The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-07-16
rRrcHrEuLLoss OF LEE.

LAKE CRY. MINI, July is What will
probably prove to he the most disastrous
cyclone that has ever struck this commuai-
ty. pessed over this city at , O'Clock this
evening, inilic;ios the loss Of lie perhaps 100
or go people and damsging property 10 an
extent that a; this writing cannot Re esti-
mated. What appeared 10 be an ordinary
electric storm was first noticed coming aP
from tie West. In half an hour the whole
heavens was converted into corniete can
opy OF lightning. which ws9 watched with
interest by the brave citizens of the little
village. and with far By the timid woman
and children. ! little before dark terrific
wind storm struck the community. Trees
and houses were fast demolished in its path,
and everybody sought their cellars When
the storm had somewhat snbsided it was
learned that a horrible calamity had be-
fallen The place, a calamity that has not
been equaled since the ST. Cloud cyclone
several years ago.
Az EXCLUSION sTE4MEg c1PsIZED
People began to gather in the streets, and
soon the news scattered abroad that an ex-
cursion boat with over 303 people on it was
caEsized in the middle Of Lake Pepin. The
boat proved to be the steamer Sea Wing
which came down the lake from Diamond
Bluff, small place about l. miles north OF
here. on an excursion to the encampment OF
the First Regiment, y. G. 5. NJ, which is
being held mile below this city. The
steamer started back on the homeward trip
about 5 o'clock, and although there were
signs OF an approaching storm, il was not
considered in any way serious and no danger
was anticipated. The boat was crowded to
10 its fullest capacity, about l50 men. women
and children from Red Wing and Diamond
Bluff being on board, and about 50 people
on a barge which was attached 10 the side OF
the steamer When about opposite Lake
City the boat began to feel the effects of the
storm, but the officers kept or the way,
while the storm increased as the boat con-
tinued up the lake and in Is minutes was at
its height. Nearing Central Point, about
two miles above Lake City, the steamer was
at the mercy of the wave, which were now
washing over the boat, and all was confu-
sion. The boat momeniarily ran onto a bar
and the barge was cut loose and the steamer
again set adrift in the lake. 4 number oI
those on the barge jumped and swan ashore.
Yopprryrec sprr.r.e.fr
As the barge also iloated again into the
deep water, those Oh 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 moment later to OBJ
serve the steamer capsize and its cargo OF
$50 people preeipitaicd into tho lake. Those
on the barge remained there until they were
drifted nearer the shore, and they were ali
rescued or swan ashore. Among them
were two ladies who were brought TO thS
beach by strong and ready swimmers. Their,
were about 80 in all that were on the barge
The events that transpired on the steamer
after il separated from the barge are proba
bly, most clearly related by those who wer,
rescued from il about half an hour ago. Il
is now Il O'Clock tmidnight) As soon a,
the storm had begun to effect the progres.
of the boat, Captain Weaten gave instruc
tions TO run the boat into the Wisconsin
shore, bu, the storm was too terrible.
OVER 100 DROWNED
In FIVE minute. more the waves began to
wash into the boat and ill its lower decks
and while the hsilsiones as large as hens
eggs fell dowD on the Leads of The poor and
helpless creature who were huddled together
on the top, huge wave struck the craft on
the side al the same moment that a terri &c
blast OF wind more horribly forcible than tie
other came up and carried the boat over, all
of the people on board. $50 or more being
thrown into the water, some being caught
underneath and others thrown into the
waves. The boat turned bottom upward
and only Abon, y people were observed to
be floating on the surface.
Eow p PEOPLE ESCAPED.
These caught hold OF the boat and climbed
upon the upturned bottom, those first secur.
ing = pOsit. ,n assisting the others. In II
minutes more the > or so who had obtain.
ed momentary safety on the boat could OBJ
serve no others Of the boats crew or passen.
gers floating on the surface of the ooutinu.
ing high sea OF waves. Afterwards. how.
ever, a flash of lightning lighted up the sur.
face Of the lake and the sight ofan occasional
white dress offs drowning woman or child
was observable, but il was impossible foi
those who watched the horrible sight to
save any Of those in the water
WIDESPREAD BEsTEUoTIoS.
Reports from outlying towns show thai
the storm visited destruction upon many
places While the central storm point was
at Lake Koblman, the wind was Of the force
Of hurricane over all OF the territory north
OF St Paul, and its track vas marked by
ruin for a distance of IA miles. Beginning
at Lake Maccarron, and extending across 70
lake Vsdnas the storm left nothing stand
ing in the path. Farm houses were unroof.
ed all standing grain prostrated and trees
uprooted. Ysgue reports are coming in con-
tinually. At New Canada il is reported that
~ lives were lost and scores injured. The
damage to property il also extensive. White
Bear Lake was crowded with excnrsionists,
bu; it escaped the cyclone. though there was
general scare. a hard blow aud a severe
b.il storm