New-York tribune., 1890-07-15
A HOLIDAY CATASTROPHE.

n
There IS a peculiar element Of pathoS in
holiday catastrophe like that of Lake Pepln'
There is the sudden transition from the
tranquil enjoyment of a day of recreation and
merry making 10 the borrors OF lightning ten
pest and death The two hundred victims OF
the storm had left their houses in the morn
Ing for midsummer outing without thought
or foreboding of danger. They were return
ing in the early evening, men, women ana chill
dren refreshed by the rest and pleasures OF a
holiday. and ovcrhowins with innocent gayety
and 10y il lie Suddenly and without warn
ing they were overtaken and instantly over
whelmed with the black horror Of death. Al
most within sight of the homes where they
were expecting iovial welcome after the sing
ing fcaSting and romping of red-letter day
they were brought face to face with their
awful doom. The horrors of that night OF
hail. lightning and tempest contrast so strange
" and unnaturally with the thoughtleSs happi-
ness of the morning, the beginning and the
end of the holiday are 50 inconSruous, that the
calamity is invested with Undescribable ele-
ments OF human pathos Like the sinking Of
the Princess Alice on the Thames with decks
crowd d with pleasure seekers, 1t Is cataS-
tIophe that appeals most strongly to sympa-
thetic hearts.
Ordinary methods of public criticism are dis
armed by the havoc wrought by such storm
as swept these lives ont Of existence. 1t IS
futile to comment upon tho overcrOWded decks
of the river steamer or upon the conduct of
captain and officers in the sudden crisis. III"
lakes OF the upper Mississippi are TRANQUIL
lagoo. where navigation is not attended with
DANCE. and where exceptional precautions are
not required The Sea Wing while shattered
and overturned like paCcr boat by the ire
siStible force of the tornado was probably a.
stanch an excursion steamer as there was IN
service on the upper reaches Of the Mississippi
If the decks were overcrowded, SO had they
been many times before. and no thought OF
danger had ever entered mems minds. The
officers we're equal to all the ordinary require
ments of navigation and safety, but in the face
of the extraordinary fury of wind and waves
they were as helpless and poWerless as the
passengers intrusted TO their care. 1t would be
easy to condemn the managers OF the excursion
line for allowing the steamer 10 be seriously
overcrowdcd, or the captain FOR not attempting
to run the vessel ashore more promptly than
he did but such criticism would be ineffective
because the storm was not one which human
prudence could forecast or self-posSesson and
experience successfully withstand. Ii was
Nature under awful and inscrutable conditions
conQuering man.
The horrors of the ocean, such as the ship
wreck Of the Atlantic and the Vile du llayrc
or the fate of the President and the City OF
Boston, are unexpected but never wholly I'M
foresecn Civilization has done much to lcSS"n
| the feeling of human insecurity on the ocean,
but it can never be baniShcd altogether. Men
may be enabled to make shorter voyages III
larger companies and undcr more luxurious
surroundings than formerly, but the wide sea
still has-1tS mysteries which fiji the mind with
vague premonitons Of dread No feeling of
this kind entered the hearts Of the pleasure
seekers of Lake Pcpin. They had started in
the morning without the faintost appreciation
Of the possibility of danger They were enjoy
ing the sail in the cool Of the evening, ac-
quaintanccs chatting with acquaintances, lovers
| whispering together, and children excited with
the plcasues of long holiday. The breath
Of the approaching city was in their faces:
their thoughts wcre intent upon that busy,
yvorlladay world which not one Of them had
ever expected 10 leave without having at least
a little leisure for facing death 50 their doom
came upon them without other warning than
the hoarse voice of the tempest and the blaze
Of the lightning. There were a few moments
Of palaiynng dread and agonizing struggling,
and life as well as the holiday was al an end.
| An overcrowded and badly built boat? Rccli-
! less steamer management? A stupid man at
the wheel? 1t is hardly worth while - argue
about these matters. Nature in the heart Of
! the continent as well as in the middle of the
sea, has stupendous and irresistible forces Of
destruction and startling surprises for wise "A,
| we'll aS unWary men.