, 1890-07-15

fhCtouht.
LAKE CRY. MINI, July 14-Sur-
rounded by beautiful bluffs and farming
lands, Lake Pepin's unrufled surface
gave very little evidence OF the fierce
struggle with the elements and of the
death dealing fury of the storm hat ragged
off this city last night. With scarcely a
note OF warning there burst upon this
region one OF the severest storms known
in its history. and the loss of life was
probably greater than any other single
calamity that ever visited any part OF the
Northwest. The list of dead already
numbers eighty-two and may exceed 100.
The excursion steamer Sea Wing Of
Diamond Huff had carried a party OF 200
or more exchrsionists from Red Wing to
the camp OF the LIST regiment, Minnesota
National guards just the below city. When
the day was coming TO a close Capt.
Wetheren prepared to return the boat
load to their homes. Many among them
feared the approaching storm and asked
that he postpone the depa rture until after
the storm had blown over. He SAID the
thunder storm would not prove serious
and about 8 o'clock started off up the
lake toward Red Wing. nearly 200 pas
sengers being on board.
The wind was blowing a gale. A point
OF land runs out from the Minnesota
shore just above this place, across from
which is a.place known as Maiden rock. To
pass around this point it was necessary
for the steamer to turn slightly towards
the Wisconsin shore and Immediately the
hurricane seized hold OF the already strug-
Cling and cracking vessel and twisted her
out OF the control of her engines and
crew. An attempt to beach her failed,
and over she went with her great load of
passengers.
The barge. Jim Grant, which was in
tow and on which ~one-quarter of the ex-
cursionists had crowded. was also seized,
her awning being crushed in and the pas
sengers thrown into the water. This
happened just below the point, and as
the helpless hulks drlfted before the gale
the steamer rlghted herself for a
but in another moment was keeled over.
The barge broke loose and drifted CD
posite the town and those still on board,
about twenty in numbers were rescued.
The steamer drifted in back OF the point
and sank. Many were saved, however,
and the heroism of a number OF rescuers
cannot be too highly praised.
Corp. B. l.. Perry compelled the
tators to assist him and saved the lives
of eighteen OF those who were still
clinging to the wreck. Others there
were like him, and over sixty were res
cued nom what seemed certain death.
Small boats cruised around for several
hours and picked up some three score
of the still living ~unfortunates.
As soon as word reached the militia
camp, volunteers were called for and
everyone volunteered. Adit. Gen. Null
lin Immediately took charge of the regi-
ment and as the work was begun and
carried on body after body of men, wo-
men and children. in some cases whole
families, were taken from the water, some
alive, Others unconscious but not dead,
and vet others from which the breath OF
life had forever fled.
Sad experiences were many. Parents
who had children missing and other peo.
pie looking for friends and relatives ran
up and down the beach all night and to-
day inquiring if any more bodies bad
been recovered and for the names of the
identified dead. The anguish of the
many parents whose children bad been
ruthlessly torn from them by the awful
calamity cannot be portrayed.