The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-16
.HEPPNER
ANOTHER
JOHNST0WN
Five Hundred Lives Lost
in Onrushing Water.
THE FLOOD CAME
WITHOUT WARNING
Inhabitants Had Not Time to
Flee to the Hills.
-,
HUGE BOULDERS
SWEPT LIKE STRAWS
Town Completely Destroyed and Thoss
Houses Which We're Not Swept
Away are Toppled Over and
Wrecked-LifeIess Bodies
Found In Piles After
Flood Receded.
Inhabitants Had Not Time to.
Flee to the Hills.
HUGE BOULDERS
SWEPT LIKE STRAWS
(By Associated Press3

By Associated Press,3
PORTLAND. ORE. June 15,-ytva
hundred people lost their lives In a. cloud-
burst that almost entirely destroyed this
town OF Heppner. Ore, at 6 o'clock last
night
Heppner is the county seat OF MorroM
county and had about 1850 inhabitants.
All the telephone and telegraph wires
are down and no accurate information II
can be obtained, but the estimate Of loss q
of life is based on the most reliable res
ports received up to tonight A report
from lone, seventeen miles from Happ- &,
ner, is toathe effent that 800 bodies have
been recovered. "A messenger, who ar-
rived at lone, snid that q wall Of water
twenty feet high rushed down into the
gulch in which Heppner is situated, cars
rying everything before it.
The flood came with such suddenness 81
that the inhabitants were unable to seek 4
places of safety, and were carried down n
to death by the awful rush of water. "a
Almost the entire residence portion OF n
tho town was destroyed. but soma of tho
business part. which Is on higher ground. a
escaped. n
Huge boulders weighing a ton were carr,
rled down by tho current, and many peo-a&s
pie were killed by being dashed against 4
W TIIUNDER-sToRM.
Early in the afternoon a thunder
storm occurred covering a wide region q
country. and later heavy rain storm
set In. many OF the small streams over
flowing their banks In short time
Bridges were swept away like straw.
AS soon as possible, after the flood
had subsidized the work Of relief was COM
menced by the citizens sof the town.
Dozens of bodies were found in tha
creeks. and in some places they we're
piled over one another. Up to 2 o'clock
this afternoon over two hundred bodies
have been recovered almost within the %
city limits. The buildings which wero
not carried away We're moved from their
foundations or toppled over.
Hundreds Of horses. cattle. sheep ana
hogs that had gone into the creek bots
toms for water pershed. 3s
News of the calamity did not reach
the outside world until to-day. all tho
means of communication having ceased.
AS soon as possible news was sent by
courier to the near by towns. The Ore
gon Railway and Navigation Company
Started a relief train with physicians and
supplies from The Dales shortly after
noon At 1870 o'clock this afternoon an
other train of relief started for the scens
from this city. The citizens OF Port
land started n relief fund as soon as the
news of the disaster spread over the city,
and within a few hours 5000 was raised,
Supplies will be rushed to Heppne1
nc soon as they can be assembled
A PARTIAL LIST.
Following is list Of identified bodieQ
- KRUC AND FAMILY. ~
THOMAS HOWARD AND FAMILY.
JAMES JONES AND FAMILY.
DIR. M'SWARDS.
FAMILY C. A. RHEA.
MRS. CARR'S FAMILY.
MRS. CHARLES ANDREWS AMI
CHILDREN.
- WELLS. sR.. AND FAMILY.
THOMAS 11It1 MATLocK's Family.
DIR. HIGGs' CHILDREN.
MISS ELLIOTT.
MISS ELDER.
WILLIAM COHEN AND FAMILY.
MRS. GIIIGER.
W. NJ. WALTON AND FAMILY.
HERBERT BARTHOLEMEW'S FAAh
lily.
JOHN MEYERS.
GEORGE NOBLE AND FAMILY.
ROBERT KINDS AND FAMILY.
MRS, AND MIR. DAWSON,
OCCUPANTS OF HEPPNER HOTEE
SEVERAL CFf1NAMEN.
MRS. CHARLES CURTIS.
GEORGE EINsLEY, WIFE AND
| CHILD.
H A, ROYD'S FAMILY. q
MRS. w. n BERG.
CHRIS MASHBAuGH.
Carl. JONES AND FAMILY.
GEORGE SWARDARD.
JOHN NJ, KEARNENa AND WIFE.
AGENT o, r, AND N. RAILWAY.
G. %. MAITFIELD AND FAMILY.
ALBERT CABOTS AND FAMILY,
BENJAMIN PATTERSON AND FAM
II. G, GERBER AND FAMILY.
Fifteen buildings In the town OF Lex
,ngton, nine miles below Heppner. on
Willow Creek, We're washed away, but
with no loss OF life, the Inhabitants
having time to save themselves from tho
surging torrent,
AT lone seventeen miles away, COM
siderable damage was done to buildings,
although no loss of life Is reported from