Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-06-18
HUNDRED DROWNED.
Heppner, Oregon, Almost Entirely
Removed from the Map By
a Cloudburst.
The BODIES LODGED IN THE RIVER.
Many Persons Dashed to Death
Against the Rocky B~luffs-Sews
of the Disaster Conveyed by Mes
senger-Huge Rocks Loosened by
the Waters.

of the Disaster Conveyed by Mes
senger-Huge Rocks Loosened by
the Waters.
Portland, Ore, June 16.-The town
of Heppner has been almost entirely
destroyed by a cloudburst, and proba-
bly, five hundred people drowned.
Heppner is the county seat of Nor
row county, and has about twelve hun
dred and fifty inhabitants.
The most reliable reports state that
the loss of life will be at least five
hundred, though the number of dead
probably is larger. All the telegraph
and telephone lines are down. and nc
accurate information can be secured
A report from lone, II miles from
Heppner, states that 300 bodies have
been recovered. A messenger who ar
rived at lone states that a wall OF
water 20 feet high rushed down into
the gulch in which Heppner is stu
ated, and carried everything before it
The flood came with such sudden
Hess lHul tlle luudultdltS "tIc uudDiS
to seek places of safety and were car
ried down to death by the awful rush
of water.
Residence Section Destroyed.
Almost the entire residence portion
of the town was wiped out, but some
of the business part, which is On high
er ground. Huge boulders weighing a
ton we're carried down by the current
and many people killed by being
dashed against the rocky bluff.
Later a heavy rain storm set in,
many of the small streams overflow
ing their banks in a considerably
short time. Bridges were swept away
like straws, and the darkness of the
night soon made the situation more
appalling.
As soon as possible after the terri
BILE food subsidized the work of relief
was commenced by the citizens of the
town. Dozens of bodies were found
lodged along the bends of the stream.
and in several places they were piled
over one another. Up to two o'clock
Monday afternoon 200 bodies had beer
recovered almost within the city linn
its. The buildings which were moi
carried away were moved from their
foundations or toppled over.
News Sen BY Courier.
News of the calamity did not reach
the outside world until Monday morn
ing, although it happened Sunday
night, all the means of ~communica-
ton having been cut off. As soon as
possible news was sent by courier to
the nearby towns and neighbors look
ing to the relief of the stricken peo.
pie.
Following is a list of the identified
bodies:
- Krug and family.
Thomas Howard and family.
James Jones and family.
DR.. McSwards.
Family of c. A. Rhea.
Mr.. Carr's family.
Mrs. Charles Andrews and children.
Mrs. Robert Baird and children.
- Wells, ST., and family.
James Matlock.
Thomas Matlock's family.
DR.. Higg's children.
Miss Elliott.
Miss Elder.
William Cohen and family.
Mr.. Geiger. -"
William Walton and family.
Harbor+ por+bo1o~anse fo,,ln
John Meyers.
George Noble and family.
Robert Kinds and family.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dawson.
Occupants of Heppner hotel.
Several Cinnamon.
Mrs. Charles Curtis.
George Tinsley, wife and child.
Fl. A. Boyd's family.
Mrs. w. Fl. Berg.
Chris NJ. A%shbaugh.
Carl Jones and family.
George Swardard.
John NJ. Herman and wife.
Agent 0. R. g. N.
c. E. hatfield and family.
Bart Cabots and family.
Ben Patterson and family.
' Fl. c. Gerzer and family.
Fifteen buildings in the town OF
Lexington, nine miles below Heppner,
on Willow creek, were washed away
but with no loss of life, the inhabi.
tants having time to save themselves
from the surging torrent.
At lone, II miles, considerable dam
age was done to buildings, though no
loss of life is reported from there.
Word has been received here from
lone that 300 collins are needed at
once at Heppner. The weather is hot
and it is necessary that the dead
should be buried at once. One hun.
bred collins were sent on the Oregon
Railroad and Navigation overland
train, and 100 more will be sent from
The Dalles aid Portland.
RAILROADS AND THE COURTS.
Trackmen charged with the inspec-
fIop opd ranair ~ tba +rooly. orl~a