The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-06-19

FOFuand' Ore. June IA s2e.
Ga to The Oregonian uom lone. Ore.
says:
David McAtee. a business man Of
Aeppner. whose residence is above
heppneF. was al eyewitness OF the
9iSASter. In company with Frank
opau'oing' ne lert Heppner about
80 o'clock Sunday night on horse
back.
Wall Of Water Descended.
On Sunday afternoon" .aid Mr.
heAtee. there had been q very Sc
we're rainstorm accompanied with
much wind and lightning. was
staining in front of the house and
nouced that a cloud OF remarkable
oenseness approached the top OF the
NIL on the east side OF the CANYON. |
turned for a moment when a roar
caused me 70 look again at the hill
saw a wall Of water whose height [
would be afraid 10 guage rushing down
the mountain carrying immense trees
and tlmbers on its crest and tearing
every rock from its foun 5ation- This
terrific storm struck the upper part Of
The town first The residence OF
Iaomas Howard was the first 20 fall,
and his entire family was drowned.
In the Krug home also every person
was drowned as was also the case in
the Hale and Sailing residences. All
OF these houses were about four o.
nve blocks above the business center.
The house OF Abram Hamsick was
entirely demolished. The Palace no
tel was the first building to stem the
tide, and al the guests were saved.
but the houses below the Palace no
tel were blown out into the street. over.
turned and wrecked. The residence
OF {. A. Shea was carried away. and
the entire family. consisting OF
wife and three daughters and Miss
Adkins. cousin. were lost. The hus
band was absent in Portland attendins
the Masonic convention c. E Rec.
held, whose house was completely de-
stroyed. was also absent with Mr..
Rhea in Portland. and his wife and
baby were drowned. The body OF
Mrs. Redfeld is among the recovered
Carried Down Stream.
"A {. Gieger's residence was car.
he'd away and Mr.. Gieger was drown.
ed. His family IS in the east. George
Corser's house was next, but the fam
lily succeeded in saving their lives b!
rushing TO the upper stories. the house
being carried down the creek three
quarters OF a mile. When reached
by rescuers they found that the house
had been cut IN two and Mr.. Corser
was standing in. water UP 70 his neck
hohding his wife uopn the roof and
keeping her from slipping with his
outstretched arm. Mr.. McSward AMI
J. Ayers. who were living in the same
residence. were drowned. Oscar Nj.
ner's house was next demolished
and Mrs. Miner was drowned.
Many Narrow Escapes.
The rest Of the family succeeded
IN saving their lives by clinging TO the
roof. All the Wells family but tvs
were lost. and the house was carried
away. With the Wells residence went
the house OF George Swaggert. Mr.
Swaggert's two married daughters
were drowned and their FIVE children.
Mrs. Mallory was carried $50 yards
and was found lodged against a store,
and Mr.. Mallory. a crippled old man,
was found safe. holding a baby. JIM
Matlock'. house was next. Mr.. Mat
lock was drowned. but his family was
saved. Dr.. Higg's house also went
Here one child was drowned, but the
rest OF the family escaped. Mrs
Elder was drowned in her residence
The houses OF Mr.. Boyd and Mr.. Wal
ton were also destroyed and both fam
lies lost
Perhaps the greatest loss OF lits
occurred at the Heppner hotel. The
hotel, which was run under the man
agement OF Jones & Ashbaugh. was
carried away. II is supposed that
there was about so guests IN this no
tel. all OF whom are reported 10 be
lost The proprietors themselves were
saved. but their families are among
the tead.
Residence Portion Destroyed.
The house, OF Ben Patterson. Mr
Dunn and Mr.. Noble were entirely de.
moliShed and all persons IN these three
families drowned. as were the FAINT!
lies OF James Jones ard Henry Blair
The barn Of Or. Swineburne and the
big livery stables OF Whytes & Mea.
dows were entirely destroyed. E. J.
Farnsworth and Phillip Cohen were
also drowned. The entire residence
portion Of Heppner was destroyed. but
the business houses being on higher
ground and built Of brick and stone.
were not so badly damaged TIE
schooIhouse and courthouse. which
stand on the side OF hill. were saw.
I'd but two churches. the Methods:
and Presbyterian, were completely
wrecked.
Around the depot the rising watec
left great heaps Of driftwood piled
higher than the roof Of the station.
Foroat