The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-16
TAKEN WITHOUT WARNING.
Victims at Supper When the Awful
Disaster Occurred

Disaster Occurred.
Spokane. Wash, June IA special
to the SpOkesman-Review from Echo,
Ore, says:
n. T. TOOker of the Fairbanks Morse
company of Portland, who was at
Heppner when the awful disaster hap
pened last evening by the bursting of
an immense cloud, arrived here this
evening, being the first to bring out
the news. He was there when the
disaster came and remained until
o'clock this morning. He gives
era phic description Of the terrible af-
fair as follows:
Story of Eyewitness.
The rushing torrent came at $50
last evening, when most Of the inhab
itants were at their evening meal All
were taken so suddenly without warn
ing that nothing could be done TO save
those who were caught in the rushing
water Homes, stores and all build
ings in the principal portion of the
town were torn loose and driven on
ward, one jam causing the water to pile
into another, and then sweep away
again, causing more buildings to go.
sickening Scene.
a low estimate places the dead at
200. The town has a population Of
about LOO, but this morning only
about One-half of the people of the
town could be located We do not
know where they have gone. unless
they have gone down the stream. They
may have gone to the hills. but this is
doubtful The whole affair was one
horrible. sickening scene. with death
and destruction being spread on every
side. From the time the food came
until it went into the regular channel
of the creek flowing through the town
il was about two hours. 1t was about
. o'clock when the storm first started
to gather to the west of the city It
was small. dark cloud at first. but
Z rapidly grew worse. accompanied by
heavy wind and lightning that caused
the water to fall in such an immense
body.
Without Warning.
1T struck fairly in the canyon Of
/ Willow creek. six miles above town.
and there was no warning until the
mighty wall of water had reached the
town. As il came rushing down the
/ creek bed it tore everything before it.
consisting Of trees. large bOulders, sand
and earth When il reached the town
the water was piled over fifteen feer
high as perpendicular wall. splash
Z ing, roaming leaping. and creating a
mighty roaring. rushing sound People
did not have time to get from their
buildings. Those who were on the
4 streets shouted warnings to the people
as they rushed madly TO the hills for
/ their lives. They did not dare to turn
3 back, OK they, too. would have been
swept away Fathers left wives ard
children to perish, as they had not d
moment 70 spare In some cases men
+ returned 70 save members Of their
. families, but il was too late and many
/ were carried to their death while re-
turning.
Work of Rescue.
Those who had reached the banks
3 IN safety Immediately formed them
selves into small rescuing parties and
work was at once started in saving
those that could be reached. Ropes
were the only means that we had. II
was useless to attempt to use other
means Those who were in midstream
could easily be seen Their pitifuI cries
/ Ter help could be heard. but nothing
could be done We could only stand
and see them go 70 their death The
rescuing work was still going on when
7 came away at 3 o'clock this morning.
When I was leaving fifty bodies had
/ been placed 70 the Heppner bank.
where the doors had been thrown open
and was used as morgue- We placed
a guard over the bank all night. When
We allowed the public in al daybreaE K
( the scene was something awful Women
came TO identify their little babies.
( their grown children and their nus
/ bands Fathers came to see their
I dead wives and children.
! Weeping and Wailing.
When the people came in no con-
: troll could be kept over them at ali.
1 Mothers tainted. wives tore their hair
/ and men cried ike little children. Wo-
men tainted at the same time tearing
/ their clothes nearly from their bodies.
/ As it was impossible to keep order all
( had to be excluded and a committee
( formed to identify those that il was
! possible The worst could not be seen
until this morning. one poor woman
was found pinned between two heavy
timbeTs; another woman was found
! with her little oaby in her arms. IN
some of the houses which had been
! washed down stream ard which had
not been shattered there was found
several dead.
Property Damage 100000.
/ 1t is estimated that the damage done
I 10 property alone was $500 600. Some of
I the brick and stone buildings were not
I torn away, but there were some of
them moved from their foundations.
| The buildings on the high fiat were all
I saved, although water reached some of
/ them.
! The goods in several buildings were
! saved. When these merchants opened
+ fer business this morning they sent
/ word 10 the relief committee to come
/ and take what goods were wanted.
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