The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-07-18
a LAKE DISASTER
The Terrible Work of a Cyclone
in Minnesota
An Excursion steamer Filled with Men.
Women and Children Capsized on
Lake Pepin and Nearly All
on Board Drowned.
A Terrible Calamity.

Terrible Calamity.
LAKE CITY, Mimi, July 14.-What
will probably prove to be the most dis
astrous cyclone that has ever struck
this community passed over this city at \
nine o'clock last evening. infiicting the
loss OF life of perhaps 100 or 200 people
and damaging property to an extent
that at this writing can not be esti-
mated
The first signs of the coming disaster
were clouds which appeared to be an
ordinary electric storm coming up from
the west. In half an hour the whole
heavens were converted into a complete
canopy of lightning which was watched
with interest by the brave citizens in
the little village and with fear by the
timid women and children.
A little before dark terrific wind
struck the community and the next mo-
ment trees and houses were being de-
molished in its path.
As soon as the storm had passed it
was found that disaster had befallen
the place that had not been equaled
since the st. Cloud cyclone several years
ago People began to gather in the
streets, and in a few moments the news
was scattered abroad that an excursion
boat with over 200 people on it was cap
S zed in the middle of Lake Pepin. The
boat proved to be the steamer Sea Wing,
which came down the lake from Dia-
mond Bluff, small place about seven
teen miles north of here, on an
excursion to the encampment of
the First regiment of the Nation
al Guard of the State of Mime
sofa, which is being held a mile below
this city. The steamer started back on
the homeward trip about eight o'clock,
and although there were signs of an APP
preaching storm it was not considered
in any way serious, and no danger was
anticipated.
The boat was crowded to its fullest
| capacity, about $50 men, women and
children from Red Wing and Diamond
Bluff being on board, and about fifty
people on barge which was attached
to the side of the steamer When about
opposite Lake City the boat began to
feel the effects of the storm, but the Of
ficers kept on the way. The storm in
creased as the boat continued up tho
| lake, and in fifteen minutes was at it's
height.
Nearing the central point about two
miles above Lake City, the steamer was
at the mercy of the waves, which were
now washing over the boat and all was
| confusion. The boat moment arily ran
on to bar and the barge was cut loose
and the steamer again set adrift in the
lake. A number of those on the barge
jumped and swan ashore.
AS the barge also fioated again into
| deep water those on the barge saw the
steamer as it was carried helplessly out
into the middle of the lake, and as they
were being tossed about on the raging
waters they were Mortified a moment
later to see the steamer capsize and its
cargo of $50 people precipitated into the
lake. Those on the barge remained
| there until they drifted nearer the shore
and they were all rescued or swan
| ashore.
All of the people on board, 80 OF
more, were thrown into the water, some
being caught underneath. The boa
turned bottom upward, and only about
twenty-five people were observed to be
floating on the surface. These caugh
hold of the boat and climbed upon the
upturned bottom, and those first secur
ing position assisted the others
In ten minutes more the twenty-five
or so who had obtained momentary
l SAFETY on the DOdU COuIu OOSCINS HI
others of the boat crew or passenger
floating on the surface of the continu
ing high sea of waves
Afterward, however. as flash o
lightning lighted up the surface of the
lake the sight of an occasional whit.
dress of drowning woman or child wa
observable, but it was impossible TO
those who witnessed the horrible sigh
. | to lend any aid.
Those remaining began calling TO
/ help from the shore as soon as the storm
began to abate, and in half an hou
lights were observed fitting around OF
| the pier at Lake City, opposite which
point the upturned steamer had nov
been driven.
Before help could reach them, how
ever, the poor creatures who yet re
manned to tell the horrors of the nigh
were again submitted to another BATH
with the elements, with no word o
; warning, and as they were just begin
: ming to hope that they would be takel
, off by the cit zens of Lake City, the boa
: | again turned over. this time on its side
and again all of the twenty-five remain
/, ing souls were hurled into the water. O
these several were drowned before the
could be brought to the boat by thos
: | who succeeded in remaining afioat an
| again securing hold on the boats side
In few minutes dozen or more ROY
j boats were manned and put out fror
the shore. The upturned boat was a
last discovered. and the twenty or NOR
remaining people clinging to the boa
|, were rescued and brought to the shore
most of them being men who coul
, | swim.
Later-Up to this time, 1:S0 a. m
!, fifty-nine bodies have been found an
laid out
Nova scotia's Fatality.