St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-13
An Awful Calamity.

An Awful Calamity.
Yesterday afternoon, about o'clock, a
terrible cyclone passed over Lake Mime
tonka, carrying death and destruction in
its path. Reports are current that four
boats, which left various points before the
storm, have not since been seen, and it is
feared the occupants were caught and lost
in the terrible wind and waves. About
o'clock information reached Mlnneap-
oils of a horrible catastrophe which
has wiped out almost an entire fam
Y. The most exaggerated and conflicting
reports were circulated, and bulletins
posted at the hotels and newspaper offices
rapidly confirmed the rumOr that almost
the entire family of eX-Mayor A. c. Rand
had been drowned. AT first only three,
then five were reported lost, but gradually
the appalling truth came out that the
steam launch Minnie Cook had capsized off
Breezy Point, and not one Of the party of
ten got ashore, all having been swallowed
up in the boiling waters.
The excitement about the city was in
tense. The information flew like wildfire,
the prominence of the victims and the hor-
rors of the catastrophe combining to give it
wings Dispatches giving additional par
ticulars were received and bulletined, while
immense crowds gathered about the hotels
and newspaper and telegraph Offices i'll
quiring eagerly for details. 1t was known
that large crowds had gone to the lake, and
the reports that other boats had been lost
led anxious friends and relatives to fear
that theirs might be among the lost and
missing. Prominent citizens and friends of
the Rand family besieged the telegraph and
telephone offices, anxious to receive tidings,
but for a long time could get nothing be-
yond confirmation of the worst report
and their own fears.
ABOUT THE WEST HOTEL,
where Katie Rand only surviving daughter
of eX-Mayor Rand, was staying, the excite
ment was particularly great The unfortu-
nate young girl, only 20 years of age, was
completely stunned by the news. Col John
T. West at once made up party Of friends
and, taking the stricken girl in charge, left
for Wayzata by the o'clock train. I'M
mediately following their departure came
the news of the recovery OF the body OF
Mrs. Rand, whereupon Messrs. J. K. Sidle,
r. B. Langdon and others arranged for a
special train on the Manitoba, to go out
with an undertaken. Later dispatch from
WayZata informed them of the recovery OF
the body, with the announcement that il
would be in on the II o'clock train.
THE REGULAR TRAIN
on the Manitoba was crowded with Mime
apolitans, relatives and acquaintances OF
the family, eager for any additional partic-
ulars. Numerous parties were made NJ
and craft of all sorts were cruising about
the spot where the bt at went down. There
were hundreds of eager searcher'
in fully a hundred boats. Soundings
were made, the water dragged witt
hooks and all manner of implements thai
could in any possibility be of use. At II
o'clock train left WayZata bearing the re-
mains of Mrs. Rand, and on which were
many prominent citizens, bringing them tC
Minneapolis, where it was met by thou
sands of sorrowing friends eager to Learn
more of the terrible disaster.
TWO Families Drowned.
Mr.. Rand and the members of his family haC
been invited to spend the day at the lake a.
guests Ol NIL NOg hClboll. -AONCl'llilsS lu'
Invitation. MI Rand drove out early in tht
morning, arriving at Breezy Point abou
noon. The members of the family Joined
him there aud they proceeded to the Erygl;
cottage which was the summer residence o
the Coykendalls. After passing a few
hours happily and profitably, they arranged
for an excursion to Upper lake on the littl'
pleasure steamer Minnie Cook, owned by 4
d. Newell, a grocer of Excelsior. Th,
steamer was not handsome one, and wa
not particularly noted either for beauty o
speed. She has been used each morning b,
Mr.. Newell in receiving orders and deliver
ing good at various points Oh Lower lake
while during afternoons and Sunday sh
was at the service of the Blue line of EX
celsior for small parties. Her boiler wa
an upright one, and was not of characte
that would make the boat the safest i'm tn
world. Her engineer, George Mcdonald
was experienced in the work, and haC
served for a number of years under hi
father. Lou Mcdonald, who is among til
leading steamboat men in the North
west. He has been considere
very safe engineer, and receive
his license for the season less than tw
weeks ago. He began his duties as en-
gineer of the Minnie Cook about July
Soon after 2 o'clock yesterday Afternoon
she steamed up to the wharf at Breez
Point and received a happy but fate
party, who were soon to meet an untimel
death.
THE PARTY WAS CONSTITUTED
as follows: Hon. A. c. Rand. eX-mayor @
Minneapolis, Mrs. Rand, their childre
Miss Mary Rand, Harvey Rand, Fran
Rand, son of A. B. Rand; ]. II. Coyken
dali, Mrs. Coykendall, their daughter Kati
Coykendall and Robert Hussey, son Of w
3. Hussey of Minneapolis.
All preparations having been made fo
an afternoon of pleasure, the party left fo
Upper lake. 1t is supposed that the Uppe
lake was reached about o'clock, whe
evidences of the approaching storm wer
manifest and the steamers bow was turne
homeward. The storm burst upon then
with all its power and fury while opposit
Big island and within sight of their desti
nation. The engineer used every effort t
increase the speed of the boat, and she re
sponded nobly. The elements were to
powerful for the boat, however, and it wa
with difficulty that she kept right side u
as long as she did. Alternating rain an
hail, accompanied by terrific wind blow
ing from the south, swept across the lake
and notwithstanding the heroic efforts O
the fated passengers on the Minnie Cook, tn
TaI