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Show n i - r r i i t r \ uionoinrv Page 6 The Heppner Gazette gave this account of the ride: Not a soul thought it could be done . . . clash went the cruel spurs and two horses tails that stuck straight out were soon out of sight. Over the hills and rocks, through barbed wire fences on they went in their wild ride for life. Twice Matlock's horse fell, the last time on the rider's leg, but undaunted he leaped into the saddle and was away. For nine miles to Lexington it was neck and neck and as the little town was reached, Matlock's horse dropped, sacrificed for human life. He secured a fresh horse and striking the road they took even chances with the flood.7 Hearing the onrushing waters, citizens of Lexington evacuated the little town before Matlock and Kelley arrived. Although fifteen buildings were destroyed, no lives were lost in Lexington. The riders beat the flood to lone. The city of lone later presented Matlock and Kelley each with a goldheaded cane inscribed: "Presented by the people of lone in grateful rememberance of heroic ride during flood at Heppner, June 14, 1903." With the longest day of the year only a week away, an hour of daylight remained for survivors to search for the dead and injured. From then on it was by lantern, candle, and moonlight. Along the valley, pools of water glowed with reflected moonlight. During the night a false alarm that another flood was bearing down on the stricken city sent townspeople scurrying to the hills-it turned out to be only a swell three or four feet deep. On Monday morning the work of locating and burying the dead continued. Teams of horses were used to dissemble piles of debris under which lay from 250-300 persons and hundreds of sheep, horses, pigs, cattle, and domestic animals. To prevent an epidemic, the dead animals were stacked and burned. Formaldehyde and germ-killing chemicals permeated the air. |