Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1903 — HUNDREDS ARE DEAD [ARTICLE]

HUNDREDS ARE DEAD

CLOUD3URST DESTROYS TOWN UCV OF HEPPfsUtR, ORE. L . ° M Awful Calamity in tlic Far Weat— Meager Details Which Reach the Coaat Tell of Terrible Lose cf Life and Property. Wors, was received jn Portland Monday that the little town of Heppiter, Ore., was destroyed by a waterspout Sunday evening and that between 400 and 500 lives were lost. Only meager reports were received, but as it was stated that 105 bodies were recovered by 5 o’clock in the morning, the belief was held that the disaster is one of the worst known in the Pacific coast States. Heppncr is a town onrbout 1,250 inhabitants, the seat of Morrow County, Oregon, at the terminus of a branch of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. Farming and stock raising are the chief industries. Cause! by Cloudbursts. Willow creek, which is given as the cause of the disaster, is ordiuarily a small stream and early reports indicate the flood was caused by either one or two cloudbursts. It is said the waterspout descended- •eiH'-tbe-- town shortly after G o’clock Sunday evening. The torrent rushed down Willow creek, causing tfhe stream to overflow its banks aud spread over the doomed village so suddenly that few of the inhabitants had a chance for their lives. News of the disaster came to Portland from lone and Arlington, which had telephone communication with Heppner. The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company general offices received a telegram from lone stating that the company’s station at Heppner was washed away by a flood and that many people were drowned. Later advices from Arlington estimated the loss of life at more than 400.