Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-15
THE CYCLONE.
HEROIC WORK OF THE REsCUERs

Over Eighty Bodies Already Re-
covered, and the Work Not
Yet Completed.
srHc1AL DarArcHB TO THE REooED-uNoN.l
EFFECTS OF THE CYCLONE.
The Loss of Life by the Sinking Steamer
Yet Unknown.
LAKE CRY (Mich.). July 14th.-sur-
rounded by beautiful bluffs and farming
lands Lake Pepin's unruffied surface gave
to-day little evidence of the fierce struggle
with the elements and of the death. dealing
fury of the storm that ragged off this city
last night. With scarcely note of warn
ing, there burst upon this region one of the
severest storms known in its history, and q
loss of life probably greater than any other
single calamity that ever visited any part
of the Northwest. Sixty-eight bodies had
been recovered and identified when search
was discontinued at dark tonight.
The excursion steamer Sea Wing, of Dia-
mond Bluff, had carried a party of two
hundred or more excursionists from Red
Wing to the camp of the First Regiment of
the Minnesota National Guard, just below
the city. When the day was coming to a
close Captain We.hrien prepared to return
the boat load to their homes. Many
among them feared the approach
ing storm, and asked that he post
pone departure until after the storm
blew over. Thinking the storm
would not prove serious, he would not con-
sent, but ut about o'clock started off up
the lake towards Red Wing, nearly zoe
passengers being on board. The wind was
blowing gale.
A point of land runs out from the Min
nesota shore, just above this place, across
from which is q point known as Maiden
Rock. To pass around this point it was
necessary for the steamer to turn slightly
towards the Wisconsin shore, and imme-
diately the hurricane seized hold of the
already struggling and cracking vessel and
twisted her out of the control of her en-
gines and crew. An attempt to beach her
failed, and over she went, with her great
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 be-
ing crushed in and her passengers thrown
into the water.
This happened just below the point, and
as the helpless hulks drifted before the gale,
the steamer righted herself for a moment,
but in another moment keeled over. The
barge broke loose and drifted down oppo-
site the town. and those still on board,
about twenty in number, were rescued.
The steamer drifted in back of the point
and sank.
Many were saved, however, and the
l. of, 1Ho~ Nf - L.
too highly praised. Corporal B. L. Perry
compelled the spectators to assist him, and
saved the lives of eighteen of those who
were still clinging to the wreck. Others
there were like him, and over sixty were
rescued from what seemed certain death
Small boats cruised around for several
hours, and picked up some three score oil
the still living unfortunates.
HEROIC VOLUNTEERS.
As soon as word reached the militia
camp volunteers were called for, and every
one volunteered. Adjutant. General Null.
len Immediately took charge of the regi.
ment and the work was begun and carried
on. Body after body of men. women and
children, in some cases whole families
were taken from the water, some alive
others unconscious but not dead, and YET
others from which the breath of life had
forever fed,
The sad experiences were many. Pa
rents who had children missing and other
people looking for friends and relatives
ran up and down the beach all night and
to-day inquiripg if any more bodies had
been recovered, and for the names of the
identified dead. The anguish of the many
parents whose children had been ruth
lessly torn from them by the awful calam-
ity cannot be portrayed. < -
At o'clock this morning fifty bodies
had been recovered, identified and sent to
Red Wing. By daylight eight more had
taken the same mournlul jodrney, and at
3 o'clock this afternoon seven others were
added to the gruesome number
Captain Witheren. proprietor, and COM
mander of the Sea Wing, has been severely
blamed by citizens and others for what
they allege to have been criminal negli.
gence on his part in pulling out into the
lake with such a crowd when the sky
looked SO threatening. The captain, his
wife and two of his three children lost their
lives under the waves, and that fact to.
gether with the loss of his vessel and the
great loss of life, unnerved him SO that he
Kept pretty much out of sight during the
day, and those who did see him got but
imperfect statements from him.
THE DEAD.
The dead are John Heffiar, wife and
two children; Peter Geolen, wife and five
children; Mrs. Baker and two children
Mrs. Henfofobling and three children
Mrs. Oh uelberg and daughter Minnie
Fisher. Katie DAILY, Mrs. f. Sherf and
daughter, Fred. Christ, Annie Steiger
Francis Steiger, George Nelson, Charles
Dinslace, Fred. Sewers and daughter, Tom
Larsen. Addie Wing and sister, II. Redlus
and two children, F. Hattemeyer, Mamie
Adams. Katie Burckhardt, O. f. Ander.
son, Eddie Christopherson, Mrs. Nellie
Woehrn and son, Milly Niles, Bierson Fiby
Floy Smith, Myrtle Nero, Ira Fulton, Fred
Seaver, Heine Gerken, Charles Brown, X.
Peterson, Bertha Winters. Miss Brennan
Phoebe Bierson, Katie Davis, John Engel-
brertson, Cordy Johnson, Mrs. Humber
Miss Ada Green, Fred. tempting. Theodore
Hardwell, Lizzie Harrison, Mabel Holten
Emma Nelson, Orrin 0skey, Julia Persg
Annie Persig, Mr.. Scheffier, wife and two
children, and Miss Seibrasse, of Red Wing
Alice Palmer and Nettie Palmer, of Tren,
on, Wis
Few of the bodies had any bruises OIL
other marks of injury upon them. The
fact that the militia were in easy call I'M
doubleday resulted in the saving of many
lives, and the work of the citizen soldiers
their excellent organization and the good
management of General Mullen and sur.
geons Fitzgerald, Clark and KAN, were
notable and commendable.
DRAGGING THE LAKE.
DURING the morning systematic patrol
OF the water. over which the boats drifted
when first struck by the gale, was kept ar
by the citizens of Lake City. After the
last bodies had been taken from the hull:
General Mullen pressed into service all the
row boats within reach, and with the SOL
diers began this afternoon a thorough drag.
ging of the lake along the scene of the dis
aster. No bodies were found up to dark
when the search was abandoned. Dyna
mite will be used in the morning.
SAVED BY LIFE-PREsERvERs.
There were a good many who made use
OF life-preservers, but probably none hat
as good service as had Robert Adams. thu
l7-year-old son of Mr.. Adams of Lake
City, and another boy. They secured three
life-preservers. and were in the water fol
six hours before being rescued. Young
Adams could swim, but his companieI
could not. They had the good sense tf
float quietly and not attempt to fghI
against the waves. During the six hour.
they were busfeted by the pillows ant
blown hitber and thither by the gale
They drifted about a mile down past thu
tOrU and thap q chanyo IN ~. ,..; :, :