The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-07-25
NUMBER 80.
DEATH FLEW FAST,
SUDDEN AND AWFUL STORM ON A
WISCONSIN LAKE.

Women and Children Thrown Struggling
into Raging water-Awful Scenes OF tho
Tempest -Rcscuing Parties at Work.
LAKE CRY, MINI, July 16.-Sunday
night Just before dark disastrous
cyclone bore down upon this com
munity, and in few minutes nearly
two hundred people were killed.
What appeared to be an ordinary
electric storm was noticed coming
from tho west, but in half an hour
the whole heavens were converted
| |of Death a little before dark d tor y
rife wind struck the village, driving
every one in doors. Trees were up
rooted, buildings wrecked and much
damage done in the short time the
storm lasted. In a few moments
news was abroad that nh excursion
boat with over two hundred people
on it was cnpsized in the middle OF
Lake Pcppin. The boat was the
steamer "Xawing," which came down
from the Lake Diamond Bluff, n
small place about seventeen miles
north of here, on an excursion to the
cncampmcnt of the First Regiment
of National Guards, which is being
held n mile below the city.
| The steamer started back on the
homcward trip about eight o'clock
and although there were signs of an
approaching storm it was not con-
sidcrod in any way serious and no
danger was anticipated.
The boat was crowded to it's fullest
capacity, about $50 men, women and
children from Red Wing and Diamond
Bluff being on board and about fifty
people on barge which was attached
to the side of the steamer. When
about opposite Lake City the bont
began to feel the effects of the storm
but the officers kept Oh their way.
The storm increased as the boat con
tinucd up the lake and i'll fifteen min
utcs was ut it's height Nearing Cen
trail Point, about two miles above
Lake City tho steamer was Mt the
mercy of the waves which were wash
ing over the boat, and all was con-
j fusion. fsi The boat momentariIy ran
on bar and the barge WaS eukacose
and the steamer again SET adrift into
the like. A number Jumped over
board and swan ashore; A ths barge
floated again into deep water those
on the barge saw the steamer as 1T
Mas " sssrisd hslglsssly out. out, into the
being tossed about on Fragiig
waters were Mortified to sec the
steamer capsized and its cargo Of 100
people thrown into the lake.
The barge remained there until
| Il ol,
swan ashore. There were number
of ladies who were brought to the
beach by strong and ready swimmers.
AS soon as the sborm struck the
boat Captain Weatheln gave instruc-
tio"s to run the boat into the Wis
consin shore, but it was too late.
The waves were too strong to permit
the working of the rudder. After the
barge was cut away it was carried to
the middle of the lake and boats
were lowered by the crew and the
more cool headed passengers were
devoted to preparations for the worst
A dozen or more secured the few
life prcscrvcrs that were to be found
and jumped into the water, preferring
to take their chances. In five min
utcs more the waves began to wash
into the boat and fill the lower decks
while hailstones M large as hens
eggs came down upon the heads of
the people, while huge wave struck
the craft on the side at the same
moment that a terrific blast of wind,
more horribly forcible than the
others, came up and carried the boat
over
All of the people on board, 100 or
more, were thrown into the water,
some being caught underneath and
others thrown into the water. The
boat turned bottom upwards, and
only about twenty-five people were
observed floating Oh the surface.
These caught hold of the upturned
bottom, those first securing posi-
ton assisting others. In fifteen min
utcs more twenty-five or thirty who
had obtained safety on the boat could
observe no others.
After tho crew and passengers had
made thorough search in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the boat they be-
gan more extensive search. After
ward, however, as a flash of lightning
lighted the surface of the lake, by the
brilliant light the dress Of a drown
ing woman or child was observed,
but it was impossible for those who
witnessed the horrible sight to render
any aid. Those remaining began to
call for help from the shore.
Soon the storm began to abatc and
in II half hour lights were observed
fitting about on the shore near where
the steamer had been drifted before
help could reach it. The poor crca-
lures who remained to tell the horrors
of the night were again compelled to
suffer further horrors of the clements.
A hail storm burst with no word of
warning, and as they were Just be-
ginning to hope that they would be
taken off by the citizensof Lake City,
the boat again turned over, this time
on it's side and all of the twenty-five
passengers we've hurled into the water
and drowned before they could be
| brought to the bOat by those who