Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-17
WENT DOWN TO DEATH.
Terrible Accident on Lake PENN i'm
Minnesota.
More Than Fifty Bodies Recovered
and Brought to the Stricken
People for Burial.

little evidence of fierce struggle with the
elements and of the death-dealing fury of
the storm which ragged off this city last
night. With scarcely note of warning
there burst upon this city one of
the severest storms known in it's
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 excursionists from
Red Wing to the camp of First Regiment
OF the Minnesota guards, just below the
city. When the day was coming to a
close Capt. Whetheren 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
1T would not prove serious he would not
consent, but at about s o'clock he
started off up the lake toward Red Wing.
nearly 200 of the passengers being on
board, the wind blowing a gale. A point
of land runs out from the Minnesota shore.
just above this place, across from which is
known as Maiden Rock. To pass around
this point it was necessary for the steamer
to turn slightly toward 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, and over she went with her
great load of passengers. The barge, Jim
Grant, which was In tow and on which
about one-quarter 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 as the helpless hulks drifted
before the steamer righted herself for
moment, but in another moment was keel
ed ever. The barge broke loose. drifting
down opposite the town. Those still aboard
about ~ IN number, were rescued The
stea ner drifted in back of the point and
sank: Many were saved however, and the
herolsm of 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 were
rescued from " hat 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 allied for and every one volunteered.
AdJutant General Mullen Immediately
took charlie of the regiment and work was
q nd .Io1 4
men, women and children, and in some
cases whole families were taken from the
water, some alive others unconscious but
not dead and yet others from which the
breath of life had forever fled. 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 to-day,
inqulring if any more bodies had been re-
covered, and for the names of the identified
dead. The anguish of the many parents.
whose children had been ruthlessly torn
from them by the awful calamity cannot be
portrayed.
By o'clock this morning fifty bodies
had been recovered and sent to Red Wing.
By s, had taken the same mournful Jour
ney, and at 3 clock this afternoon seven
Few of the bodies had any bruises or
other marks of injury upon them. The
fact that the militia were in easy call I'M
doubtedly resulted in the saving of many
lives, and the work of the citizen soIdierv.
of their excellent organization and the
good management Of General Mullen and
Surgeons Fitzgerald, Clark and Kahn
were notable aud commendable.
During the morning a systematic
patrol of the water over which the
boats had drifted after being
first struck by the gale, was kept up by
the citizens of Lake City. After the last
bodies had been taken from the bulls.
Gen. Mullen perssed into the service all
the row boats within reach, and with the
soldiers began this afternoon a thorough
dragging of the lake al about the scene
of disaster. No bodies were found
up to dark. when the search was
abandoned for the day. Dynamite
will be used In the morning. There
were a good many who made use of
life preservers, but probably none had as
good service as had Robert Adams. the
seventeen-year-old son of DR.. Adams, of
Lake City, and another BOY. They secured
three life preservers and were in the water
for six hours before rescued Young Adj
ans could swim but his companions could
not. They had the good sense to float quiet
ly and not attempt to fight against the
waves. During six hours they were buff
feted by the pillows. and blown hither
and yon by the gale. They drifted about
a mile down past the town and then a
change in the wind carried them up the
river to Frontenac seven miles from here,
where they were rescued by DR.. Kahn
and party, and to-day are nearly as well
as ever.
Capt. Wethen, proprietor and COM
mander of the Sea Wing, has been blamed
severely by the citizens and others for what
they allege to have been criminal negli-
gence on his part in pulling inc the lake
with such a crowd when the sky looked
so threteaning. The captains wife
and two of his three children lost their
lives under the waves, and that fact to-
gether with the loss ef his vessel and the
great loss of life sounerved him that
he kept pretty much out of sight during
the day, and those who did see him got
but an imperfect statement from him.
At first he did not consider the dan
ger very great, and thought he
saw break IN the clouds promising
clearing away of the storm. This is not
well taken by the people in the neigh
borhood, who say the sky was black with
the most threatnlng kind of clouds, and
that 1t was clearly evident a very heavy
storm was about to break. Another ex-
cuse, if such these may be called is that
fits would be cut down by any delay in the
departure of the boat was so urgent in his
insistance upon the immediate depart