Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-07-17
MINNESOTA VISITED BY A
DISASTROUS CYCLONE.
AN EXCURSION BOAT cAPSIzEo ON
LAKE PEPIN.

LAKE OITY, MIMI, July H. w Hdt
will probably prove to be the most dis
astrous cyclone that has ever struck this
community passed over this city at 8
o'clock yesterday evening, inficting the
loss of life of perhaps one or two hun
dred people and damaging property to
an extent that at this writing cannot
| be estimated. Your correspondent was
visiting 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 was con-
verted into a complete canopy of light
ming, which was watched with interest
by the brave citizens Of the little village
and with fear by the timid women and
children. A little before dark a terrific
wind struck the community and your
representative sought the shelter of the
house just in time to escape being
caught under a huge tree that came
crashing down against the house. Win
dows were closed instantly, and none
too soon,
For the Cyclone Was Upon Us
and trees and houses were fast being de-
molished in its pathway. My wife. in
fear and trembling, sought the seclusion
and protection of the cellar in company
with the ladies of the house. assisted
in closing shutters and making prepara-
tions for the worst that could be ex-
pected while trees were heard to be
crashing down and missiles were strik-
ing against the house. The building
proved strong enough to weather the
blast and in half an hour the worst of
the hurricane had passed. As soon as
the trees had been cleared away from
the front of the house your correspond
ent started out and soon learned that a
horrible calamity had befallen the place,
that
Has Not Been Equalled
since the St. Cloud cyclone several years
ago. People began to gather in
the streets and in a few moments the
news was scattered abroad that an excur-
sion 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 sew
enteen miles north of here, on an excur-
sion to the encampment of the first regi-
ment, N. G. S. NJ, which is being held
a mile below this city. The steamer
started back on its homeward trip about
o'clock, and although there were signs
of an approaching storm it was not con-
sidered in any way, serious and no dam
ger was anticipated. The boat was
Cowded to Its Fullest Capacity,
about $50 men, women and children
from Red Wing and Diamond Bluff
being on board, and about 90 people on
a barge which was attached to the side
Of the steamer. When about opposite
Lake City the boat began to feel the eff
fects of the storm, but the officers kept
ON the way, while the storm increased
as the boat continued up the lake, and
in fifteen minutes was at its height,
nearing Central Point, about two miles
above Lake City. The steamer was at
the mercy of the waves. which were
now washing over the boat, and all was
confusion. The boat momentarily ran
on to a bar and
4hc DaIS w as Sut AoOSc
and the steamer again set adrift In the
lake. A number of those on the barge
jumped and swan ashore. AS the barge
also foated 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
1I,e fEn cfa -,
cargo Of $50 people precipated into the
lake. Those on the barge remained
there until they were drifted nearer the
shore and they were all rescued or SWAN
ashore. Among them were two ladies,
who were brought to the beach by strong
and ready swimmers.
The Events That Transpired
on the steamer after it separated from
the barge are probably most clearly re-
lated by those who were rescued from
it. As soon as the storm had begun to
effect the progress of the boat Capt
Weatern gave instructions to run the
boat into the Wisconsin shore, but the
forces of the wind and waves were too
terrible. In five minutes more the
waves began to wash into the boat and
fill its lower decks, and while the hail
stones as lage as hens eggs came down
on the heads of the poor and helpless
creatures who were huddled together on
the top
Huge Wave Struck the Craft
on the ride 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, 150 or more, being thrown
into the water, some being caught un-
derneath and others thrown into the
waves. The boat turned bottom up
ward, and only about twenty-five people
were observed to be floating on the sur
face. These caught hold of the boat and
climbed upon the upturned bottom and
those first securing position assisting
the others. In ten minutes more the
twenty-five or SO who had obtained mo-
mentary safety on the boat could OBJ
serve no others Of the boats crew or
passengers floating on the surface of the
continuing high sea of waves.
Before Help Could Reach Them
the poor creatures who yet remained to
tell the horrors of the night were again
submitted to another battle with the
elements with no word of warning, and,
as they were just beginning to hope
that they would be taken off by the
citizens of Lake City, the boat again
turned over, this time on its side, and
again all of the twenty-five remaining
souls were hurled into the water. OF
these several were drowned before they
could be brought to the boat by those
who succeeded in remaining afoat and
again securing hold on the boats side,
as the men hung on to the railing in
danger each moment of being washed
away by the waves.
FlFTY-NlNE BODIES FOUND.
a ~ ~