Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-17
MINNETONKA DISASTER.
The Steamer Goes to the Bottom
With all on Board, Ten
Persons in An,
Including Ex-NIayor Rand Of Minneapolis,
His Wife and Six Other Members of
- .&.4 II the Family.

Including Ex-AIayor Rand Of Minneapolis,
His Wife and Six Other Members of
~ the Family.
A sudden and severe storm, which struck.
Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, between 4 and
5o'clock last Sunday afterno on, 9th inst.
added to the long list olloss ofiifeb by disaster
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 OF the lake the
most terrible casualty in the history OF
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 torrent
OF rain, falling in clearly defined sheets, and
followed by wind blowing gale, from Elk
celsior towards Wayzata, and sweeping the
lake at it's broadcast point unhroken 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 a 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 the Minnie Cook, and belonging to E. 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 r. Coykendall.
There was on the boat when It took it's
leave, Mr.. and Mrs. A. c. Rand, Mr.. and
Mrs John r. Coykendall and their
daughter Katie CoykendaN, 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. B. Hussey
OF Minneapolis, a. friend OF Frank Rand, and
boat-ten persons in all. From what is
known OF the intention OF the party, and
what followed, it is evident that the storm
cloud was accepted as q warning and that
the steamer was put about and started
to return to the point OF starting.
People observed the bout before the storm,
but the rain and hail fell in such torrents
as to completely obscure the vision, and all
that is known OF the MANNER OF the lisas-
ter is conjecture. Mr.. c. NJ. Hardenburg
was probably the last to see 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 Wayza tn bay. When the storm
lifted he looked again and the steamer was
nowhere to be seen, but on the troubled
| waters there foated Il pail and some arti-
cles OF clothing that told tale too horri-
Die for ready reaIiza ton,
The steamer had sunk with all on board.
Mr.. Hardenberg as soon as prudence would
permit, pulled away in a skiff to the point
where the steamer was last seen, and the
nj, ,So1-
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 alamity.
There is nothing to Indicate carelessness
, or ignorance On the part Of the engineer.
The steamer was chiefly used by the owner
for carrying on Il supply business to the
f, cottages, and was valued at about 81 900.
In common with most Of the smaller boats,
| she was withoutt supply OF life preservers,
though it is not clear that these would ha We
been OF service at the critical moment,
whether the boat capsized or was simply
swampcd and went to the bottom with it's
imprisoned occupants.
As above stated, ten lives were lost, as
! follows:
Ex-mayor Alonzo G. Rand.
Mrs. A: G. Rand.
Mr.. and Mrs. John r. CoykendaN.
Miss Katie Coykent'all. aged five.
Miss Mary Rand. daughter OF A. G., Rand,
aged sixteen.
Harvey Rand, son OF A. C. Rand, aged
| fourteen.
Frank Rand, son OF Mrs. 4. +. Rand.
Robert Hussey, 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 Georges Nc.
Donald were soon found, and the Others
next morning. The news was transmitted
to Minneapolis and created q tremendous
sensation. A special train was Immediate.
ly sent from the city. An,ons the friends
OF the family who vent opt from Minneap
oils on this special We're: r. 3. Lnngdon
c.. +. Hatch and Mrs. Hatch, w. E. Bur
we'll, G. NJ. Loring, P. NJ. Babcock, Judge
Koon, John Bradstreet, George Moulton
Louis Watson, Dir. Tuttle, 0. A. P ray.
A. G. Rand WIS one OF the most prom
inent citizens OF Minneapolis. He located
here early in the history OF the city. anc
actively identified himself with the business
intereststand the growth and development
of the then small but promising city. Hi
established, together with H. w. Brown
the Minneapolis Gas Light company, the
first organization which furnished illum
nation for the city. Fortune favored his
efforts, and he succeeded in amassing 9
large fortune. Mr.. Rand was a Republican
! and although he was never particularly &C
tivein political circles, he accepted the nom
nation OF the party for mayor in 1872 anC
was elected by "a good round maj GRITTY. HI
was very much liked by all Glasses.
John Z. Coykentlall was aged 45years nnt
the senior member OF the firm OF Coykendal
Bros. & Co., composed of j. r. Coykental
Il Mr. InV
was a pioneer merchants in Minneapolis.
Frank Rand was q nephew OF Mr.. A. C
Rand, being the son Of Mr. A. B. Rand. HI
was well known in Minnea polls, having liveC
| with his uncle for several years. He was
about 20 years old and was q young man O
ability.
| Mary Rand was only 16 years old, but
was ssparticular favorite among all her &C
qualntances, ITS we'll as in society, which sh'
recently entered. She was born in New Yorl
city. -.. ts-
Harry Rand was born III Aurora, Ill.,, ii
| 1872, and was consequently IL years O
age. He had spent all OF his life i'll Mime
| apois
+ The engineer, George Mcdonald, had hi!
home with his father in Otsego and has beer
4 engaged for some years steAmbOating. III
was about twenty-five years old and had M
family.
/ Robert Hussey was sonofN. B. Hussey
the plumber OF Minneapolis. He was I
i bright lad about u years old.
The Patriarchal Odd Fellows at st. Paul
The various Temples, delegates an,
friends Of the Patriarchal Circle of Odt
Fellows gathered in large numbers at st
Paul on the sth inst, and were hospitabl,
I entertained. Delegations were present iron
most OF the Western States, and some fron
as far east s,s Massachusetts. Most OF tn
! patriarchs who arrived were acconpanie,
by ladies, and it is estimated that at leas
J 5000 strangers came in on the variou
trains in connection with the grand excul