The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-06-20
TERRIBLE SCENE At HEPPAER.
THREE HUNDRED BODIES HAVE
BEEN RECOVERED.
Two Hundred More Are Missing
Property Loss Will Also Be Enor-
Siekenine Scenes at the Morsue-
Hail 8 Feet Deep on the Streets.


Sunday night, and 200 more are miss,
ing. Property loss of $500 900 Is sut' |
situation still another cloudburst, for /
tunately not attended by loss OF life, /
swept away property valued at $40,
900. Heppner, where thousands OF dol.
lars OF the wealth Of Morrow county
mas been gathered for years, and
which was thrown into nearly com,
plete destruction by the immense
cloudburst OF Sunday night, presents
one OF the most notwithstanding scenes
that have come to any part OF the ma
ton FOR years The mighty current
moved its way directly through the
center OF the town, leaving standing
only the buildings on the hilsldes OF
the canyon The path OF ruin covers
stretch from $50 yards in the narrow.
est part OF city to 500 yards In the
widest part
The work Of searching for the dead
Is progressing under intense pressure
Three hundred bodies have been re
covered, and II Is estimated that 200
are still missing The dead have been
taken from New Fallon creek. and the
work Is concentrated on the hundreds
OF piles Of debris throughout the zone
Of destruction The loss OF property
can not be estimated. but II IS thought
TO be $500 900 or much more.
Never in the history Of wreckage
81 Hood was such great disaster
wrought in such short time II was
all brought about in less than two
hours. The torrent which brought
death, ruin and destruction 10 this
quiet but prosperous town. came from
Willow creek This canyon. which Is
TO the south OF the town. never carries
water only In the springtlme. IL was
perfectly dry up to only a few min.
utes before the food came. The cloud,
burst came six miles above. and IL was
OF such magnitude that when II came
down II covered an area OF three
square miles.
Willow Greek canyon Is fed by mum
erous small gulches. and this aided 10
MI the canyon with an ocean OF wa.
ter. The water moved Ia a solid body
The mouth OF the canyon. Just at the
town. Is exceptionally narrow. and
when the water reached there II piled
mountain high. resting for a moment
then lunging forth. It gave no warn.
ing. and while families were preparing
to spend a quiet Sunday evening. the
hand Of death was on them.
The greatest ruin was near the creek
proper.
Jam after jam was created by the
larger buildings and trees which stood
in the path Of death and ruin. In the
Jams the water would pile sometimes |
80 feet high. rest for a moment and
then leap forth to another place. Build |
.ngs were shattered like matchwood |
poles and green trees To the thickness
1f 20 inches we're snapped OF as easily 1
As the breaking OF pipe stem.
Crushed by Shifting Timbers.
The leaping Of the water and the VIC /
ent and rapid shifting Of timbers are
what created such a long list OF dead
People trying to make their escape
we're in many instances killed instant
y and not drowned. Some people who
we're Just within one step Of safety
we're knocked to the ground: others
ust as they were gra5ping a helping
land. were swept from their feet and
ost in the tide Although the roaring
II the food deadened almost every
ound shrleks Of sorrow and terror
'ould be heard family on every side.
Al the Morgue.
Probably the most sickenlng nolnt
II the present activity Is ut the
norgue. Roberts hall Every few min.
ties a new victim is brought to the
'lace In rough. heavy wagons. which
re constantly driving to the great
lies Of debris. When brought in the
tctim can only be recognized as that
7 human body. The bodies are GOV.
red with mud. slime. grass and weeds
uIiy 30 men and women await at the
all to hurriedly dress the bodies
mich are Immediately carried away to
he cemeteries. People looking for
Missing relatives are In waiting. and
> the wet earth is gradually cleaned
rom the faces Of the victims sbrieka
pain. agony and terror can be heard
rom men and women Brave women
re giving assistance at the morgne.
'eople who at other times wound
woon before such sights. do the work ,
almly and with only an expression ,
7 agony and sorrow on their thin ,
ices The bodies are quickly bathed ,
trapped In coarse white cloth. placed
rough boxes and then carried tn the
urying ground. where a large crowd
engaged in digging graves and coy. g
ring the boxes. Before many Of the !
odles are allowed to be taken AWAY 2
10 relatives will cut a lock OF hair ,
Ike piece Of the destroyed clothing T
secure some other article. which ia r
be held by the remaining members
the family MS something to rrmem.
pr this horror stricken occasion.
At Work on the Debris. h
The outdoor scene Is nearly as had ;,
undreds Of men are Mt work In ANAL :,
eWs on the hnnns Of ruins ,,LtL =