Gilpin observer., 1903-06-18
FIVE HUNDRED DEAD
OREGON TOWN ALMOST WIPED
OUT BY A cLOUDRURST.

In Tcrrent-Corpses Are Found
Piled on One Another Minglins
With Debris.
Portland, Ore, June LITTLE most
appalling disaster in the history Of
this state occurred last evening. when
the town Of Heppner was almost en-
tirely destroyed by a cloudburst and
probably 500 people drowned. Hepp-
ner is the county seat OF Morrow
county and has about 1880 inhabl-
tants. The most reliable reports state
that the loss of life at Heppner will
be at least 500, although the number
OF dead, probably. is larger. All the
telegraph and telephone wires are
| down.
A report from lone, seventeen miles
from Heppner, states that 300 bodies
have been recovered. A messenger
who arrived at lone states that wall
of water twenty feet hign, rushed
down into the gulch in which Eeppner
is situated and carried everything be-
fore it. The flood came with such sud
denness that the inhabitants were una
BILE to seek places of safety and were
carried down to death by the awful
rush OF water Almost the entire resi-
dence portion of the town was wiped
out, but some Of the business part,
which is on higher ground, escaped.
Huge boulders. weighing ton./ were
carried down by the current and many
people killed by being dashed against
the rocky bluff. Early in the afternoon
4 ,a.i,,,
wide region Of country, and later z
heavy rain storm set in, many Of the
small streams quickly overlooking
their banks. Bridges were swept away
like straws and the darkness OF the
night soon made the situation more
appalling.
AS soon as possible after the terrible
flood subsided the work of relief was
commenced by the citizens of the
| town. Dozens of bodies were found
lodged along the bends of the stream
and in several places they were piled
over one another. The buildings
which were not carried away were
moved from their foundations or top
pied over. Hundreds of horses. cattle,
sheep and hogs that had gone into the
| creek bottoms for water perished.
News of the calamity did not reach
the outside world until morning. all
the means of communication having
been cut OF AS soon as possible
news was sent by courier to the near
by towns. The Oregon Railroad and
Navigation company started relief
train from The Dalles with party of
100, including doctors, nurses and sup
plies OF all kinds. The citizens OF
Portland started relief fund as soon
IS the news of the disaster spread
over the city and within a few hours
$4,000 was raised. Supplies will be
can be assembled.
Three Hundred coffins Needed.
Word was received here from lone
that 300 collins were needed at once
at Heppner.
The following is list of the iden-
tilted bodies: Mr.. Krug and family.
Thomas Howard and family, James
Jones and family. DR.. McSwards, Mr
Carr's family. family of c. A. Rhea
Mrs. Charles Andrews and children,
Mrs. Robert Baird and children, MIR.
Wells and family, Jim Matlock. Tom
Matlock's family. DR.. Higg's children.
Miss Elliott. Miss Elder. Bill Cohen
and family. Herbert Bartholomew
family. w. NJ. Walton and family. Mr..
Geiger. John Myers. Ben Patterson,
George Noble and family. Bob Kinds
and family, Mr.. and Mrs Dawson, oc.
cupants of Heppner hotel, Mrs. w. H.
Berg. Mrs. Charles Curtis. George
Tinsley. wife and child. H. A. Boyd's
family. Chris II. Ashbaugh. Carl Jones
and family. George Swardard. John
NJ. Herman and wife. C. E.. Maitfield
and family. Bert Cabots and family.
H. C. Gerzer and family. family Of Ben
Patterson, several Chinese.
Fifteen buildings in the town of
Lexington. nine miles below Heppner.
but with no loss Of life. the inhabi.
tants having time to save themselves
from the surging torrent.
A horseman rode ahead Of the flooo
and warned the people OF Lexington
and lone, and by this means the loss
Of life at those places was prevented
A. p. Brad )ury. a Portland travelling
man, said: The creek. which ordi
narily is ten feet wide and six inches
deep. in less than ten minutes was 400
feet wide and twenty feet deep. The
wall of water could be seen coming
down the gulch. but IL rushed with
such rapidity that the stricken inhab
itants had not time to got out OF its
path. Brick and frame buildings were
whirled down stream for two miles
and many bodies were found along the
bank. The residence portion suffered
most. The Heppnershotel was carried
away but the Palace hotel was left
standing. though the water covered
| tho first nnnr L ID Rail- riIshnh into