Heppner gazette-times., June 11, 1953, COMMEMORATION EDITION, Second Section, Page Page 3, Image 13

Heppner Gazette Times, Thursday, June 11, 1953
THE MATLOCK STORY-
"We Did Nothing
That Somebody Else
Couldn't Have Done"
Page 3
As told to Mrs Tom Wilson
No recording of the events
during the time oi the Heppner
llcod would be complete without
Leslie Matlock's own story of the
heppenings on that Sunday and
of the well-known ride that he
and Bruce Kelley made down
Willow creek to warn the res
idents of Lexington and lone of
the water.
. Numerous writers, some of them
quite well known, have told and
retold the story many times and
oiuuock reus it again here. It
took persuasion to get him to
give it, for he has indicated on
more than one occasion that all
the publicity is rather embar
rassing. He strongly emphasizes
that "We weren't trying to do
anything smart, and we did noth
ing that somebody else couldn't
and wouldn't have done under
the same circumstances." He and
Kelley just happened to think of
it first.
A matter of minutes or a twist
of circumstances meant the dif
ference of life or death to the in
habitants of Heppner when the
tragic flood swamped the town
cutters at Gilliam and Bisbee's
and 1 11 get some horses at the
livery stable."
Orve Rasmus helped me break
in to get the wooden handled
pruning shears we found and then
we took off over the hill behind
the bank, cutting fences where
necessary. Kelley got his own
horse but in the haste and ex
citement grabbed for me someone
else's horse which I changed at
the Frank Rainey place a mile
or two below Lexington. We did
n't talk much, except to call war
nings at homes along the way.
The flood water had already beat
s to Lexington, but we felt we
could make it to lone before the
water hit there. No one question
ed our story and everyone along
the way hurried to higher ground.
Though the flood water had
subsided by the time it reached
lone, after the arrival of Kelley
and Matlock, the townspeople
showed their gatitude to the two
young men by presenting each
of them with a gold-headed cane
inscribed 'Presented by the people
of lone in grateful remembrance
of heroic ride during flood at Hep
pner, June 14, 1903." This is still
I VI M
RELIEF EDITION
HLTFXKIi, ORKGO.N, TIICKSDAY. JUNE 17, vm.
M.
lllllll M
tor, Hot . Air
Timber Land. Act, jin,f 3,
NO'IICE FOR P 'HUCATION.
- AM
:am baths
il y Mcesu'y for pp-fWt liealtk
Ming Vapor Ch Cabinets
nly perfect bath cabinets made
You can get tltem at
urn Drug Co.
?all uiiil examine them.
f TCT Ttl V r m ash ...
A" mrtliAJGK. OS ne lOOkS tOdav at 79 vears of n. Ho nnA
Bruce Kelley, were widely acclaimed at the Paul Reveres of Oregon
iui uieir norbeoucK nae to Lexington and lone to warn residents
theie that the flood wag on its way down the creek. Shown in the
picture is the inscribed cane given to Matlcck by the residents of
one in appreciation icr his ettorts. (GT Photo)
Sunday afternoon fifty years ago,
according to Leslie L. Matlock,
who with his friend, Bruce Kelley,
rode their horses over the hills
to Lexington and lone hoping to
avert further loss of life that
happen there.
In the afternoon, Matlock re
called that he returned to his
room at the Palace hotel after
having dinner with Dr. McSword
at the home of his uncle, T. J.
Matlock. After a call to the Abe
Wells home, Dr. McSword and
John Ayers later went to the Geo
rge Conser home, which circum
stance marked their fate.
Matlock dozed off in the murky
extreme heat and was later a
wakened by claps of thunder.
Going through the hall he re
assured the worried waitresses
that the storm would be harmless,
and went out on the street where
he stood with a young cigar
maker watching the rain.
"Moments later we saw women
running for the hill, so we called
to the men in Swaggert's Sal
oon, now Bucknum's, and all fled
through the storm to the hillside
watching the -destruction in hor
ror." "Bruce Kelley said to me."
