The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-07-17
CYCLONES WORK.
Over a Hundred People
Drowned by the Capsiz-
ing of a Boat.
Terrible Wind Storm Strikes
Lake Geryais Killing Six
and Wounding Eleven.

to-mgnU, lnfllctIng the loss OF lie Oh per-
haps 100 or 200 people and damaging prop
erty to anextent that at this writing cannot
be estimated. Your correspondent. was WIS.,
iting friends in Lake City and was sitting
in the yard, when what appeared to be an
ordinary electric storm was noticed coming
up from the west. In half an hour the
whole heavens were converted into
complete canopy of lightning,
which wass watched with interest
by the brave citizens of the little village,
and with fear by the timid women and
children A little before dark
ATERRIFIo WIND
struck the community, and your reporter
sought the shelter of the house just in time
to escape being caught under huge tree
that came crashing down against the house.
People began to gather on the streets and
in a few moments the news was scattered
abroad that an excursion boat with over
200 people on it
WAS CAPsIZED
in the middle of Lake Pepin. The boat
proved to be the steamer Sea Wing, which
came down the lake from Diamond Bluff,
small place about seventeen miles north
of here, on an excursion to the encamp-
ment of the First regiment, n. G. s. NJ,
The boat was crowded to its fullest capac
| ity, about $50 men, women and children
| from Red Wing end 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 boat began to feel the effects of the
storm. But the officers kept on their way.
| The storm increased as the boat continued
| ;1, ar
its height.
Nearing Central Point. about two miles
above Lake City, the steamer was at the
! mercy of the waves, which were now wash
ing over the boat and all was confusion.
The boat momentarily ran onto bar and
the barge was cut loose, and the steamer
again sgt edrift in the lake. A number OF
those on the barge
| JUMPED AND SWAN ASHORE.
Asthe barge also hoated 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 Mortified a moment later to observe
the steamer capsize and its carge, OF $50
people precipitated into the lake.
AS soon as the storm began to abate, and
in half an hour lights were observed fitting
/ aboH On the pier at Lake City opposite
| whicA noint the upturned steamer had nUW
beendriyen before help could reach them.
However, the poor creatures who yet re-
mained to tell the horrors of the night were
again submitted to another
RATTLE WITH THE ELEMENTS.
At the encampment grounds of the First
regiment the tents were more or less de-
molished, but the four or hye nun,
in
hurt to any serious degree, Col. Bend, the
commander of the re@iment, had his leg
badly bruised by trunk being thrown
against it.
LAKE Cry, Special. - Surrounded by
beautiful bluffs and pleasant farming lands,
Lake Pepin's unruffle ed surface to-day gave
little evidence of the fierce struggle with
the elements and of the death-dealing Jury
of the storm that ragged off this peaceful
little city last night. With scarcely note
of warning there burst upon this region one
ofthe seyerest storms ever known in its his
torv. and the loss of life is probably greater
than anv other single calamity that has
ever visited any part of the Northwest. st.
Cloud's cyclone of a few years ago was dis
astrous in the extreme, but it is as nothing
beside this. The list of dead already num-
, bers sixtv-five and may exceed 100.
The excursion steamer Sea Wing of Dia-
mond Bluff had carried party of 200 or
more excursionists from Red Wing to the
camp of the First regiment. Minnesota ma
tionaI guard, which is just below this city.
When the day was coming to close Capt.
Wetheren prepared to return his boat load
to their homes Many among them feared
an approaching storm, and asked that he
nostnone his departure until after the storm
had blown over. Thinking the storm would
not prove serious, he would not consent,
but at about o'clock started off up the
. lake toward Red Wing;aHearly all of the
over 200 passengers being on board. The
wind was
BLOWING GALE,
into the teeth of which the Sea Wing tried
to make its way, but the gale was too strong
for her.
noint of land runs out from the Min
{ nesota shore. Just above this place, across
from what is known as Maiden Rock. To
pass around this point it was necessary for
the steamer to turn slightly towards the
Wisconsin shore, and Immediately the hur-
rieane had seized hold of the already trefn-
bling and creaking 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,
9 The barge Jim Grant, which was in tow,
and on which about one quarter of the ex-
} cursionists had crowded, was also seized,
: her awning being crushed in and the pas
sengers thrown into the water. This hap
J pened just below the point, and as the help
less hulks drifted before the gale, the
steamer righted herself for moment, but
{ in moment was again keeled over, and sc
badly torn by the storm she could but liz
helpless and let the waves wash over her
The barge had broken loose from thu
steamer and drifted down opposite the
town, and those still on board, abou
: twenty in. number, were rescued. Th'
6 steamer driited in back of the point, anc
e sank with most of those on board.
l The coroner says there are thirty-three
who have not yet been reported, and it ]:
3 probable that nearly that number will b.
: among the dead. The exact number o
/ those whose bodies have already been re
! covered varies very slightly. Som,
place the number at sixty and Others q
sixty-six, which would make the tota
!, number of dead ann missing at ninety-nine
It may prove that some of these will b.
later heard from. As to that time alon
can tell.