Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-16
THE LAKE PEPIN DISASTER.

THE LAKE PEPIN DISASTER.
Misjudgment of the Sea Wings Captain.
The Work of Rescue.
LAKE CITY, Mimi, July 16.-Sur.
rounded by beautiful bluffs and pleasant
farming lands Lake Pepin's unruffled
surface Monday gave little evidence of
the fierce struggle with the elements
and of the death dealing fury of storm
that ragged off tbs peaceful little city
Monday night. The loss of life is proba-
bly, greater than any other single calam-
ity that has ever visited any part Of the
northwest. st. Clouds cyclone of few
years ago was disastrous in the extreme,
but it is nothing beside this. The list
of dead may exceed 100.
How the Wreck Occurred.
The excursion steamer Sea Wing, of
Diamond Bluff, mad carried party of
200 or more eXcursionists from Red
Wing to the camp of the First regiment,
Minnesota National Guards, which was
just below the city. When the day was
coming to close, Capt. Wetheren pre-
pared to return his boat load to their
homes. Many among them feared an
approaching storm and asked that he
postpone his departure until after the
storm had blown over. Thinking the
storm would not prove serious he would
not consent, but at about s o'clock
started off up the lake towards Red
Wing Nearly all of the 200 passengers
were on board. The wind was becom-
ing gale, into the teeth of which the
Sea Wing tried to make her way, but
the gale was too strong for her.
A point of land runs out from the
Minnesota shore just over this place,
across from which is an island 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
had seized hold of the already strug-
Cling 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-fourth Of the eXcursionists had
crowded, was also seized, her awning
being crushed in and the passengers
thrown into the water.
This happened just below the point,
and as the helpless hulk drifted before
the gale the steamer righted herself for
moment, but in another moment
again keeled over and so badly torn by
the storm that she could but lie helpless
and let the waves wash over her. The
barge had broken loose from the steam
er and drifted down opposite to the
town, and those still on board-about
twenty in number--were rescued. The
steamer drifted in back Of the point
and sank with most Of those ON board.
Brave Rescucrs.
Many were saved, however, and the
heroism Of few cannot be slightly
praised. Corporal B. l.. Perry, of St
Paul, compelled the spectators to assist
him, and saved the lives of eighteen of
those who were still clinging to the
wreck. He went out on the lake when
the storm was at its height, and seemed
to know no fear. Others there We're
like him, and over sixty were rescued
from what seemed certain death Small
boats cruised around for several hours
and picked up some three score of strug-
Cling but still living victims of the
storm,
As soon as word reached the camp
volunteers were called for, and every
one volunteered to assist in rescuing the
living or searching for the dead Adit.
Gen. Mullen Immediately took charge
of the regiment and the search was be-
gun and carried on. Body after body
cf men, w omen and children--in some
cases almost Of whole families-were
taken from the water, some of them
alive; others unconscious but not dead,
and yet others from which the breath of
life had forever fled.
An invaluable aid in the work. both
of rescusitating and laying ont the dead,
was rendered by the excellent ambulance
corps, which had been but recently
organized. Sad experiences are many,
but remarkable escapes are not lacking.
doOd Work of the Militia.
The fact that the militia were within
easy call undoubtedly resulted in the
saving of many lives, but the willing
ness of the citizen soldiery to work,
their excellent organization. and good
management of Gen Mullen and Sur
geons Fitzgerald, Clarke and Kain, were
notable and commendable When morn
ing came the weary all-night workers
were replaced by relief from their COM
rades, and the work went on success
fully and smoothly. The barge lay
quietly on the water, just above town,
and toppled over on the port side, the
steamer had drifted against her tow,
and together they lay, the shattered re-
minders of the storms power and mans
weakness.
Quick and Painless Death.
Maj. Fitzgerald. surgeon of the regi-
ment. who had charge Of the hospital
corps and also of the arrangements for
the handling of the bodies, says that
death was very quick in every case, and
there was scarcely any evidence Of
their having been struggling on the
part of the dying. Neither had any of
the bodies any bruises or other marks of
injury upon them. Death was quick
and painless.
GOoIhue county, of which Red Wing
is the county seat, reaches 10 the end of