Matlock recalled, "Everyone on
this creek will be drowned." I
replied that "If we get some
horses we can beat it clown the
creek." The idea took hold and
a proud possession of Mr. Mat
lock. After remaining at lone- for
part of the night, Kelley, Matlock
Bert Mason and others rode back
to Heppner, arriving about day
light. Amid the destruction and
desolation they learned that the
worst had happened and those
who were left joined in recover
ing bodies.
"My friends, John Ayers and
Dr. McSword ran out of the Con
ser home when the water struck
and were drowned. Mr. and Mrs.
Conser themselves ran upstairs,
which saved their lives, as the
house remained intact as it was
swept downstream to the Meth
odist church with a section of
sidewalk through it," Matlock
said.
Among other victims was Mr,
Matlock's uncle, J. W. Matlock,
who was pulled from an upstairs
porch along with his son, Lee.
The young man had thrown off
his coat and managed to get to
safety after trying unsuccessfully
to rescue his father.
Most of the Abe Wells family,
too, were drowned when the wa
ter tore their house apart. The
body of Mr. Hanby, on whose
farm the flood struck, about 7
miles up Balm fork, was found
at the edge of Gale street.
Feople from some distances
observed the flood cloud that day
Groceries..
' Staple ami Fancy Groceries. New
is being added daily. Large line of
"obaeeos and Confections. -
. ANDREWS
U t,OCt-M'K mm STORE, MAIN' ST.
AGE H
OTEL.
HEPPNER, OREGON.
lustern Oregon.
enieuee.
JJchted by electricity.
Best Munis iu the City.
VDER NEW MANAGEMENT
;CIIAN, J'r, ,
Coiled S'ates land Oftic,
LGmode, Ore on, Hme I. iqo.t.
Kotice i hereby give n UiMt in eouipll-j
SSStTJSSi tXrrgmkd For More Effec
states of California, Oregon, Nevada and I
Washiugtoti Territory," as extended to j
ii the r uouc mm sutca by ct of
August 4, m ,
Georga A. Hill,
ol Plymouth, county of CerroGordo, State
of Iowa, has tbi aSy filed io this ottlce
hi sworn statement No. 3550. for the
purchase; of the ',' Nwjf.N IV K SW U
nee i$, and NKX ifit mv. U. p. 4 ,
r a!. ij. W;-M., oud will oto wuof to
bow that the h"d sought more vlti
bl for It timbtr or out tJsaa for gri
cultural put posts, ud to establish bin
eUiio to aeid toud twfore VawterCraw-
fotd, coanly rink, at hi efSce at Hwp
ar, Otf gon, on Monday, the 17th day of
AtiBOat,
! He natuea a$ witiiMKj: A, W. Baooni,
of Tencil, Iw, William O J'Mtcott, of
Plymouth, Jowa, Lharlea W, Saadereon
ami Winford S. Harm, of l'alouae, Wash.
Any and all pwwjiiaclaiai DitBdvtrn;!
tb bov dtacribed land r reijutMed
to file their claims iu thia office on or ls-
fore aaid 17th day of August, 190J,
jtinal3 E W..4lifi.KW, Kfgltr.
' - Tlmbw taml, Act Jims 3, 1H78.
MftiCK FOil M'iiUOA'l lON,
X'tiitod states Utid Office,
La Uranda, Urgnn, Airil 8U, VM,'
Sotice 19 ltarsby givfn that iu cumuli
ance with the pruvtaion. of the) act of
emigre of JtiuoS, 1S7S, imtittal ,"su
m-x fortiio Kale of tnnlwr luit.t in the
statas ol Odlifomia, Oivston, 'oviia and
Waahiiijjton tttritory," as uxtftidml to
all thw tiuUlii! land suilca by act of Au
HM 4, im.
William P. Sort,
of Oaketlale, county of Whitman, tU
of Washington, lias tills day died in thie
office his sworn utatou.ent No. Efcfi, for
tot the purchase of tha s'g sit1' see 8.
w! atx) 3, n-l-4 nft4' mx IU, tp 6 a,
r i e. w.m., aud will ofjer firoof to sliovt
that the hind sought is oiura valuahls
for He titntwr or toii than for agrkl
turl puipowfs, Atid to estaiilisii his
claim to said land before Vawtr Craw
lord, eouiity t:lprk, at hit 8ic at
nur, Oreirou, on Wtdueadi-y, the iKud
day of July,
H naiuoa . wittiMsus: Van K. 8e
crest and A. i'. Andrt-we, of (Misdnte,
WMiiinitUfU, Ciiarii'S W. tar.ilerison and
Wtftiferd B. lii, of Palonsft, Uaah.
