The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-23
MNNi.T0NkA DISASTER.
The Steamer Goes to the Bottom
With all ON Board, Ten
Persons i'm All,
Including Ex-Mayor Rand Of Minneapolis
His wife and six Other Members of
the Family.

\ sudden and So we're storm, which struck
Lake Minnet onka Minnesota. between I and
5o'elock last Sunday afternoon. 18th inst.
added to the long list floss Of life by di>a >tcr
on the water ten names. including ex-may-
or Rand and wife Of Minneapolis. and al
most all of their immediate family, and
contributed to the annals 81 the lake the
most terrible casualty in the history oil
Minnetonka.
There was succession Of brilliant electric
displays, followed by sharp peals Of thun-
der. This was followed, as observed from
the east shore Of the lake, first by a torrent
OF rain, falling i'm clearly defined sheets, and
followed by wind blowing gale, from Ex-
celsior towards Wayxats, and sweeping the
lake at it's broadcast point unbroken for
the entire sweep. The storm lasted less than
half an hour was followed by sunshine. and
had no more than cleared away before it
revealed disaster more horrible than the
most vivid imagination had painted.
Among the boats caught in the storm
was the small steam launch or yacht known
as tho Minnie Cook. and belonging to 4. d.
Newell of Excelsior. She is one Of fifteen or
more small steam pleasure boats doing
service on the lake, and had been chartered
for the afternoon by John X. Coykentlall.
There was ON the boat when II took its
Mrs. John X. Coykendall and their
daughter Katie Coykendall, between
four and five years old; Miss Mary
Rand, aged sixteen, Harvey Rand, aged
thirteen, children Of Mr.. and Mrs. A. c.
Rand; Frank Rand, the son Of Mrs. A. b.
Rand Robert Hussey. son Of n. =. Hussey
OF Minneapolis. IA friend 81 Frank Rand, and
George Mcdonald, pilot and engineer Of the
boat item persons in all. From what IL
known Of the intention Of the party, and
what followed, il is evident that the storm
cloud was accepted as warning and that
the steamer was put about and started
to return to the point Of starting.
People observed the boat before the storm,
but the rain and hail fell in such torrents
as To- completely obscure the vision, md all
that is known Of the manner 81 the lisas-
ter is conjecture. Mr.. &. NJ. Hardenburg
was probably the last to the steamer
from his cottage at Point Lookout. The
rain had already begun to fall. and the
boat was then just off Spirit Island, at the
entrance of Wayzata bay. When the storm
lifted he looked again and the steamer was
nowhere To he seen, but ON the troubled
waters there hoated a pail and some arti-
cles Of clothing that told a tale too horri-
BILE Tor ready realization,
The steamer had sunk with all ON board.
Mr.. Har,lenberg as soon as prudence would
permit, pulled away in "a skin to the point
where the steamer was last seen, and the
articles were found floating, and picked up
what proved to be the body Of Mrs. Rand,
floating ON the water with her face down
ward. Beyond this sad evidence and the
floating clothing, etc, there was nothing to
tell the story of the Gala nifty.
There il nothing tn Indicate carclessncss
or ignorance ON the part Of the engineer.
The steamer was chiefly used by the owner
e,r fs.t
cottages, and was valued at about 81 900.
In common with most Of the sma Her boats,
she was without IA supply 81 life preservers,
though il is not clear that these " ould have
been Of service at the critical moment.
whether the boat capsized or was simply
swamped and went tn the bottom with its
imprisoned occupants.
As above stated, ten lives were lost, as
follows:
Ex-mayor Alonzo Z. Rand.
Mrs. A. {. Rand.
Mr.. and Mrs. John r. Coykendall.
Miss Katie Coykendall, aged five.
Miss Mary Rand, daughter OF A. c. Rand,
aged sixteen.
Harvey Rand, son OF A. c. Rand, aged
fourteen.
Frank Rand, son Of Mrs. A. b. Rand.
Robert IIussey, son Of N. b. Hussey.
George Mcdonald, engineer Of the steamer
and son of Capt. Lew Mcdonald, Of the
City Of st. Louis.
The bodies Of Mrs. Rand and George Nc.
Donald were soon found, and the Others
next morning. The news was transmitted
TO Minneapolis and created a tremendous
sensation. A special train was Immediate
ly sent from the city. Among the friends
oils on this special were: X. Il. Langtlon,
c. +. Hatch and Mrs. Hatch, W. +. Bur-
we'll, C. NJ. Loring, =. NJ. Babcock. Judge
KoOn, John Bradstreet, George MoultOn,
Louis Watson, DR.. Tuttle, o. A. Pray.
A. c. Rand was one of the most prom
inent citizens Of Minneapolis. He located
here early in the history of the city and
actively identified himself with the business
interests and the growth and development
OF the then small hut promising city. He
established, together with II. W. Brown,
the Minneapolis Gas Light company. the
first organization which furnished illum.
ination for the city. Fortune favored his
efforts, and he succeeded in mimassing a
large fortune. Mr.. Rand was "a Republican n,
and although he was never particularly ac-
tive in political circles, he accepted the NOM
nation of the party for mayor in 1872 and
was elected by good round majority. He
was very much liked by all Glasses.
John r. Coykendall was aged rs years and
the senior member Of the firm III Coy kendall II
and Charles +. Hamblen. Mr.. Coykendall
was pioneer merchant in Minneapolis.
Frank Rand was u nephew Of Mr.. A. G.
Rand, being the son III Mr.. A. b. Rand. He
was well known in Minneapolis, ha wing lived
with his uncle for several years. Tie was
about 20 years old and was young man Of
ability.
Mary Rand was only TO years old. but
was particular favorite among all her &C.
quaintaners, as well as in society. which she
recently entered. She was born in New York
city.