The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-16
HOUSES WERE WRECKED
AND THEIR OCCUPANTS EITHER
KILLED OR DROWNED.
Storm Was Raging and Roar OF
the Torrent Could Not Be Heard
900 Collins Wanted.

cloudburst, a wall Of water twenty feet
high rushed down the gulch of Willow
creek at dusk yesterday and drowned
nearly half of the 100 inhabitants of
Heppner. Ore. The furious water carried
the residence part of Heppner away. So
powders 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 500. though the
number of dead probably is larger.
A report from lone. seventeen miles from
Heppner, says that 300 bodies have been
recovered The flood came with such sud-
denness that the inhabitants were unable
TO seek places OF safety and were carried
down to death by the awful rush of water.
Part Of the business portion of Heppner.
which Is on high ground, escaped.
IDENTIFIED BODIES.
Following is list of the identified bodies:
KRUG AND FAMILY.
THOMAS HOWARD AND FAMILY.
JAMES JONES AND FAMILY.
DR. M'SwARDS.
FAMILY OF c. A. RHEA.
MRS. CARR's FAMILY.
MRS. CHARLES ANDREWS AND
CHILDREN.
MRS ROBERT BAIRD AND CHILL
UrrrS Sr AMI FAMILY
JAMES MATLOCK.
THOMAS MATLOCK'S FAMILY.
DR. HIGGs's CHILDREN.
MISS ELLIOTT.
MISS ELDER
WILLIAM COHEN AND FAMILY.
MF. GEIGER.
w. NJ WALTON AND FAMILY.
HERBERT BARTHOLOMEW FAM
lily.
JOHN LEVERS.
GEORGE NOBLE AND FAMILY
ROBERT KINDS AND FAMILY.
MR. AND MRS DAWSON.
OCCUPANTS OF Heppner Hotel.
SEVERAL CHINESE.
MRS CHARLES CURTIS.
GEORGE TINSLEY, wife and child.
H. A BOYD'S family.
wRs w. II. BERG.
CHRIS NJ. ASHBAUGH.
CARL JONES and family.
GEORGE SwARDER.
JOHN NJ. HERMAN and wife.
AGENT of the o., r. & N.
c. z. MAITFIELD and family.
BERT cABOTs and family.
BEN PATTERSON and family.
H. c. GERZER and family.
HAVOC OF THE TORRENT.
Early in the afternoon a thunderstorm
occurred. covering a wide region of coun-
try, and later heavy rainstorm set in,
many OF the small streams overfiowing their
banks In a short time. Bridges were swept
away like straws. and the darkness OF the
night soon made the situation more appall-
ing The roar Of the storm deafened the
roar of the water. and the people had no
warning of the oncoming flood. Suddenly 1t
rushed through the town. sweeping houses
from their foundations and drowning the
people in the wrecks OF their own homes.
the dead bodies and wreckage being borne
down the valley. The people were caught in
their houses. with no chance to escape.
Many persons were killed outright Others
were drowned after heroic efforts to save
themselves.
As soon as possible after the flood sub
eided the work OF relief was begun by the
surviving residents. Dozens OF bodies were
found lodged along the bends OF the stream,
and In several places they were piled two
or three deep. Up TO o'clock this after
noon two hundred bodies had been recov-
cred within the town. Many OF the build
ings which were not carried away were
moved from :heir foundations or toppled
over.
Hundreds OF horses, cattle, sheep and
hogs that had gone into the creek bottoms
for water perished.
As soon as possible news was sent by
courier to the nearby towns. asking relief
for the stricken people. The Oregon Rail-
way & Navigation Company started train
with doctors and supplies from The Dalles
shortly after noon. with a party of one
hundred. including three doctors, four
nurses and supplies OF all kinds. At 1:3o
this afternoon a relief train. with doctors
and supplies. started for the scene from
Portland The citizens OF Portland started
n relief fund as soon the news of the
disaster spread over the city. and within a
few hours S. 900 was raised.
Supplies will be rushed to Heppner as
anon as they can be collected.
Fifteen buildings In Lexington. nine miles
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