Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-06-16
WHOLE TOWN
DESTROYED
Hundredsiof People; Said to Be
Drowned by the Great Flood
in Orefon.
MANY BODIES OF
VICTIMS RECOVERED
Homes Wrecked and Damage Is
Estimated at 81, 600. 900
by. Authorities.

Spokane, Wash, June ia mighty
wall of water rushed down the valley
of Willows creek about $3.50 p. m. Sun
day and swept through the town of
Heppner, Ore, dealing death and de-
struction in its path. The dead are es-
timated to number from $50 to 500.
The property loss is reckoned at
81 900, 900.
Eeppner is situated in the narrow
valley of Willows creek. AdviceS to the
Chronicle state that great storm
was raging Sunday afternoon. About
$3.50 O'Clock cloudburst occurred q
short distance above Heppner and
wall of water like the Columbia river
rushed down the valley, The roar OF
the storm deafened the roar of the
water and the people had no warning
of thecoming flood. Suddenly.it rushed
through the town, sweeping houses
from their foundations and drowning
the people in the wrecks of their own
homes, dead bodies and wreckage be-
ing borne down the valley.
Scores are still unaccounted for.
At last reports los bodies had been re-
covered, and it is feared that three or
four times that number persisted. The
flood subsidized quickly.
At Lexington, Ore, some houses
were wrecked. but no one wasdrowned.
AT lone, Ore. one house was wrecked.
The railway, telegraph and tele-
phone lines were badly damaged in the
valley.
At Heppner the residence district
suffered most, though the business seq
ton was flooded. Advices at noon state
that the county authorities are taking
care of the sufferers. BesideEt the dead,
from 100 to 200 people are reported in
jured.
Heaviest Rain of Year.
Albuquerque, N. NJ, June 15.--This
section has just been visited by the
heaviest rain of the year, accompanied
by what almost amounts to cloud"
burst in the Jemez mountains, north
of this city A sudden rise came in the
Rio Grande, and Albuquerque is again
in imminent danger of being sub
merged. Los Cerrilos, eight miles up
the river, is completely under water,
and the people have fed to the hills,
taking such of their household goods
as they could load into wagons. Ala
media, where the lake that protects
albuquerque is located, is also under
water, and the people have fled, leav-
ing their homes to the mercy of the
floods. A break 40 feet wide is report
ed in the levee near the tracks of the
Santa Fe railroad and directly above
the city, and large force of men have
been hurried there to stop the break, 1t
possible.
If the attempt fails, 1t is hoped to
stop the water at one of the several
irrigation bitches that lie between the
dixie and the city.
1t is reported here that the bridge at
Galisteo, on the main line of the Santa
Fe, has been washed away. This will
again cut Albuquerque off from com.
munication with the east, and will tie
up the Santa Fe for several days.
CIoudburst I'm Montana.
Butte, Mont, June 15.-Traffic
throughout eastern Montana on the
Northern Pacific is almost at stand.
still as a result of severe cloudbursts
Sunday. Near Park City, cloudburst
sent wall of water about 20 feet in
height and about the same number Of
feet in width crashing down the valley.
The Northern Pacific road spans the
valley creek with a long wooden bridge
over 100 feet high and one section with
30 feet of trackage was carried away.
Believe Report Is Exaggerated.
Portland, Ore, June 15.-Heppner Ia
situated in a gulch and a cloud burst
would cover part of the town.
1t is generally believed here that the
reports of loss Of life are exaggerated,
as the entire population of the town i,
| only 1900. The message from Ione
says that among the drowned are DR.
| McSwards and the family of C. A. Roy
1t is also reported that the village OF
Lexington has been swept away. The
pany has sent relief train from
| The Dalles.
Baseball "Fan" Goes Insane.
New York, June 15.-Thomas Dona
| hue, native of Harrison, n. j., ha,
become insane through excitement
over baseball game. Donahue was Ct
inveterate "fan." The other day he
| witnessed game between Newark ano
| Buffalo teams, which resulted In q
score of one to nothing. He became
! greatly excited and his friends, who
| say he has been acting strangely ever
since, finally had him taken into Gus
| tody by the authorities.
Four Drowned.
Montreal, June 15.-Pierre Suay, g
| carter, took his wife and family OF
| three children and a neighbours chic
| to Bout L Isle for an outing Sunday
| While rowing in fat-bottomed boat
the craft capsized. Suay, his wife and
| two children were drowned. One OF
his children and the neighbours child
| were saved.
Pioneer Dead.
| Webster City, Ia, June 15.-Cyrua
| Smith, pioneer resident of this city.
| died Monday morning, aged SO years.
/ TT. 1890 Ioro - cd