The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-13
ST. ANTHONY AND MINNEAPOLIS
FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.

FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE AT LAKE CAL
HoUN-S1x PERSONS DRowNED.-Our COM
munity was startled on Thursday by re-
port that six persons had been drowned in
Lake Calhoun. Soon every vehicle was
brought into active requisition: We made
our way to the scene Of the catastrophe, and
found the report too true. The following
named persons are the lost Rev. 81. M.
Nichols, Pastor of the Congregational So
ciety of Minneapolis Nancy, his wife, and
Henry, their son, aged thirteen; Mr.. A.
Cleveland, brother.in>law of Mr.. Nichols !;
and Emerette, aged thirteen, and Ella, aged
eleven, daughters of Mr.. Cleaveland. But
one little boy, aged two years, is left of the
Nichols family-while the Cleaveland fam
lily remaining consists of bereaved, sorrow.
ing wife and two interesting daughters of
tender years.
The circumstances of the catastrophe, as
correctly as we could CLEAN them, are as
follows The above mentioned families were
visiting the lake on picnic excursion.
The party consisted of ten persons. 1t was
proposed to battle, and while Mr.. Nichols
and Mr.. Cleaveland were putting on bathing
dresses, Mr.. Nichols son and MIR. Cleave-
lands daughters entered the water. Owing
to an abrupt descent, some twenty feet from
the margin of the water, one of the little
girls was soon beyond her depth. This being
observed by the brave boy, he ventured in
to relieve her, failing in which he desired
the other little girl to reach out her hand,
which she did.
Thus Joined hand in hand they struggled,
but failing to get up the shelving bank, and
becoming alarmed, they called for help,
when Messrs. Cleaveland and Nichols
rushed in, hand in hand. Not being within
reach they requested Mrs. Nichols to enter
the water, which she did, taking her bus
band by the hand. Mr.. cleveland, still
retaining hold on Mr.. Nichols hand, en-
tered the deep water and succeeded in reach
ing the struggling children. But, standing
on the shelving bank, he lost his balance,
and in falling, dragged Mr.. Nichols and
wife into the deep water. They sunk, re-
tanning fast hold on each other. Thus those
that could swim, we're prevented from do
ing so, and soon sunk to rise no more. Mrs.
Nichols was buoyed up by her light skirts
and repeatedly called on her sister, Mrs.
Cleaveland, to come to her aid. This no.
bic woman done all delicate, sickly inva.
lid could, but her efforts were of no avail,
Mrs. Nichols, too, persisted. What har-
rowing sight to gaze upon husband, a Sis
ter and children perishing, and yet powerless
to give efectual aid.
Two noble fellows named Hamilton, heard
the screams of those on shore, ran to the
place, plunged in, but alas, it was too late
One of these noble brothers, becoming ex-
hausted, would have met the fate of those
he sought to rescue, had not his brother
dragged him forcibly from the water.
Hours interviewed before the bodies of
the drowned were recovered. By this time
hundreds of persons had collected on the
bank. The bodies were placed in wagons
and brought to town.
Rev. Mr.. Nichols was a native of Mas
sachusetts. After entering the ministry
he removed to Saltwater, in this State
where he remained for several years.
From thence he came to Minneapolis and
took charge of the Plymouth Congrega-
tional Church. He was devoted, ener-
getic pastor, much beloved by his people
and highly respected in our community.
mir. Cleaveland, his brother-in-law, was on
a visit here. His home is near Lake Min
netonka.
This sad event has cast a deep gloom
over our town and we'll it may. A lesson
fraught with instruction to the living, and
proclaimed in tone that none dare disre.
gard. Death sooner or later will claim all
living as his portion ; therefore be ready.
How mysterious are the ways of God, and
past finding out Some are taken and
others left. The living of to-day may be
the dead of tomorrow. 1t is so to-day.
Who can tell whether it will not be so
again and, reader, you may be the next
victim. Ponder we'll the import of the
warning.
During the afternoon of Thursday, the
bodies of Mr.. Nichols, wife and son, Mr..
Cleveland and his two daughters, six in
all-in appropriate cofins-were exposed in
the parlor OF the late residence of Mr..
Nichols, side by side, and throngs of WIS.,
itors gathered to view the sorrowful scene.
AGRICULTURAL.-The Executive Com
mittee of the Hennepin County Agricultural
Society met on Saturday last, and resolved
that there would be no county fair held this
year, but that all their efforts would be
directed to make the projected State Fair
at Fort Smelling as interesting as possible.
A wise conclusion. We hope the occasion
will be worthy the State and an enterpris-
ing people. .....
TALL.-We were shown sample of the
growth of wheat and oats in the town of
Richfeld, in this county. The stalks of
wheat measured six feet and one inch in
heiphth. we'll headed. If was of the clnh