The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-07-19

LAKE CRY, Mimi, July 14.-Last
night, just before dark. a disastrous cy
clone bore down upon this community.
and In a few minutes nearly 123 lives
were lost. What appeared to be an or
dlnary electric storm was noticed COM
ing up from the west, but in half an
hour the whole heavens had been con-
yerted into a lightning lined black can
opy of death. A little before dark a
terrific wind struck the village, driving
everyone indoors. Trees were uproot-
ed, buildings wrecked, and much dam
age done in the short time the storm
/ lasted.
In few moments the news was
abroad that an excursion boat with over
2O0 people on it was capsized in the
middle of Lake Pepin. The boat WAS
the steamer Sea Wing, which came
down the lake from Diamond Bluff. a
small place about seventeen miles north
of here, on an excursion To the cncamp
ment of The First Regiment. Minnesota
National Guard, which is being held a
| mile below this city. The steamer
started back on the homeward trip
about S O'Clock, and, although there were
| signs of an approaching storm, 1t was
not considered III any way serious, and
no danger was anticipated.
The boat was crowded to its fullest ca
pacity, about 80 men, women and chill
dren from Red Wing and Diamond
Bluff being OH board, and about 30 pco-
pie on barge, which was attached TO
the side of the steamer. When about
opposite Lake City the boat began to
feel the effects of the storm, but the Of
| ticers kept on their way. The storm in
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lake, and in fifteen minutes was at It's
height.
Nearing Central Point, about two
miles above Lake City, the steamer was
at the mercy of the waves, which were
washing over the boat, and all WAS con-
| fusion. The boat momentarily ran into
| a bar and the barge was cut loose, and
! the steamer again set adriit in the lake.
| A number of those on tie barge jumped
| and swan ashore. As the barge h0ated
| again into the deep water, those on the
! barge saw the steamer as it was carried
/ helplessly out into the middle of the
| lake, and as they We're being tossed
about on the raging waters they were
! Mortified moment later TO see the
steamer capsize, its load of l3Q people
| being precipitated into the lake.
Those on the barge remained there
>
and they were all rescued or swan
ashore. Among them were two ladies,
| who were brought to the beach by
! strong and ready swimmers.
AS soon as the storm began to effect
| the progress of the boat Capt. Weathern
! gave instructions to run the boat into
! the Wisconsin shore, but ii was too late.
! The waves were running too high to
| permit the helmsman to operate the
rudder, and the boat was at the com
! plete mercy of the storm. A few mo-
| ments after the barge was cut away the
| steamer was carried to the center of the
lake, and the efforts of the boat s crew
and the more cool-headcd passengers
were devoted to preparations for the
worst. A dozen or more secured the
few life -preservers that were to be
found and jumped into the water, pre-
ferring to take their chances.
| In five minutes more the waves be-
gan to wash into the boat and Till the
lower decks, and while hailstoncs as
| large as hens eggs came down on the
heads of the poor and helpless
| creatures who were huddled together
on the top, a huge wave struck the craft
on the side at the same moment that Il
blast of wind, more forclble than the
| others, came up and carried the boat
| over.
All of the people on board, $50 or
more, were thrown into the water,
some being caught underneath, and
others thrown into the waves. The
boat turned bottom upwards and only
ten or fifteen were observed floating on
the surface. These caught hold of the
boat and climbed up on the upturned
bottom, those first securing position
| assisting the others. In ten minutes
more than twenty-five or so, who had
obtained momentary safety on the
boat could observe ne Others
of the boats crew or pas
sengers floating on the surface
of the continuing high sea of waves
Afterward, however. as flash of light
| ming lighted up the surface OF the lake
the sight of an occasional white dress OF
a drowning woman or child was observ-
able, but it was impossible for those
| who Witnessed the horrible sight tC
lend any aid. Those remaining began
calling for help from the shore. SooI
the storm began to abate, and in half al
hour lights were observed fitting about
on the pier at Lake City, opposite which
point the upturned steamer had now
drifted before help could reach them.
The poor creatures who yet remained
to tell the horrors of the night We're
again submitted to another battle witt
the elements With no word of warn
ing. and as they were Just beginning Il
hope that they would be taken off by tn,
citizens of Lake City, the boat agaiI
turned over, this time on its side, ane
again all of the twenty-five re
naming souls were hurled into the
water. OF these several were drowne'
before they could be brought To the
boat by those who succeeded in remain
ing atioat and again securing hold Oh
the boats side.
In few moments a dozen or more
row boats were manned and put ou
from the shore, although the high sc;
of waves had not vet subsidized. and aft
er securing the lake for a quarter of an
hour the upturned boat was at last dis
covered. and the twenty or more re
naming people clinging 10 the boat wert
rescued and brought to the shore, most
Of them being men who could swim.
Unidentified bodies TO the number o
siXty-two have been recovered, and tht
work of rescue is being pushed by par
ties of the military boys, who are en-
camped up the river.
The search for the bodies began q
once, and over sixty had been taken on
by daylight The scene of the disaste.
Is across the line from Lake lily lOWaTt
Red Wing, and as most of the vlctlm
were from that city, the coroner wa
notified and fifty two bodies taken ther,
this morning, after being first yiewet
bv him at the lake side.
During the night ffty-fye bodie
were recovered and this morning up 4
10 O'Clock seven more had been pulle,
out. Under command of AdiutantGeli
eral Mullen the militia were draftet
into service, and worked nobly on th'
wreck.
The barge was wrecked back Of IN,
point which is known as Maiden Rock
and is anchored there. The wreck o
the steamer occurred Of this point
and the very greatly disrnantled wrecl
drifted over against the barge. Sht
lay over on the port side and Wa
broken almost into kiudling wood, ..
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