Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-07-19
DEATHS HARVEST.
An Appalling Calamity on Lake
Pepin, in Minnesota.
Excursion Boat is Caught in q Cy"
clone, Capsizes and Over 100
Persons Perish.
Frightful Scenes of Horror on Board
the Il-Fated Graft.

| VII 4hlhH., buly w nav
will probably prove to be tho most dis
astrous cyclone that has ever struck this
community passed over this city at nine
o'clock last evening, inflicting loss Of
life of perhaps one or two hundred peo-
pie and damaging property to an extent
that at this writing can not be esti-
mated. Your correspondent was visit
Ing 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 heavens were converted into a
complete canopy of lightning which was
watched with interest by the brave citi-
sens of the little village and with fear
by the timid women and children. A
little before dark terrific wind struck
the community and your reporter sought
the shelter of the house just in time to
escape being caught under huge tree
that came crashing down against the
house. Windows were closed instantly
and none too soon, for the cyclone was
upon us and trees and houses were fast
being demolished in its path, while the
women in fear and trembling sought tho
seclusion and protection of the cellar.
| thS pEONto SIEOuR 10
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
correspondent started out and soon
learned that a horrible calamity had be-
fallen the place, that has not been
equalled since the St. Cloud cyclone
several years ago. People began to
gather on the streets and in few mo-
ments the news was scattered abroad
that an excursion boat with over 200
people on it was capsized in the middle
of Lake Pepin. The boat proved to be
the Sea Wing, which came down the
lake from Diamond Bluff, small place
seventeen miles north of here, on an ex-
cursion to the encampment of the First
regiment n. G. S NJ, which is being
held mile below this city. The steam
er started back on the homeward trip
about eight o'clock.
The boat was crowded to its fullest
capacity, about $50 men, women and
children from Red Wing and Diamond
Bluff being on 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, but the
officers kept on the way. The storm in
creased 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 tho waves, which
were now washing over the boat and all
was confusion. The boat ran onto a bar
and the barge was cut loose and the
steamer again set adrift in the lake. A
number of those on the barge jumped
and swan ashore.
AS the barge also fioated again into
| 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 observe the steamer capsiZe and
its cargo of hundred and fifty people
precipitated into the Lake. Those on the
| barge remained there until they drifted
nearer the shore and they were all res
| cued or swan ashore.
The events that transpired on the
steamer after it separated from the
barge are clearly related br those who
were rescued from it. AS soon as tho
storm had begun to affect the progress
of the boat, Captain Weathern gave in
| structions to run the boat into the Wis
ronsin shore, but 1t was too late.
In five minutes more the waves began
to wash into the boat and fill its lower
decks, while the hailstones as large
| as hens eggs came down on the heads
of the poor and helpless creatures which
were huddled together on the boat. A
| huge wave struck the craft on the side
| OF the same moment terrific blast of
wind more forcible than the others came
up and carried the boat over.
All of the people on board, $50 or more,
were thrown into the water, some being
caught underneath and others thrown
into the waves. The boat turned bot
tom upwards and only about twenty
five people were observed to be floating
on the surface. These caught hold of
| the boat and climbed up on the up-
| turned bottom, those first securing n po-
sition assisting tho others. In ten min
| utes more the twenty-five or so who had
| obtained momentary safety on the boat
| could observe no others of the boats
| crew or passengers floating on the sur
| face of the high sea.
| Afterwards however, as q flash of
| lightning lighted up the surface of the
| lake tho sight of an occasional white
dress of a drowning woman or child was
| observable, but it was impossible for
| those who witnessed the horrible sight
TO lend any aid. Those remaining be-
gan calling for help from the shore as
soon as the storm began to abate and in
| half an hour lights were observed fit
ting about on the pier at Lake City, op-
posite which point the upturned steamer
| had now been driven. Before help could
reach them, however, the poor creatures
who yet remained, to add to the horrors
of the night, wore again submitted to
another battle with the elements.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, July IA destruc-
| tive atnrn1 fnclul inn "a RUplnnn nd nd
ing in a fierce hurricane, swept the
country just north of here at five o'clock
Sunday afternoon, carrying death and
destruction in its path. The storm origi-
mated at point four miles north of
here and moved northeasterly toward
White Bear, covering a country acc es-
sible only to teams and reports come in
slowly. 1t is certain there are at least
eleven persons killed and largo num-
ber seriously injured. The storm CEN
ter was at Kohlman's Lake, at the large
| stock farm of James j. Hill, president