The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-16

Portland, Ore, June IA special to the
Oregonian from lone says David Nc
Aztec, a business man of Heppner, whose
residence is on a ranch above that place,
was an eye witness Of the flood disaster.
In company with Frank Spaulding he left
Heppner about 1880 o'clock Sunday
night on horseback.
ION Sunday afternoon said Mr.. Nc.
Aztec, there was a severe rain storm ac-
companied by much wind and lightning.
I was standing in front Of the house and
noticed that ascloud Of remarkable dense
ness approached the top of the hill on the
east side of the canyon. I turned for a
moment when a roar caused me to look
again at the hill. I saw wall of water,
whose height would be afraid to guage,
rushing down the mountain carrying I'M
mense trees and tinbers on its crest and
tearing the very rocks from their founda
lions. Is
'The terrific storm struck the upper part
Of the town first The residence of Thorn
as Howard was the first to fall and his
entire family was drowned In the Krug
home also, every person was drowned, as
was the case in the Hale and Sailing res
idence. All of these houses were about
four or five blocks above the business
center"
Palace Hotel Saved.
The house of Abram Hamsick was en-
tirely demolished. The Palace hotel was
the first building to stem the tide and all
the guests were saved, but the houses be-
low the Palace hotel were blown out into
the street, OVERTURNED and wrecked. The
residence of G. A. Rhea was carried away
and the entire family, consisting of his
wife and three daughters and Miss Ad-
k1ns, a cousin, were lost. Rhea himself
| was absent in Portland attending the Ma
sonic convention.
G. 3. Redfield, whose residences was
completely destroyed, was also absent with
MI. Rhea In Portland and his wife and
baby were drowned.
- The body Of Mrs. Redneld is among the
| ruins. A. c. Gtegers house was carried
| away and Mr.. Gieger was drowned. His
family is in the east.
George Concer's house was next reached,
but the family succeeded in saving their
| lives by. rushing to the upper Stories the
house being carried down the creek three
quarters of q mile. When reached by the
,rescuers it was seen that the house had
been broken in two and Mr.. Concer was
IN the water up to his neck holding his
wife up on the roof and keeping her from
slipping. Dr.. Westward and J.. Ayers.
who Were living in the same residence
were drowned 49,.
Stories Of Casualties.
Oscar Miners house was next denol-
ished and Mrs. Miner drowned. The rest
| of the family succeeded in saving their
| lives by clinging to the roof All Of the
! Wells family were lost and the house car.
= ried. away. With the. Wells residence
went the house Of George Swaggert. Mr.
i swaggert's two married daughters were
! drowned with their five children. The
! Mallory house was carried $50 yards ant
was found lodged against a store and Mr.
Mallory, crippled old man, was fount
safe holding baby. Jim Matlock's hous,
i was next. Mr.. Matlock was drowned, bu
his family was saved. DR.. Riggs hous,
1 also went.
Here one child was drowned, but tn,
rest of the family escaped. Mrs. Eide
was drowned in her residence. The house
Of Mr.. Boyd and Mr.. Fallon were ais
. DESTROYED and both families lost
sons in his residence, altho. they wer
badly bruised. The house itself wa
washed away.
Fifty Hotel Guests Perlshed.
Perhaps the greatest. loss of life oc
CURED at the Heppner hotel. This house
which was run under the management o
Jones & Ashbaugh was carried away.
is supposed that there were about fit
guests in this hotel, all OF whom are sal
: to be lost. The proprietors themselye
, were saved, but their families are anon
the dead,
The house Of Ben Patterson, Mr.. Sun
and Mr.. Noble were entirely demnolishe
and all persons in these three familfe
drowned, as were the families Of Jane
Jones and Henry Blair. The barn of 81
, Swinnburn and the big livery stable {
Whites & Meadows were entirely de
: stroyed. e. ]. Farnesworth and Philli
: Conn were also drowned
. b Residence Portion DESTROYED,
The entire residence portion of Heppne
was destroyed, but the business houses
being on higher ground, and being gener
), ally built Of brick and stone, were not s
!. badly damaged The schoolhouses an
: courthouse, which stand on a hill, we1
: saved, but two churches the Methods
and Presbyterian, were completed
wrecked