets of Heppner, and the search
has hardly commenced.
Storm Is Still On.
At this hour the storm still continues
and rescuing parties were slow in leav-
ing for the scene of distress. 1t is
doubtful il more definite information
than was received this afternoon will
be had for some little time concerning
the loss of life and suffering
All over Oregon. and particularly in
Portland, there are Borrowing hearts.
Many have relatives who live at Hepp-
ner, and they are uncertain as to
whether they still live, for the list of
dead and injured is meager and gives
the names of but few of those who
must have persisted when the food of
water descended upon the little hamlet
Some already know that their whole
families were lost, while others are
dreading to hear the news the NOR
row may bring.
The last parties to leave for Heppner
started from Portland this afternoon
were to be joined at The Dalles by ply
sicians, helpers, undertakers and need
full articles. They sbuld have reached
Heppner at an early hour this evening,
hut the railroad from The Dales is
in bad condition, owing to the fact that
it follows Willow creek. down which
the current flowed, and it is probable
no word will be received from them
until tomorrow morning, all the wires
from Heppner being broken.
Drowned in Houses.
Most of the people who were drowned
were caught in their houses as if in a
cage, without a chance to escape. A
heavy rain had been falling all Sunday
afternoon, and the residents of the
place were mostly at home. Not word
of warning was given as the torrent of
water came tearing down Willow creek,
on the banks of which Heppner is To-
Gated, and the next thing that was
known the houses were crushed to.
gether as if they had been eggshells,
and aQr riaI q of and