The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-07-18
A HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
A Cyclone Strikes an Excursion Steam
er near Red Wing, Minnesota.

LAKE CITY, MIMI, July 14.-Last
night just before dark. disastrous
cyclone bore down upon this COM
munity, and in few moments near
ly 200 people were killed. What
appeared to be an ordinary electric
storm was noticed coming up from
the west. but in half an hour the
whole heavens had been converted
into lightning-lined black canopy
of death. A little before dark a ter
rifle wind struck the village, driving
every one indoors. Trees were up
rooted, buildings were wrecked and
much damage done in the time the
storm lasted. 10 few minutes the
news was abroad that an excursi n
boat with 200 people on it was cap
sized in the middle of Lake PepIn.
The boat was the steamer Seawing.
which came down the lake from Dia-
mond Bluff, small place about sew
enteen miles north of here, on an
Excursion to the encampment of the
! First Regiment N. G. S. NJ, which
is being held mile below this city.
The steamer started back on the
homeWard trip about O'clock, and
although there were signs of an APP
preaching storm. it was not consid-
cred in any way serious, and no dan
ger was anticipated.
The boat was crowded to its fullest
capacity, about $50 men, women and
children from RedWing and Dia-
mond Bluff being on board and
about so people on a barge which
was attached to the side of the
steamer. When ABOUT Lake City
the boat began to feel the effects Of
the storm. But the officers kept on
their way. The storm increased as
the boat continued on her way up
the lake and in fifteen minutes was
at its 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 confusion. The
boat momentarily ran on to bar,
and the barge was cut loose and the
steamer again set adrift in the lake.
| A number of those on the barge
jumped and swan ashore. AS the
barge flOated 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 were being tossed about on
the raging waters, they were horri-
fed moment later to observe the
steamer capsiZe and its cargo of $50
people precpitated into the lake.
Those on the barge remained there
until they were all rescued or SWAIN
ashore.
Up to 3 O'Clock this morning fifty
nine bodies had heen found, and the
search for the dead was kept w all
night.
Unidentified bodies to the number
of 62 have been recovered and the
work of rescue is being pushed by
parties of military boys who are en-
camped up the river.
1t was stated this afternoon that
to keep the water out of TIE cabin
and to keep the people under shell.
ter, Captain Wethern hid locked the
cabin. If this is true it may explain
much of the loss of life, although the
loss would still have been very
heavy.
Estimates vary as to the total num-
Der of dead. There were over 200 on
the steamer and barge when they
started to return to Red wing. very
few remaining behind on account of
the storm. although many protested
against the proposal to steam up the
lake in the face of such a gale as was
then blowing. OF the whole num-
Der it is known positively that about
fifty were saved. More may have
escaped, but only this many are
known at this time to be safe. That
would leave 15G victims of the dlsas-
ter, but every one hopes the number
may not go beyond 100. A good
number are still in the wreck, and
great many are in the bottom of the
lake, where the gale first struck the
/ steamer. Just how many will not
1 be known for some time yet, posi-
bly, for several days.
Captain Wethern, proprietor and
commander of the Sea Wing, has
been blamed for what is alleged to
have been criminal negligence on
his part in putting out in the lake
with such a crowd when the sky
looked so threatening. The cap
tain's wife and two of his three chill
dren lost their lives, and that, in
connection with the loss of his YES
sci, have so broken him up that he