;L HEPPNER
JlKl'l'NKU, ORE ... .. ' ;
JES & ASHBAUCH, Props.
lass A c c p n 1 o j a t i o n h
H.LG NEAT AND 110MKLIKE
: 13.00 'AND UP PER DAY
VV11ITK;: LA HOB :: THROUGHOUT.
MILL & MANUFACTURING GO.
SCOTT, Manager.
nfduto line of machinery for the manufacture ol
Blinds, Native and Hardwood
Furniture,
will lie sit in stock at prices which defy coiupftion
$3.00 and up. Tables front $1.5H up.
$7.00 and up. Kitchen Jewels $3.50
, Wardrobe, etc., at nil prices.
d'if w haven't what yon want we'll make it while
Imre for )'ixir pntronage and we tntonil to get it.
ting tu the wy ot Mill work. Turniuge, Ealustrs,
Mou!diuK, Casinw, Window and )hxr Frames.
ete in the fachiry ready to put in place.
will pay yon. '
HEmVER MUX AX M.pfJFACTCK1.NG CO.
Kelley said, "You get some wireMatlock said. A fellow named
L.k ; f- ff v- .v- ; 7-, J
I? . , ,!- r. Jl-., ..v. 'V X J
i.".i"'miifitaa'"- - ---
HEPPNER DEPOT in the lower end of town was unhurt by the
waters, though it was well surrounded by debris after the flood
receeded. The building still stands and is still being used for the
same purpose, though remodeling has changed its appearance
slightly.
HEREI
An ioitnense stock of
md Summer Shoes
!" AT '
LICHTENTHAl'S .
r hoot and shoe dealer of Heppner, who si- ' .'
ss a big line of Itoots and Kluwa, RubWrs, Etc. - -
epuciaity, and sfttialaction guaranteed, ; y ,'' '
West side of Main Street.
; T. HATTEN..
tOL BLACKSMITH. HAS OPFKLD A '
BLACIf SMITH SHOP -
k.: : , . y . . ..... v' v , . ... ... :,, v.
t - '
"t&il Vard, Hormhoeiiig anil IIfir Work di,ne on
I workinstuhip oianner. He would be pleased W
I patronage, and will ali endeavor (.k-aae you
ILL AROUND AND SEE KIM . ' .
lv tha above dcsciiwu lands aie ritjiita
tcr to file tlifir claims in this office on
or before sni'i 22tui day of July, W03.
m7jy III K. W. Bahti fti , ttev's't'r.
Timher J.aud, Act Jmto 5, 1X7S.
MJTJC'E KM n lll.lt,' Tlu.N.
I'nitsd States JiikI flffice, '
. raUrsndi". Orfiion, Mar 1, 1!1. "
Jiotice is hereltj' given that in compli
ance with the provisions of the act of
congress ol June.t, W, enlitleu ' an
act for the sale or timber lands w the
states of California, (Ireunn, -evals ami
Washington territory," as extended 10
all the public land slates by set of Au
gust 1, lHtti,
Edward L. Moonsy, ,
ol Garfield, county of Whitman, state of
Washington, haa this day filed in this
olTiiie bis sa'ora statement No. S'.SO, for
the purchase of the t sci -4, nw!-4
!l-4, eel 4 sw 1-4, sec8, tp 4 . r2ile,
w ni., mid will offer proof to show that
the laud sought is more valuable lor it
timber or stone than for agricultural
purposes, and to establish hi claim to
said land before Vawter Crawford, coun
ty clerk, at his office at Heppner, Ore,, h
on fcriday, the '.'4th day of Julv,
lie names -as witnesses: Charles A
Oill, Anna M. dwinn, Craoe (i. Qill, ol
(iarlield, Washington, and Charles W.
