The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-16

lOhILAND, ore, June Io-Ine
most appalling disaster in the
history of this state occurred last
evening about 8 O'Clock when the town
Of Heppner was almost entirely de-
stroyed by a cloudburst and probably
500 people drowned. TIeppner is the
county seat OF Morrow county and has
about 1850 Inhabitants. The most re-
liable reports at 6 o'clock this evening
state that the loss of life at Heppner
viii be al least 500 though the number
Of dead may be larger. All telegraph
and telephone wires are Gown and no
accurate information can be secured
Three Hundred Bodies Recovered.
y report from lone seventeen miles
from Heppner, states that 300 bodies
nave Deen recovered. A messenger
who arrived at lone states that wall
OF water twenty feet high rushed down
In the gulch in which Heppner is stu
ated and carried everything before it.
The flood cane with such sUddenness
mat the Inhabitants We're unable to
seek places of safety and were carried
down to death by the awful rush of
wafer. Almost the entire residence pOr-
ton of the town was wiped out but
some of the business part which is on
higher ground escaped.
Dashed Against Rocky Bluff.
Huge boulders weighing ton were
carried down by The torrent and many
people were killed by being dashed
against the rocky bluff Early in the
afternoon a thunderstorm occurred
covering a wide region of country. and
later heavy rail-storm set in, many
OF the small streams overlooking their
banks in an incredibly short time
Bridges were swept away ike straws
and the darkness OF the afternoon
made the situation more appalling.
Scene of Desolation.
As soon as possible after the terrible
Hood subsidized the work OF relief was
commenced by the citizens of the town
Dozens of bodies were found lodged all
along the bends of the stream and in
several places they were piled over one
another. Up to O'Clock this after
noon 200 bodies had been recovered al
most within the city limits The build
ings which were not carried away were
moved from their foundations or top
pied over Hundreds Of cattle, horses,
sheep and hogs -ha- had gone into the
creek bottoms for water persisted.
News Sent by Courier.
News Of the calamity did not reach
The outside world until this morning
all means of communication having
been cut OF As soon as possible news
was SEM by courier 10 nearby toxins
and measures looking 70 the relief of
the stricken people were commenced
The Oregon Railroad & Navigation
company started relief train from
The Dalles shortly after noon with
party of 100 including three doctors
four nurses, fifty horses, blankets and
supplies Of all kinds. At 1870 this
afternoon a relief train with doctors
and supplies started for the scene from
this city. The citizens of Portland
started a relief fund as soon as the
news Of the disaster spread over the
city and within a few hours $3.50 was
raised. Supplies viii be rushed to Hep
pner as soon as they can be assembled.
The following is a list of the identi-
fed bodies.
Identified Dead.
Thomas Howard and family.
Krug and family, James Jones and
family Dr. McSwards family of c A
Rhea, Mr. Cars family, Mrs. Charles
Andrews and child, Mrs. Robert Baird
and children. Wells. ST. and family.
Jim Matlock Tom MatI0Ck's family,
DR.. Higg's child, Miss Eliot, Mrs. FL
der, Bill Cohen and family, Herbert
Bartholomew family, w II. Walton
and family, Mr.. Ceiger. John Myers.
Ben Patterson. George Noble and fam
lily, Bob Kinds and family. Mr. and
Mrs. Dawson. occupants Of HeppneT
hotel. several Cinnamon Mrs Charles
Curtis, George Gnsley, wife and child,
H. A. BOyd's family, Mrs w. H. Berg,
Chris NJ. Ashbaugh Carl Jones and
family, George Swaddard. John NJ
Herman and wife, agent o.. r q N. g
+. Matfeld and family Bert Cabots
and family. Ben Patterson and family,
H c. Gerzer and family.
Storm at Other Towns.
Fifteen buildings IN the town of Lex
EngtOn, nine miles below Heppner on
Willow creek, were washed away but
there was no loss of life the inhabit-
ants having had time 70 save them
selves from the surging torrent
At lone, seventeen miles away. con-
siderable damage was done to build
ings though no loss o. life is reported
from there