The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-06-26
RELlBp FOR HEPPNBR
over Thirty-five Thousand Dol.
lars Contributed.
work Among the Ruins Confines
-1S1 Bodies Recovered-4O
Persons Still Missing

Inc total amount of money con-
tributed for the relief Of the sufferers of
the Heppner food has reached the ann
OF $50, ,357 So. Aside from this cors
ioaued with provisions. clothing and alI
necessities OF life have been received hv
the committee in charge OF the work IL
renewing the destitutiOu in the stricken
city. The northwest has come nohIv ~
the rescue. The amount Of the cnntribu-
tlons will doubtless be swelIed consider
aoiy during the coming week. The town
Is becoming more quiet and people are
realizing the actual situation.
One hundred and eighty-one bodies
nave been recovered and all have heen
Identified with the exception of half a
dozen. The search for the dead stilI
continues, but slowly owing to the dis
tance being so great. Headuuarters
VIII likely be established at Lexington.
nine miles away. About 300 men are
searching Tor the missing, which number
about 80 or 40. The following IL a par
tlal list of those missing:
D: H. HOckett's child, Elsie Jones. Mrs.
l.. hamIltons daughter, W. w. Lipsett's
enid, j. X. Carr's baby, Guy Boyd's
chiid, Mr.. Stein, bank clerk; woman near
lexington, Ralph Mcbride, G.. II.
Beal. Old man Blakely, Mrs. Andrews.
James Beard, Otis Bulls, John Connor.
William Church and Ora Kelly.
Carelul work is being done upon the
drifts, 1t being feared that bodies may
nave been overlooked. The work has
been carried within two miles of Lexing.
ton. The men working have remarked
upon the scarcity of flies, as they had
hoped to be guided by them.
There seems to have been a gang of
systematic robbers. Within the cup
BOARD OF one house that had foated
away, everything was in perfect order.
put $53O IN money was missing. This
ls but one OF many similar cases. Peo.
pie who do such az this will be shown no
quarter. In the face OF all the wretched-
ness and misery, then to be robbed of
the little left is too much for men to en-
dure.
Bad OdOrs at Heppner.
With the cleaning up of the city, which
was two thirds destroyed by the horrible
Hood over a week ago, the stencil has
become nnbearable. Diseases of many
kinds are expected to break out at any
time. AS result of this, men who still
reside here are sending their families out
OF the city until the wreckage can be
cleared away.
The worst odors come from vaults.
cellars, wells and cess pools, which were
filed with debris, mud and slime. Con
trary TO anticipations, no bodies were
found in these places. The work of
pumping out these places s nearly com
pleted and disinfectants are placed in
them az quickly as possible. AIkali dirt
was used IN most instances.
Part of the stencil comes from the wet
street beds Once heated bv the sun
they soon became an i'll smelling mass,
and this greatly retarded the men at
work, and il will take much time to do
the cleaning
For time an epidemic of diarrhoea
was feared. This came from general
use OF ice water The ice supply has
been reduced and citric acid lemonade il
now drunk. The water is still extremely
bad.
The local electric light and water com
pany is getting it's plant into shape as
rapidly as possible. 1t will probably re-
quIre another week to do this work.
Heppner will BE Rebuilt.
Already preparations are under way
by large number OF Heppner people,
who lost their homes, to reconstruct
homes and business blocks. Although
they deeply grieve the awful destruction
OF life, they feel that it was one OF those
catastrOphes that cannot be averted
and that the town may never witness
another such visitation. With this view
OF the situation rebuilding will be in
augurated at as early date as possible.
T.. A. Rhea, banker; George COnser,
banker; Chris Borchers, j. B. Natter, r.
W. Ayers and others have signified their
intentions of building residences and
business blocks, some of which will be
brick or stone. Twenty new buildings
are already contemplated, and 80 more
will be under way in 30 DAYS. The
general impression is that Heppner will
be better town than ever before, more
substantial, and that the reaction will
be In favor OF business. The street work
is progressing rapidly, and there is a
general feeling of relief from the long
mental strain. Conditions are shaping
into more business-like and organized
efforts. The relief committee asks for
more funds, as the $35, 900 received to
date is nearly exhausted by the drain of
1920 daily.