Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-07-17
THE PEPIN CALAMITY.
Not Tornado But a Straight
Wind Does the Work.

Not Tornado But Straight
Wind Does the Work.
Tho Vessel Overturned In Rounding For
tho shore-Tho Captain said TO Have
Locked Passengers In tho
Cabin.
LAKE CRY, MINI, July 15.-The
storm which resulted in such great loss
Of life in Lake Pepin, opposite tho
western end Of this little town, was a
straight wind blowing at terrific rate
of speed and 1t completely overpowered
the excursion steamer Sea King, pre-
viously telegraphed Sea Wing.
Lake Pepin, an expansion OF the Mis-
sissippi, Is about thirty miles long and
extends east and west The steamer
was returning from the camp OF the
Minnesota National Guards with a
party Of Red Wing people and was stoam-
ing In the teeth Of the wind. The gale
was too much for the steamer and the boat
was fast getting beyond control when
Captain Wethern tried to save the lives
OF his passengers by running the boat
aground on the Wisconsin shore, but as
soon as the vessel turned around little
TO the force OF the wind, IL was seized
by a strong grip and il was impossible
for the engines to right IL The boat
was turned over and quickly scores OF
people we're struggling in the waves
from which many of them may never be
recovered.
The vessel tried TO regain its right
position but quickly was seized once
more and a second overturn ng upset
nearly all OF those still cllnging TO the
wreck. A few reached the shore, but
the most closed their eyes under water.
/ The search for the bodies began at
once and over sixty had been taken out
by daylight The scene Of the disaster
is across the lake from Lake City to-
ward Red Wing and as most of the VIC
Tins we're from that city the coroner
was notified and fifty-two bodies taken
there yesterday morning after having
/ first being viewed by him at the lake
side
During the night fifty-flye bodies were
recovered and yesterday morning up TO
ten o'clock seven more had been pulled
out Under command OF Adiutant-Gen-
eral Mullen the militia were put into
service and worked nobly on the wreck.
A couple of buildings we're wrecked
back of the point which Is known as
Maiden Rock, whore the wreck OF the
steamer occurred The vessel lies on
the port side ana was broken almost in
to kindling wood, although enough Of
the framework remained together to
work on.
At 1890 the bodies OF woman and
child, TO which ropes had been at
tached, were drawn from the water
The child was the daughter of John
Winters, of Red Wing Fred SEWERS,
blacksmith, was taken out few min
utes later. That makes total OF sixty
five bodies alre ady found, or probably
about half the total number drowned.
Corporal b. l. Perry, OF St Paul saw
the wreck early and fastened TO
the spot TO render such assistance as
was possible. Finding man standing
near boat on the shore he asked TO be
taken out into the storm to the over
turned boat When refused he threat
ened to kill him unless his orders were
obeyed, and with the help OF his unwill- |
ing assistant saved the lives of fifteen |
or sixteen women. Adjutant- General |
Mullen says the man has earned COM
mission.
From early morning a patrol OF row |
boats was kept up all over the neighbor- |
hood Of the wreck looking for bodies. |
Several we're found in that way during |
the night
A small boy was found floating and |
yelling three miles down the lake from |
the scene of the disaster
II was stated that to keep the water |
out of the cabin and to keep the people |
under shelter, Captain Wethern had
locked the door Of the cabin II this is
true, IL may explain much Of the loss OF |
life although the loss would still have
been very heavy.
Believing that still some bodies we're
to be found In the half dismantled |
wreck, General Mullen ordered the
tearing away OF the upper works of the
vessel and the pushing of the wreck
farther toward the shore, where she
was righted. This work was done by
the Luella and the Ethel Howard, and
as soon as the wreck could be got In its
new position General Mullen and his
military helpers went all through the
Sea King, recovering three more bodies,
bringing the total up to sixty-fve, and
convinced themselves that no more
bodies were TO be found there.
The following have been recovered
and identified, or are known to be dead:
John Heller and wife and two children,
John Gerkin, wife and FIVE children,
Mrs. Blaher and two children, Mrs.
Hemfobling and three children, Mrs.
schuelberg and daughter. Minnie Fisher,
Marie Skoglund, Kate DAILY, Mrs. +.
Sharf and daughter, Fred Christ, Annie
Stieger, Francis Stieger. George Nelson,
John Bahrns and wife, Charles Dinstage.
Fred Sewers and daughter. Tom Larson,
Addie Wing and sister. II. Redlus
and two children, Fred Hattemeyer
Mamie Adams, Henry Steiner, Katie
Burkhart A. o. Anderson. Eddie Chris
topherson, Herman Hipper, WIN Hip
per, George Harris, Mrs. Nellie Woerhn
and son, Nellie Miles, Burson Fibbey,
Cordy Johnson, Floy Smith, Myrtle
Nero. Ira Fulton, Fred seaver, Helne
Gerkein, Charles Brown, X. Petersen.
Bertha Winter OF Rcd Wing Alice Palm
er and Nettie Ralmer of Trenton, Wis.
Clippings.
Notwithstanding the decision Of the
Supreme Court Of Wisconsin that the |