Sanderson, of JfrluwK,. Washington.
Any and alt persons claiming adverse
lv the alwve deecritad lauds are reques
leil to tile their claims in this ofliee on
or before said 24tb day ol Julv, l'.S)3,
m7jvl K, W. liABri.m, lietiister.
live Work.
i .
150 BUILOIKGS WRECKED.
Completa List of Recovered
A'tnd Mlaslns u r4'c!ock
Vfhi Afternoon-30O0 People
f Clearing Wmckage Today
Xhe work of gathering Uie dead and
i'farlng the wreckage was greatly faclti
ed today. The city council met Tues
ify evening aad affected an organutation
Cm more ivstcinsUe sod ellective work
4 be done. No leas than ,?ooo men are
AtlieiiBK and burying the dead, beside
taadredtof wouiett are working night j
id day preparing food and otherwise
sis Jug tilt! wotk. .'
Following it the city council's order
ksued kst night:
i At a meeting of the City Council held
laeaday evening, it was oidered that all
laborers who do tioi feel ahle to donate
ttic'ur work, will be allowed jj.oo per day
auit board, pel uiu, and fj so per day
t r man sud team,
The followlrg cotuniittfes were ap
piuted: ' Ways and Mesns.--Frank Gilliam,
(ieorge Coosefj fj. M. Shutl.
,Finance.- - M. Wchtcnlhal.
Relief.--Dr. Higs, Ibos, Quaid, A.
tj, Bartholomew,
f Suupliea.J. A. Woolery.
Street Cleaning. D. Muth-ck, Frank
Sobcita, A. Minor, Dave McAtee, Lee
Viatwell. "
i'oliee RcL'ulalious. Al. Knbsrts
4 lw Rasmus, Frank Nutter. -
! Help Needed. t
There is much need for more help in
ftaning debris, m there it yet huge piles
I buildings, a mans of kindling woott,
loitered for miles down the creek that it
(.11 tequlresa enormous force of men
SWwtVAt) 5jrogitii Fie.a-.
cl aid it also needed to relieve the (lis
tressed. .
Hundreds are houielesj and destitute,
every veslage of proprty being swent
away in the twinkling of au tye. and la
nntuerous instances children and even
babes are thrown on the cold mercies of
the world. The distressed are being
provided for at preseut ami thae is little
acute suffering, tut as the hours pars the
Ituatlotf becomes more attained and
outside aid brsunies wore and piore
ajjpreciattd. '
4-
4.
i-
Timber Und, Act Jnuei). 1178.'
XOliCK H' fUIJLlUATlON.
United States Und Office,
I, diraiide, Oregon, April 27, KiOS.
Notice it hereby given that in coniii
m with the provisions of the act of
congrexs ot June 3, lS?H, entitlml "no
act for the sale of timber hinds in the
states oi California, Oregon, iSevaila and
WhintUn territory," m extended to
all the public land suites by act of Ao-
gU8j4. 1'-.
f Ceorira J. Currln,
of Heppner, county of lorrow, state of i
Uregoi), lias inn nay filed in tlusomee
hit sworn statement No. i'li.D, for the
purchase of the ,o! sec 12, tptls,
2it e, w ni, ni will olfer ptoof to show
tiiat the land sought 4s more valuable
for lis tlmlwr or stone than for aunciil
tural pitrposos, and to establish his
claim to said land tofora Vawter Crew
iord, rouniy clerk, M his office at Ilt)p
,er, Oregon, on Weduetdpy,. the fJud
day o( July, ImoS. .
J'le nniries as witnesses: Ilarrioon
Hubs, John U Ayers, Hnniuei Meadows,
tieorge Whines, all of llepimer, Ore. ,
Any utd all persons claiming adverse
ly tha alHive described lauds ure refiies
ted totile their rlatint in this oflwe.on
or heloie said SiJnd dav of Julv, lierd,
isTjylil B. W. lUHttsn, ItetfittBr.
It's too hot to ook these warm days.
Vou don't bare to. Dions Bros, ran
suptil? von with all kinds of loach goods
Burying The Dead.
