Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-07-18
WETHERN'S STORY.
THE CAPTAIN OF The SEAWING DgPgNDS
HIMSELF.
Ons Hundred and Seventy Persons Were On
Board-Ths Steamer fad Full Equip
ment-lts Management Heavy
Storms all Over the Country.

ST. PAUL, MINI. July l7.-Capt.
Wetheren and six of the crew OF the III
fated steamer Sea Wing, which was
wrecked at Lake City Sunday night. ar
rived in this city yesterday afternoon.
and Government Inspectors Yeager and
Knapp are conducting an investigation
OF affairs behind closed doors. Cant.
Wethcrcn and Clerk Niles have given
10 the press a statement OF the disaster.
They say:
The steamer Sea Wing had been re-
Gently Inspected and found in good con
dition and with the barge she had in
company was allowed $50 passengers.
The crew of the boat was Capt. ID. w.
Metheren, Mate NJ. L. Sparks. Clerk
+. NJ. Niles, Engineer VIII Parks, Fire
man Hank Hope: crew, VIII aud Harry
Niles, West Willie, ChaS. Neal and War
ren Sparks. The barge carried 500
floats, Is, cork and mle lifc-prcsorvcrs
and seven good SkifIs with twcnty-cight
oars. The boat left Diamond Bluff al
7:lO a. m. with eleven passengers: Trcn-
ton at $50 with twenty-five more and
Red Wing at 10 with ia from that
THE NUMBER OF PAsSENoEKS.
rs the boat was about To return from
Lake City, there were two ladies from
the Steamer Wanderer and eight men
from the Steamer 'ndine. who wished
TO take passage 10 Red Wing on the
steamer Sea Wing. These with about
ten more who were residents Of Lake
City and who wanted to 20 to Red Wing
came aboard; thus the list would have
been about rs. but some few who came
down on the excursion failed to get back
before the boat left Lake City. hence the
number Of passengers was under -.
The boat left Lake City At o'clock and
proceeded up the Lake about five min
utcs. The storm struck MS the boat was
completely and instantly overturned.
Capt. Wethercn was at the wheel and
did all in his power to keep the boat
headed in the wind aud remained in the
pilot house until completely submerged,
then broke through the side and size
ccedcd in reaching shore. The cngin-
ccr stood AT his post until the water
filled the engine room. then made his
escape. When the boat upset. there
was 40 water in the 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 Swamped also.
40 IIQUoR oN BOARD.
The boat was built at Diamond Blun.
was only three years old, aud was all
built new throughout. machinery and
all The boats tonnage was lO9.55 tons.
The crew were all able men and under
stood their business No liquors were
on board. None of the crew drank
drop that day, and none of the crew
were drinking men. When the boat left
the pier the storm seemed 10 have
passed and the crew deemed IL safe 10
start The passengers also wanted To
go, and 50 the boat started out on her
return trip. The life prcscryorS were
such aS the inspector ordered, and were
all in good condition. The boat was To
start back at . o'clock, but most of th"
number from Red Wing wished to re-
main until after the dress parade at e.
hence the boat delayed until O'Clock
before starting.
Signed d. y WErHEErN. Capt.
T.. VI. NILES, Clerk.