Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-16
The Deadly Cyclone.
An Excursion Steamer Capsized
in Lake Pepin with Terrible
Loss Of Life.
The Same Storm Carries Death
and Destruction to the Lake
Region Near St. Paul.
A Foolhardy Captain.

A Foolhardy Captain.
LAKE CITY, Minn., July 1.-THE
storm which resulted iE such great
loss Of life st Lake Pepin, opposite the
west end Of this little town was Q
straight wind, blowing at q terrific
rate Of speed, and It completely over
powered the excursion steamer Sea.
wing. Lake Pepln 10 an expansion of
the Mississippi, about thirty miles
long, and extends east and west The
steamer WAS returning from the camp
Of the Minnesota national guard, with
q patty Of Red Wing people and was
fighting into the teeth of the wind.
The gale was too much for the steamer
and the boat was fast getting beyond
Capt. Wethern tried to save
the lives Of his passengers by running
tie boat ashore on the Wisconsin
side, but as soon % the vessel turned
around little TO face the wind It was
seized by strong grip and 1t was i'm
possible for the engines to right 1t.
THE BOAT WAS TURNED OVER
and scores of people Struggled In the
waves. The vessei tried to regain ia
erect position, but quickly was seized
and q second overturn upset nearly oil
of those who still clupg to the wreck.
A few reached the shore. but the most
closed their eyes under water. Bearch
for the bodies began ut once and over
sixty bad been taken out before day.
light.
THE SCENE OF THE DISASTER
is across the line from Lake City to-
wards Red Wing. and % most Of the
victims we're from that city the coro-
ner was notified and finy-two bodies
were taken there this morning after
being 6rst viewed By him at the lake
side. During the night IS bodies
were recovered and this morning up
to 10 o'clock seven more had been
pulled out.
THE MILITIA
were drafted into service and worked
nobly. The barge had been wrecked
back Of tine point which 10 known %
Maiden Rock and 10 anchored there.
The wreck of the steamer occurred of
this point and the very greatly dis.
mantled wreck drifted over against
the barge. She lay over on her port
side and was broken almost into
kindlipg wood. although enough Of
the framework remained to hold to.
gether and work on. At 1880 the
bodies of Q woman and child were
taken from the water. The child was
the daughter Of John Winters OF Red
Wing. Fred Seivers. . blacksmith,
was taken out few minutes later.
That makes o total Of
SIXTY FIVE BODIES
already taken out, or probably about
one.hali the total number drowned.
This morning the little steam tug
wandersr tried unsuccessfully to pull
the wreck apart and then the Ethel
Howard came up the river. ana, with
the valuable aid Of the Luella, pulled
apart the frame Of what had been the
top Of the steamer. The Luella then
pulled the seawing up out OF the wa
ter. releasing three bodies-one woman
and two young men. Alice Palmer
was one Of these, but the Others had
not been ideLtified up to I O'Clock
That makes total Of 6S now found
1t 10 stated that TO Keep the water oui
and to keep the people under shelter
Capt. 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 heavy. EstI
mates vary as to the total number ol
dead. There were over 200 on ths
steamer and barge when they started
10 return to Red Wing. very few re'
naming behind on account Of ths
storm. although many protested
against the proposal 10 steam up th'
lake 10 the face OF such gale a. va
blowing. II Ii known that 80 wsr'
saved. More may have escaped, bs
only this many ere known at thu
time to bs safe. That would leav,
about $50 victims Of the disaster, bu
everyone hopes the number may no
70 beyond is5. A good number Or
still In the wreck aud . great man.
ere in the bottom Of the lake, vhsr
the gale flrst struck the steamer. Jus
how many will mot b. known "a
some time Jet. posibly for seven
days.
BODY Aztec Bopy
q men, women end shildssn-ln sou
"a 4