The work of burying the deal pro
cei-ijs in a a. ore tysiamslic munuer to
day as the tltiiatluQ is not so strained at
fur the first duy and a half Itoiius ate
coming in slower and more time i?giveti
furpionerly preparirg them lor burial,
Corpses sre being brought in Iroiu below
lone, a distance of elhiecu uiibs. Tliu
'report was current this morning that
three dead bodies were men to flait
into the Columbia Kiver 4ii miles dis
tant from Heppner. Doubtless many
will never be recovered.
Die scenes at Roberts hall, which is
used t a morgue, are heart-rending be
yond descripiioa when dead bodies being
Wentilled by relttives. fitorso person
who were out uf town at the nine of the
flood continued to come in to find ap ait
their entire family cither in lb grave,
oror among the missing. It Isa pitiful
hoine-coiuiiig, eeeuva that will touch
the ttiost ruloused heart.
. Roeavered Bodloe '
. ffollowiinj Is a list of the" recovered
Jead up to the time ol going to press:
. IlertHynd
l.ois Kstes i
' J II E Dennis
Mrs Nettie Kinliley
lr F B UcSwords ,
Sialter boy
I). P. JtOVI.aJ
LAWYliRH
Koiipaw, Ortgiw i
Harry Hamby
Gladys Atbbaunh
. kruia Athbuugh .
tst'.lter boy
Sulier boy
Stewart Wylaod
Abe W ells
James Mullock,
J I. Ilockelt
billy A' era
I X. Hockett girl
Will Walton
Mandy Jones
A C (Hger
Fercy Dawson
Ealie Dawsoa
. Xora Floriu
Ada t'urlii .
Mrs Tom Matlock
VnCS yT'lficlJ
Mrs J'erey Dswsoa
CiiaTlev-Cliinsiiisn
Coutee Jap
J M Ivcrnaii
Katie Waitoa
Va,ic Audersort
Pearl Jones
James Willis
Fred Krug gtrl
MrsJ R Dawson
Mrs Frerl Knig
Fred Krng
teah Stalter
Fern Staltei
Mrs T K Howard
Mrs A SWells
'- S Untjum ' -
Mia W VV Lipsett
Anna McUtide
Sam McBrlde
lleo Wells
Mis Jesse Kirk
Mrs Pearl Jones
Jlose Ashbaugh baby
t'okuowu baby
Fred Krug girl
Harry Wells
Chi tinman
Wilfred Mc Bride
Mr I)awson-at the Fair
Betiha Frislo
Mrs C A Rhea
Carl Dennts
Cecil Ashbsugh
ljuie Chiuamau
Frank llatiyman
A M Ounu
Mable Howard
Vukuown Girl
Mrs Padburg
Mand tetHtr
Grover Wright
Chlnaumn
Mrs Long
MrsJ M Kernao
Ora Huberts
Alma MrBride .
Maud Keithhy
Mrs Robert Hyud .
MrFrey-
KCAshbaiigh Girl
Fank Oaley
Wilber Heard
Florence French
Zedda McDowell .
N'elly Howard,
Geo Krug
. IMmwi Hy4 jfiet
Mr bants
Jus Jones
'ella Jenkins
T K Howard
A AbraUauHick
Mrs 11 F Vaughn
Unknown Man
Hoy
. ' " Voman
" ' Small Boy
W W I.iptett
l're'S I.ooney
Mrs Hausby
Mis i!d Rood
Mm Hart ' ',
Mis J J Rolierts
J Long girl
I laid lloiues
Ceo. Thorutoa
Mrs Morgan, elderly ,
Dr It ii Vaughn
Fred Krug boy
E C AthbaugU girl
Billy Ayers Boy
f earl Jones 2 children
Ed Rood Olrl
Freddie Wilis
Zella Junes '
Mark-Chinamaii
Dorris Thornton
Mable Andrews
Mr Ivliu Willis . .
Hazle Mallory
Mrs E C Aehhaugh
Unknown boy -
Mrs Dave Hamilton
Chinaman
JJ Roberta
Clara fuig t
James Dong '
' Mrs A I, Beard , ' I ,w
Cukuown girl
Blaucb F.stes
Robt Stalter
Tha Misting
Following is partial list of the mil
ing: ...--
Mm Nctt Hodges
Mrs Clyde Wells' !
