Lake Pepin, MN Disaster, Jul 1890 - 150 Killed

An Excursion Boat Wrecked.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY LIVES LOST

Terrible Disaster on Lake Pekin [sic] Minn.

CAUGHT BY A CYCLONE.

The steamer Sea Wing left Red Wing, Minn., Sunday afternoon with 250 passengers on board bound for Lake City, where the encampment of the state militia is in progress. At several small towns along the shore of Lake Pepin enough people were taken on board to make about 350 when the boat reached its destination. A barge was in tow which carried 100 of this number.

Late in the afternoon the party re-embarked for home and was in the middle of the lake when a cyclone struck the little city. The boat became unmanageable at once. The barge was cut loose, and after an hour the helpless craft drifted to shore with about twenty persons on board. The other 150 or more were drowned.

It is impossible as yet to give the names of the lost, but among them are some of the best known and most prominent people of Red Wing and vicinity.

A number of bodies have been washed ashore, and the citizens have formed a voluntary relief service to patrol the shores and watch for others.

The storm did great damage to property in and about Lake City, but no lives were lost on shore so far as reported.

Terrible Close of a Day of Recreation – Full Details.

A later dispatch from Lake City, Minn., gives the following particulars:
Sunday night, just before dark, a disastrous cyclone bore down on this community, and in a few minutes nearly 200 persons were killed. What appeared to be an ordinary electric storm was noticed coming from the West, but in half an hour the whole heavens had been converted into a lightning-lined black canopy of death. A little before dark a terrific wind struck the village, driving everyone indoors. Trees were uprooted, buildings wrecked and much damage was done in the short time the storm lasted.

CAPSIZED IN MID LAKE
In a few moments news was spread that an excursion boat with over 200 people on it was capsized in the middle of Lake Pepin. The boat was the steamer Sea Wing, which came down the lake from Diamond Bluff, a small place 17 miles north of here, on an excursion to the encampment of the First Regiment, M. S. M., which is being held a mile below this city. The steamer started back on the homeward trip about 8 o'clock, and although there were signs of an approaching storm it was not considered in any way serious and no danger was anticipated.

Continued