Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-07-19
VICTIMS OF TIL. STORM.
One Hundred Lives Lost Oh Lake
Pepin, Minnesota.
A Quiet Lake Lashca into rury-,yhoie
Families Drown Togethcr-A Wide
r-uol1 ~ nnn

Families Drown Togethcr-A Wide
Track of Death.
Nearly one hundred lives were lost by the
oyerturning ofthc little excursion steamer Sea
Wing by the tornado on Lake Pepin. The
boat came downthe lake from Diamond Bluff,
small place about seventeen miles north OF
Lake City, on an excursion to the encamp-
ment of the First Regiment, n. G.. S. M.,which
is being held a mile below the city. The
steamer started back on the homeward trip
about eight clock, and, although there were
j signs of an approaching storm, twas not con-
sidered in,anyway serious; and no danger was
anticipated. So
The boat was was crowded, about 100 men,
women and children from Red Wing mud
Diamond Bluff being OH 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 increased as the boat continued up
| the lake, and in fifteen minutes was at its
height.
| A point of land runs out from the Mime
sofa 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 Wiscon,,
sin shore, and Immediately the hurricane had
seized hold of the already struggling and
cracking vessel and twisted her out Of the con.
troll of her engines and crew. An attempt to
beach her failed, and over she went with her
! load of passengers. The barge Jim Grant,
which was in tow, and on which about one
quarter of the excursionists had crowded, was
also seized, her awning being crushed in and
the passengers thrown into the water. This
happened Just below the point, and as tho
helpless hulks drifted before the gale the
steamer righted itself for moment, but
another moment again keeled over, and so
badly torn by the storm she could but lie help.
less and let the waves wash over her. Inc
barge had broken loose from the steamer and
lrifted down opposite the town, and those still
on board, about twenty III number, were res
cued.
The steamer driftcd in back OH the Point
and sank with most of those on board. Many
were saved, however, and the heroism of q few
cannot be slightly praised. Corporal 3. L..
Perry, of st. Paul compelled the spectators to
assist him, and saved the lives of eighteen of
those who were still clingingt to the wreck. He
went out on the lake when the storm was at
its height, and seemed to know no fear. Others
| there were like him, and over sixty were res.
cued from what seemed certain DEATH Some
boats cruised around for several hours, anu
still living victims Of the storm.
As soon as the word reached the camp vol
untcers were called for, and every one volun-
teered to assistin rescung living, or search
ing for the dead. Adjutant General Mullen
Immediately took charge of the regiment, and
the search was begun and carried on. Body
after body of men, women and children-in
some cases, almost of whole familles-was
taken from the water-some of them alive,
Int ,,ot md
others from which the breath of life had for
! ever fed. Aninvaluable service in the work,
| both DEMONSTRATION and laying out the dead,
was rendered by the excellent ambulance
corps, which had been but recently organized.
Sad experiences are many, but remarkable
escapes are not lacking.
The Association Press man had inst secured
| the names of the latest discovered victims,
! when q stranger, whose anxiety was apparent
in every movement, stepped up and asked
us my daughter heard from YETI"
"What is the namc?"
"Bertha Winters" wasthc response, and all
inclination ofthc head and motion toward
the written list told the bereaved father ofhs
afliction, and he turned away TO go after the
lifeless clay of his child.
"And my boy is not among them" was the
sadly half-consOatory remark Of Contractor
Carlson, who had worked fcverishly all night
AMI all day without finding trace of his son.
And so it went on. Fast us the bodies were
taken from the water they were identified by
, mourning friends and relatives. and placed in
collins for transportation tn their homes.
By two o'clock fifty bodies had been recoy-
cred, identified and sent to Red Wing. By
! eight o'clock eight more had taken the same
mournfuI journey, and at three o'clock in the
afternoon seven others were added TO the grue
some number that had been carried by boat to
Red Wing.
Major Fitzgerald, surgeon of the regiment
also had charge of the hospital corps, and also
of the arrangements for the handling of the
bodies. lIesays death was very quick in every
| case, and that there was scarcely any evidence
of there having been any struggle OH the part
Of the dying. Neither had any of the botlies
| any bruises or other marks OF injury upon
them. Death WIS quick and painless.
| When morning came the weary all night
workers were replaced by relief from their
comrades, and the work went on successfully
and smoothly. The barge lay quietly on the
water just above town, and toppled over on
the port side, had drifted against her tow, and
together they lay, the shattered reminders Of
the storms power and mans weakness. With
axes holes were chopped in the decks and
ropes fastened to the bodies under the water
and these drawn to the surface, carried ashore
| anu lurnpu owe! I'd TIC diHuulUIlce Col pS- Hc
/ bodies of those who went down with the steanl-
or were taken out of the cabin through hole
cut in the pilot-housc and through the cabin
door.
Believing that still some bodies were to be
found in the half 'lismantled wreck, General
Mullen ordered the tearing away OF the upper
works of the vessel, and the pushing of the
wreck farther toward the shore, where she
was righted. General Mullen and his military
helpers went all through the Sea Wing, re-
covering three more bodies, bringing the total
up to sixty-tive, and convincing themselves
that no more bodies were to be found there.
The shattered old hulk was then left to drift
at will, and her broken and battered frame.
work was in sad contrast with the bright
skies and smooth waters.
During the morning a. systematic patrol of
the water over which the huIls had drifted
after being first struck by the gale had been
kept up by citizens of Lake City. After the
! last bodies had been taken from the wreck,
General Mullen pressed into service all the
rowboats within reach, and, with four soldiers
| in each boat, began thorough dragging of
the lake all about the scene of the disaster.
There were good many who made use OF
the life-preseryers, but probably none had us
good and as much use of them as had Robert
Adams, aseventeen- year-old son ofDr. Adams,
| OF Lake lily, anu allOtucr hoy WlUSe HOlnc is
in Red Wing. They secured three life pre-
servers, and were in the water for six hours
before being rescued: Young Adams could
swim, but his companion could not They had
the good sense to float quietly, and not attempt
TO fight against the waves to thcshorc. Dur.
ing the six hours they were in the water, from
nine to three, they were bnflettcd by the bill
lows and blown hithcr and yon by the gale.
They first drifted abouta mile downpas town
and then change in the wind carried them
up the river to Frontenac, where they were
rescued, still alive and well, but considerably
the worse for their hard experience.
Captain Wethern, proprietor and command
er of the Sea Wing, has been severely blamed
By the citizens and others for what they alIegf
to have been criminal negligence on his part
in pulling ont into the lake with such a
crowd when the sky looked so threatening.
The captains wife and two of his three
children lostthcir lives under the waves, and
that fact, together with the loss of his vessel
and the great loss of life, has SO broken him
that lie has kept out Of sight.