Abe Wells - ' .
Hub Morgan and wife
Mrs Ceo Thornton aud girl
Three of McBrtd family
J L Hockett child '
Johnny Ayera . i ...
Mrs C A Khea's daughter '
K C Asbbaugh's children
fas Jones children
W 1. Ssling and wife ' '
Mm L Hamilton's 9 dangblers
Geo swaggart'e family of y
.Three of Van Winkle family
' VV' W sett child v
Mrs I. W Bank
J K.Csrr baby s '.
iko Kimley, wife sud child '
Mis Guy Byd and i children
Mrs J Ixmg
Mis Beach Haines , .
Din. lvts . . ... ;, ; ..,.' '
anil Bruce
Blanch kedlitld
if rs Frauk llarryinau
jVlaud liliiott
I W tbigg daughter
W A Father of Hayek
Mrs Johu Woodsril
J W Brady, Mr Calhouu
Gray, Taoouia
Andrew i'cteson, Hillsbuio
Mr and Mrs'jeiiklns
Hal Sprinkles
Mrs A M Gunu
Mrs Curtis girl
Mr Stlnr, batik cii it
Wonisu uear Leiington
Child of l'etcy Dawsou
Kora Adkitis
Four Chiuatntn
Mrs Dan Stalter and 2 cbildieu
Beard, family
Wni Church
The Inlorert.
Kohl Hvnd, bruised
Mrs Jus Willis, side cut
lid huod, breast and leg
MrsJ h Hockett, biuietd
Phil Cohu, bruised
Mis H Bartholouiew, j nl broken
Chinamau. leg broken
Tom Matlock, bruised
Wui Ayers, tnuised
(lieu Wells, bruUed
Jim Fit, cut and bruised
Percy Hughes, nose cut
Mrs M Ashbaugb, ear oil
A Abraliamsick, fatally, died last oigln .
Houaea Uostroveel
The following it a patial list of tile
dwelling houses that waie washed awav
and wrecked: Hairy Haiudy, Fred Krug-
house and laundry, W h Muling, D A
Herren, Abialiauuick, W O Hill, Me
Bride, Hockett, Th.oratou, Vaughn,
Howard, Carr.Slmtt, l'ila.Chiua Uuudn ',
Harry Warren, T W Avers five residence's.
Hale, C A Rhea S, Geo, Coiner, Gij.er,
Owney, Hotel Heppner and residence,
Gnun, I'adlmrgil, Jeff French, Wills,
kong, Latrace, W O Minor 1, Abe Wells.
Malloiy, Geo. Kwag-gert, lr Higgs. 11
Bartholomew, J Keillily, Geo. Noble,
Ben I'atlersou, C C 1'atteraon, Hnuilon,
Willis, Welch, Tom iHstlo k, J W Mul
lock, FlUcr, Colin, li,iws,oi,, Ei-yd, Kiul.-
JS',fe'llitjJlV-,itll',.4trl,,jt,at);rl,i
Lundell, II P. Ikcbtcl parsonage, Llpe-.l,
Hj ml, Wills. Vi Wiukle, Siueu.l', A S
Sloeuui, lid Slocum, Morrimu, Stalter,
Morgan, I.aiaud, Gmd.iiu, Farmers hotel
Shipley, Barrett, Bill Ayers, Hi AslibaugU
Whetstoue, Percy Dnwsou, Billy Ion!.
Alfred Ayera, Geo. Wells, the Morgue.
Besides these the Star luliriuit house.
Veagers Furniture store, Cautwell's hi- ;
cycle shop, Feuueils gallery, Patterson
oitice and lumber yam, Horiiei'a oaddie i
shop, the Rasiern rcflanratu, Gilliam jc
Bisbee's luiplenieut wan-house uu,l .he,' I'
Mrs Cohu's Milliuerv. Gentry's larbrr
liop, Kinris Grocery store, .Noble &
Campbells harness shop, are cithc, wish
ed away, wrecked or partially wrecke.1,.
