The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-07-15
Disaster.
OYER AHUNDRED LIVES LOST
A Cyclone Strikes MI Excursion
SteamcrNcar Red Wing,
Minnesota.
The Vessel Capsizcs and Over l5O
Persons arc Plunged Into
Lake Pcpin.
m n n n
A TERRIBLE CALAMITY,
Men, Women and Children Go
Down to Death in Sight
Of their Friends.
Nearly Hundred Bolifs Recovered
and Mora iu tho I.ake-The Work
or Eescuc-A Brave Corporal.
The Cyclone Near st. Paul.
Htw the Storm Came.

LAKE CRY, MlSN., July 14.-Ias
night just before dark. n dsastroul
cyclone boro down upon this commun
ity, and in few minutes nearly 200 peo
pie were killed. What appeared to bt
IN ordinary electric storm was noticed
coming UP from the west, but in half ar
hour the whole heavens had been CON
verted into n lightning.lined black can
opy OF death. a little before dark ter
rifle wind struck the village, driving
every one indoors. Trees were uproot.
cd, buildings were wrecked and much
damage done in the time the storm last.
cd. In few minutes the news was
abroad that IN excursion boat with 200
people on it was capsized in the middle
Of Lake Pepin. Tho boat was the
steamer Scawig, which came down the
lake from Diamond Bluu, small place
about seventeen miles north Of here. on
M excursion to the encampment OF the
First Regiment N. G. S. NJ, which is
being held n mile below this city. The
steamer started back on the homeward
TIP about s o'clock, and although there
were signs OF m approaching storm, it
was not considered III any way serious,
and no dapger Was anticipated.
HORRIBLE SIGHT.
The boat WIS crowded 10 its fullest
capacity, about l50 men, women and
children from Redwiug and Diamond
Bluff being on board and about so peo-
pie On barge which was attached to
tae side OF the steamer. When abo ut
Lake City the boat began to feel he ef.
iects OF the storm. But the officers kept
on their way. The storm increased us
the boat continued on her way up the
lake and in fifteen minutes was ut its
height. Nearing Central Point, about
Two miles above Lake City, tho steamer
was at the mercy OF the waves which
were washing over the boat md all was
coufusiou. The boat momentarily ran
on 10 "a bar, and the barge was cut loose
and the steamer again set adrift in the
lake.
y number Of those on the barge
jumped and awam ashore. As the barge
iloated again into the deep water those
on the barge saw the steamer as it WAS
carried helplcssly out into the middle
Of tho lake, and as they were being
tossed about on the raging waters, they
tfufJ a NJ 1otc tNn nhoo
the steamer capsize and it's cargo OF $50
people precipitated into the lake.
Those on the barge remained there
until they were drifted neater the shore
and they were all rescued or Swan
ashore.
Up to . o'clock this morning tiity-nine
bodies bad been found, and the search
for the dead was kept up all night.
STILL FINDING uoDIEs.
A later dispatch says in regard to the
steamer disaster on Lake Pepin last
night that a bodies have been recovered
by the rcscuing parties sent ont from
the shore. Those identified SO fur are
Miss Henpling. Charles uempling, Free
Hempling. Miss Way, Charles Dinslaee
Henry Steiinson, Annie Stesger. Francii
Steeser, Minnie Adams, Katie DAILY
Miss Biesson, Minnie Fisher, Charles
Diusling.
Unidentified bodies to the number o
t'2 have keen recovered and the work o
rescue is being pushed by parties Of
military boys who are encamped up the
river.
1t was stated this afternoon that tc
keep the water out OF the cabin and tc
keep the people under shelter, Captain
Wethern had locked the door Of the
cabin. II this is true, it may explair
much of the loss Of life, although the
loss would still have been very heavy.
Estimates vary MS to the total number
oil dead. There were over 200 on the
steamer and barge when they started to
return to Red Wing, very few remain
ing behind on account OF the storm, nj
though many protested against the pro
posal to steam up the like in the face O
such gale rs was then blowing. OF tht
whole number, it is known positively
that about fifty were saved. More may
have escaped, but only this many art
known ut this time to he safe. Thn
would leave 15O victims OF the disaster
but every one hopes the number ma,
not go beyond l25. A good number are
still in the wreck, and q great many arl
in the bottom OF the like, where the gal,
first s,rucl; the steamer. lust how man,
will not har known for some time yet
possibly for several days,
WHO WAS TO DLANE?
Captain Wcthern, proprietor and com
mander OF tho Sea Wing, has beer
blamed ior what is alleged to have beel
criminal negligence on his part In put
ting out in the lake with such crow
when tho sky looked 80 threatening
Tho captains wife and two of his tire
children lost their lives, and that. j.
connection with the loss OF his veBse
have 90 broken him up that ke has kep
out OF sight. Hc has explained tim
he did not think the danger very grea
md that he thought he saw break il
tho clouds. People in this neichbol
hood say tho sky was black and that !
was evident that a heavy storm wa
about to break. His other excuse IS tina
the manager OF the excursion, who's
profits would be put down by any dt
lay in the departure OF the boat, was 8
urgent in insisting upon immediate dt
pnr,nre that the Captain yielded, an
look his boat out to her destruction.
Many incidents OF the past night m
day might be related. James Webb, {
the Red Wing, and his young lady con
panion had Just jokiugly finished faster
ing life preReryrIs 10 each other whe
tho storm struck the vessel, and the jok
proved their salvation. (.
Two babies were found among tn
,,t Al