Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-18
Hurricane Ends the Life of Scores of
ENeurSiouiStS.
Steamer Sea Wing Blown over With
Its Human Cargo.
Many Heroic Men. After Hard Stru@-
giles, Rescue Numerous Victims.
Regiment of Militia Takes Charge of
ReSeuing Duties.
Two Brave Boys Win After Struggling
With the Waves.

little evidence of fierce struggle with the
elements and of the death dealing fury OF
| the storm that 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 is probably greater than any other
single calamity that ever visited any part
of the northwest. Eighty-two bodies
had been recovered and identified when
the search was discontinued at dark tonight
How many more were lost is matter of
| uncertainty, but it is feared the number
will reach 100. The excursion steamer
Sea Wing, Diamond Bluff, had carried
party of $50 or more eNcurSloniStS from
Red Wing to the camp of the First Regi-
ment of the Minnesota guards, just below
| the city. When the day was coming to Il
close Capt, Wetheren. prepared to return
the boat load to their homes Many fear
ed the approaching storm and asked that
he postpone his departure until after the
storm had blown over Thinking that
! it would not prove serious he would
not consent, but at about s O'Clock he
started off up the lake towards Red Wing,
nearly POO of the passengers being on
board, the wind flowing gale. A point
| of land runs out from the Minnesota shore,
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 struggling and
| cracking vessel and twisted her out
of the control of her engines and
crew An attempt to beach her
| failed, ard over She went with her
great load of passengers. The barge, Jim
Grant, which was in tow and on which
about one-quartrr of the eXcursionistS had
| crowded was also seized. her awning be-
ing crushed in and the passengers thrown
| into the water. This happened just below
| the point, and us the helpless hulks drifted
| before the steamer righted herself for a
| moment, but in another moment was keel
| ed over The barge broke loose. drifting
| down opposite the town. Those still aboard
| about 20 in number. 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. Corporal b. l.. Perry
| compelled the spectators 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 We're
| rescued from what seemed certain death.
| Small boats cruised around for several
hours, and picked up some
! three score of the still liv-
ing unfOrtunates As soon as
word reached the military camp volunteers
were called for and every one volunteered.
Adjutant General Mullen Immediately
! took charge of the regiment and work was
begun and carried on. Body after body of
men, women and children, and in some
| 4.ly +bn
water, some alive others unconscious but
not dead, and yet others from which the
breath of life had forever fed Sad
experiences were many. Parents who
| had children missing and other people
looking for friends and relatives, ran up
and down the beach all night and today,
! inqulging if amy more bodies had beer re
covered and for the names o; the identified
dead. The anguish of the many parents.
| whose children had been ruthlessIy torn
from item by the awful calamity cannot be
portrayed.
BY 2 O'Clock this morning fifty bodies
| had been recovered and sent to Red Wing.
| ByS, had taken the same mournful Jour
new and at 3 o'clock this afternoon seven
| Others were added to the gruesOme num-
ber The dead are:
JoHN HEFFLER, wife and tw) chill
dren
PETER GEvIIN, wife and FIVE children
Mrs BLAKER and two children.
Mrs. .HEMFoBLING and three children
Mrs. SCHUELBLRG and daughter.
MINNIE FISHER.
MARIE SKOGLUND.
KATIE DAILY.
MEs. +. SHuRF and daughter.
FRED CHRIST.
ANNE STIEGER.
| FRANCIS STIEGER.
GEORGE NELSON.
JOHN RAHRNs and wife.
CHARLES DINsLAGE.
FRED. SEWERS and daughter.
Tom LARSON.
ADDIE WING and sister.
II. REDLEs and two children.
FRED. HATTEMEYER.
MAMIE ADAMS.
HENRY STEFFNEY.
Kate BUCKHARDM.
A Q. ANDERSON.
EDDIE CHRIsToFFERsON.
HERMAF HIPPER.
WILLIAM HIPPER.
GEORGE HARRIS.
Mrs. NELLIE WoEERN and son.
MuLY NILES.
PIERSON FIBY.
CoRDY JOHNSON.
| FLOY SMITH.
| MERTIE NERO,
IRA FULTON.
FRED. SEAvER,
HEN GEREEE.
CHAs. BROwN.
K. PETERSON, Red Wing.
BERTHA WINTER, Red Wing.
ALICE PALMER, Trenton, Wis.
NETTIE PALMER. Trenton, Wis.
Miss BRENNAN,
PHOEBE BIERsoN,
KATIE DAVIS.
JOHN ENGELBERTsOS,
MISS FEATER,
MISS MORRITT GREEN.
MISS IDA GREEN
FRED HEMPLING,
THEODORE HARDwELL,
LIZZIE HARRISON,
MABEL HoLTES.
Mrs. HUMBER,
ARTHUR HAGLEN,
EMMA NELSON,
ORRIx OsKY,
SADY PEAKsoN,
| JULIA PERLIG.
| ANNIE PERsIG,
| Mrs. STAws0S.
JoHx SCHEFFLER, wife and two child.
ren.
JoHN STRoPE,
ANNIE SsIDER.
Mss SEIBRAssE.
Few of the bodies had any bruises On
other marks Of injury upon them. The
| fact that the militia were IN easy call un-
| doubtedly resulted in the saving Of many
| lives, and the work of the citizen soldiery
| Of their excellent organization and the
good management Of General Mullen and
Surgeons Fitzgerald, Clark and Kain
were notable and comnendable.
| During the morning systematic
| patrol of the water over which the
| bosts had drifted after being
first struck by the gale, and kept up by
the citizens of Lake City. After the last
bodies had been taken from the hulls,
Gen. Mullen pressed into the service all
| the row boats within reach, and with the
| soldiers began this afternoon thorou gh
/ dragging Of the lake all about the scene