While & Meadows, ham and teed niU
Marble worki, Garrigns hardware and
Implement etore.Jobii Kiusiuaus butcher
shop.
Relief Funds Started,
, As toon as eon 6,'timlion of the disaster
reached Portland the Kveniug Telegram
headed a relief fund with a donation of
ItHI. The subscription mel with iuuue
dia'.e response, and from all quattcra rums
were I rthcomitig to swell the fund,.
These subscriptions came unsolicited,
aod were In cash, which ws? immediately
available for the purpose of relieving the
distress of the sullerers. The Tclegrsr.v
is holding the amounts suUactibeit in
trust to be turuel over to ihe proper au .
thorities when tha plnut become better
perfected. The following amounts wei
subscribed duriug the da;:
Rvening Telegram
Paul Strain
Woialard, Clarke it Co
Filers Piano House ,
Captain William (iadsby
A. At. eHeiabaolt .,-. .....,.,...,,.
U. C. Breeden
Security Saving! & Trust Co
City Messenger Delivery Co. . . .
Olda, VVortman King
First National Bank ,
Meier He Frauk Company
Samuel Rosenblatt.
tllfcl
. list
100
!!
ll,
lUOi
IKI,
ilM
$su,j
Tolat ,
Times Relief Edition. i
Tho protoil of this edit on of Tmc '
Times will every cent go Into the relief
fund for the benafit of the destitute, i
The prio will be 10 cenU a copy, but j
vititor ad atmnger it Is in lhll of th :
orphans. The, penuilea oothrs,j
dugbter, hutiand,n!l you only, a
atst to relieve those in dire dlttrest by
buying aeopy. The list are at accurate sa
il Is passible to proenrs eud ih'"ottljr
reliable ones yet published.' Tlwte were
a few mistakes la yesteredaya dltioar
but are corrected today. The information '
here given has been eollected by a re.j
porter on tne ground from the ey ii
ttK-ncement of the tlood who is Ismiluer'
whu toe wet, aua M tlwre fer re
liable.
(CtlJiTll'ltli OV EMM PACK)
Pole Thompson, livng five or six
miles below Cecil, remarked to
two cowboy companions that
when that cloud broke there
would be more water in Willow
creek than had ever been seen in
it before. Ben Swaggart, some 12
miles from Heppner on Swaggart
Buttes, also saw the black, omin-,
ous cloud.
The next day, Guy Boyer, then
a lad Iving up Hinton creek, was
sent on horseback to Echo where
he took the train to Pendleton
to announce the fate of Heppner.
At the news, people teams and
AID GOES FROM WALLA WALLA
(From the Oregonian, June 16,
1903)
WALLA WALLA, Wash., June
15 Special Mayor Gilbert Hunt
this afternoon called the city
council together in extraordinary
session to take action in the re-
horses came from Pendleton in
record times and on dead runs to
bring help to us.
lief of Heppner, Or. Councilman
McLean. City Attorney Blandford
and James R. Kidwell were ap
pointed a committee to go in im
mediately with supplies and to
report upon aid to be forwarded
later. The committee left at 10
o'clock, going as far as Echo, Or.,
by train and packing into Hepp
ner from there. They took along
500 loaves of bread and a num
ber of sides of bacon,
REPRODUCED HERE is most of the front paga of one of the first edi
tions of the Heppner Times to give a fairly complete list of the
names of the dead, missing and injured. Though the dateline says
Thursday, June 17, 1903. it apparently was In error, as June 17
would have fallen on Wednesday. Listed were 129 dead, 44 miss
ing and 14 injured, one of whom it was reported had "died last
night." According to the most accurate reports, the final death toll
rose to 251 persons. The ads, parts of which show in the cut, tell
of "Vapor, Hot Air and Steam Baths . . . absolutely necessary for
perfect health. The Buckeye Folding Vapor Bath Cabinets ... the
only perfect bath cabinets made." They were available at the
Slocum Drug Co. Other businesses were also represented. This
copy of the paper, which was photographed for reproduction, is the
property of Gene Noble, and is kept in safety at the courthouse.
The Gazette Times has no files prior to 1918, all of them having
been lost in the fire of that year,