The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-16
FruitleSS Search for the Victims
Of the Cyclone.
The Captain Of the Steamer Sea Wing
Accused Of Being Drunk.
Evidence That he Faithfully Performed HiS
Duty-A Day Of FuneralS-A
WOman'S Death.


LAKE C1TY, July l5.-lhe lake snore was
made to reverberate this morning with the
thunder of dynamite. which was brought
into requisiton in the hope that it would
be of help in bringing some of the as yet
unrecovered bodies to the surface. The
country people who drove in from all direc-
tions yesterday were again on hand. and
residents were also there at an early hour
watching the workers. The military guard
was kept up all night at the beach, and they
kept back the spectators to-day as they had
done yesterday. A smiling sky in no way
reminded one of the great horror that had
come upon this whole section of the State.
CHARGED WITH DRUNKENNESS.
Nothing new has developed along the
lake shore, no bodies having been recov-
cred to-day. 1t is probable that no more
bodies will be found for two or three days.
and the hope of Lake City is that not over
a dozen more are in the lake, but at Red
Wing the number is placed at two or three
times that figure.
Captain Wetheren, who has not been seen
here since yesterday noon, told citizen at
Red Wing that the number on board at the
time of the disaster would not exceed 40.
A Red Wing man denied the captains fig
ures, saying there were over thirty below
the truth, and accused both the captain
and the crew of being drunk and unfit to
have charge OF a boat at such time. There
is no proof of such a state 0f affairs. There
were those on the barge among the pas
sengers who had been drinking and whose
actions drove the women and children to
the cabin. This fact may be the ground for
the TumOr.
CONFLICTING STATEMENTS.
Another rumOr that caused great indigna-
ton accused the captain of ordering the
cabin door locked and keeping the people
inside. Miss Aggie Bartron of Lake City,
one of those who were rescued from the
barge, says all the women and children
were ordered into the cabin froul the barge.
1t would be natural for the captain to do
this, as it was intensely dark and the rain
and hail made it extremely disagreeable to
remain on the barge
On the other hand, the engineer says the
captain thought the barge safer than the
steamer, and sent an order down to the
cabin for the women and children to go on
the barge. Instead Of carrying the order
correctly, the man told them to stay in the
cabin and lock the door. Previous to that
most of the women had left the barge for
the steamer, telling the engineer that a
party of men on the barge were drunk and
had been acting in an Objectionable man
ner, and they would not stay there.
Whether these be the facts or not, it is GER
tain the doors were shat, if not locked,
when the rescuers reached the steamer, and
everything Indicated that they had been 1
closed throughout the gale.
THE CAPTAIN WAS SOBER.
Judge Bayrell of Argyle, who was on the
boat, gives positive evidence against the
charge Of drunkenness. He says the cap
tain was not only sober, but was fully con-
scious of the presence of the storm, although
not fully appreciatiug its gravity. The
captain walked through the cabin quietly,
trying to calm the excited passengers, tell
ing them he did not think there was any
danger, but If any wished they could put
on life-preserYers and prepare for the worst
possibility.
A few minutes later he once more made
the same suggestion. The charge against
the crew probably originated in the be-
havlOr OF some drunken passengers on the
barge.
Seeing the severity Of the storm the cap
tain wished those who were on the barge,
at the mercy of the wind rain and hail, to
seek refuge in the cabin, but later he con-
sidered the barge the safer place and Or
dered tie women and children to remove
there His order was miscarried or at least
such seems to have been the case.
A CHANCE TO ESCAPE.
LAWYER Greer of Lake City said he be-
lieyed that If the people had known that
part OF the lake many could have escaped,
and cites the experience of Harry Mabey
Young Mabey was ON board the Sea Wing,
and when she drifted around below the
point she grounded for a short time on the
bar. Knowing the water there was shallow
he jumped overheard and reached land
easily. From the bar the steamer drifted
along the shore, keeping about forty or fifty
yards out. Along there the bottom slopes
very gradually down, so that nearly all
could have reached shore had they known
this fact.
NO INQUEST HELD.
This evening the CUroners jury assem-
bled and was about to begin an inquest,
when the County Attorney said the statutes
provided that the Coroner should hold in
quest only where there are marks of violence
ON the body. As there were none such in
the recent case, no inquSet should be
held. He said further that taking
into consideration the frame of mind
the community is in, it is advisable not to
hold an inquest now, even ii it could be
held. He assured the jurymen as citizens
that the matter would be laid before the
Grand Jury at once and a rigid eXamina-
tion made. The Coroner dismissed them.
This evening one more body was found,
that OF Rita Vieths, aged Is years.
Captain Wetheren of the Inflated craft
went across the river to his home in D6-
mond Bluff, Wis, to-day. 1t is reported to-
night that he has been placed under arrest
there at the solicitation of friends, who
feared uDssiblp yiOlencp