The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-16
Scene of Death and Awful Destruction Beyond the
 Power of Words
VICTIMS ARE GIVEN NO
 CHANCE ID ESCAPE
Heppner, Ore, Is DeIused By Flood and Holocaust Ia complete--Work of Relief Rushed By Survivors.
 Other Cities Help.

Portland. Ore. June 15.-Following a cloudburst, a wall of water twenty feet high rushed down the gulch of Willow Creek at dusk yesterday and drowned nearly half of the 125O inhabitants of Heppner, Ore. The furious water carried the residence part Of Heppner away. So great was the force of the water that boulders weighing a ton were rolled along the gulch. crushing everything in their path. Wires, bridges and railroads were swept away, and complete reports have not been received. The most reliable re- ports tonight say that the loss of life at Heppner will be at least 800, though the number of dead probably is larger.
 300 Bodies Recovered. A report from lone, seventeen miles from Heppner, says that 300 bodies car- ried there by the flood have been recov- cred The flood came with such sudden ness that the inhabitants were unable to seek places of safety, and were carried down to death by the awful rush of wa ter. Some of the business part of Hepp- ner, which Is on high ground, escaped.
 Early in the afternoon thunder storm occurred, covering a wide region of coun- try and later a heavy rain storm set in, many of the small streams over flowing their banks in a short time. Bridges were swept away like straws, and the darkness of the night soon made the situation more appalling The people were caught in their houses with no chance to escape. Heavy rain had been falling all the afternoon and the residents were in their houses. With out warning terrific wall of water came tearing down the creek and the next moment houses were wrecked and car ried away on the crest of the immense wave. Many persons were killed outright; others were drowned after heroic efforts to save themselves.
 Bridges Swept Away Like Matches.
 Bridges were swept away like so many matches and all means of communication by wire has been destroyed.
 Messengers arrived at this place report the scene as undescribable. The fact that the accident occurred just before nightfall made 1t the more distressing, as little re- lief work could be carried on during the cover of darkness.
 As soon as possible after the flood sub- sided, the work of relief was begun by the surviving residents.
 Dozens of bodies were found lodged along the bends of the stream, and in ] three deep. Up to o'clock this afternoon two hundred bodies had been recovered within the town
 Buildings ToppIed Over.
 Many of the buildings which were not
 carried away were moved from their foundation or toppled over. 1 Hundreds of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs that had gone into the creek bot | toms for water, perished. | As soon as possible news was sent by
 courier to the nearby towns asking relief | for the stricken people. The Oregon Railway and Navigation company started
 relief train with doctors and supplies
 from The Dalles shortly after noon with
 a party of 100, including three doctors,
 four nurses and supplies of all kinds. Al 1:S0 this afternoon relief train with doc | tors and supplies started for the scene | from Portland. The citizens of Portland
 started a relief fund as soon as the news ] of the disaster spread over the city, and
 within few hours 5000 was raised. | Supplies will be rushed to Heppner as | soon as they can be collected. | Fifteen buildings in Lexington, nine miles below Heppner, on Willow creek, were washed away, but with no loss of life, the inhabitants having time to save themselves from the surg1ng torrent. | At Ione seventeen miles away. damage was done to buildings, though no loss of life is reported Partial List of Dead. | Mrs Carr's family. | Wells, Sr., and family. | ". M. Walton and family. | John Meyers.
 George Tinsiey, wife and child. | Mrs. w. H. Berg. | George Swardard. John M. Herman and wife. | c. E. Maitfield and family. | Boyle Cabots and family. | HC. Gerzer and family. | Joseph Matter. Mrs. Thomas Matter and children. | James Jones and family. l Mrs. E. l.. Ray. | Guy Boyd and family | George Insley and family | Mrs. Taborg. | Harold Jones and family = Wells. | Dr. Vieger. John Ayers and family. Several Chinese. Ben Pattison and wife. l George Noble and family. Occupants of the Hepner hotel. | Matty family. | pr. Higg's child | Mrs. Elliott. Mrs. Elder. William Cohen and family. Redfern, an attorney. and family. | William Watts and family. Mrs Ashpaugh and daughter. | Mrs. Charles Curtis and baby. Cass Mattock. Lawyer Phelps and family. | John Ayers. | Dr. w. Ayers. | Dr. M S. Ward.
 The agent of the O. R. and N. railway and wife. l Kelly Bartley | William Boen and family. ! MT. Hockett and family. | Mrs. Robert Beard and children. | Mir. Web and family | pr. Higgs. child. Herbert Beitholomew's family.