Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-17
ID EDITION.
SEA WING INQUEST.
Uncle Sam Will Look Into the Cause
Of the Disaster.
A PENSION FOR MRS. FREMONT.
Plans for the Dairy Exhibit at the
Worlds Fair.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS or THE DAY.

ST. PAUL, MINI, July 1T.-Capt Wetheren
and six Of the crew Of the Inflated steamer Sea
Wing, which WAS wrecked at Lake City Sunday
night, arrived in this city yesterday
afternoon, and Government Inspect
ers Yeager and Knapp are conducting
an investigation of affairs behind closed
doors. Capt. wetheren and Clerk Niles have
given to the press statement OF the disaster.
i hey say: THE steamer Sea Wing had been
recently inspected and found to be in good
condition, and with barge she had in
company was allowed two hundred and fifty
passengers. The crew of the boat was:
Captain, ID. W. wetheren; mate. M. L. Sparks;
clerk, Z. NJ. Miles; engineer: Will Sparks; fire.
man, Hank Hope; crew, Will and Harry Niles,
West Willie, Charles Neal, Warren Sparks.
There we're on the boat and barge 800 floats,
1877 cork and tule life preservers and good
skiffs with 20 oars.
The boat left Diamond Bluff at TAO A. m. with
II passengers; Trenton at $50 with 20 more,
and Red Wing at 10 with ia from that point;
total, lat passengers. Ar the boat was about to
return from Lake City there were two ladies
from the steamer Wanderer and eight men from
the steamer Undine who wished to take passage
to Red Wing on the steamer Sea Wing. These,
with about ten more Who were residents of
Lake City and who wanted to 10 to Red Wing
came aboard Thus the list would have been
about IFS, but some few who came DOWN on the
excursion 1aiieu 10 get D0ch IkOr6 tine
boat left Lake City. II Sice the
number Of passengers was under 175. The boat
left Lake City at O'Clock and proceeded up
the iaks about five miles. When the storm struck
US the boat was completely and instantly over
tufhedi Capt Wetheren was at the wheel and
and did all in his power to keep the boat headed
into the wind and remained in the pit of the
house until completely submerged, then broke
through the side and succeeded In reaching
shore. The engineer stood at his post until the
water filed the engine room, then made his
escape. When the boat upset there was no
water in her hull and nothing but the force of
the wind upset her.
The barge was not cut loose until the
steamer capsized, and then only to save it from
being swnmped also. The boat was built at
Diamond Bluff, was only three years old, and
was built new throughout machinery
and all. The boats tonnage was 109. IS
tons. The crew we're all able
men and understood their business. No liq-
uofs we're on board and none OF the crew were
drinking men. When the boat left Lake
City, the storm seemed to have passed,
and the crew deemed 1t safe to start
Tie Passengers also wanted to go, and
3D. t{kAs1 boat started on her return
TIP. The life preservers were such as the in
specter ordered and were all in good condition.
The boat was TO start back at o'clock, but
most Of the number from Red Wing wished to
remain until after dress parade at Z. Hence
the boat delayed until O'Clock for starting
(Signsd) d. N. WETHEREN. Captain.
=. M. NILES, Clerk.