Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1885 — LOST IN A FIERCE STORM. [ARTICLE]

LOST IN A FIERCE STORM.

Ten Persons Drowned by the Capsizing of a P.easure Boat in Lake Minnetonka. Ex-Mayor Rand, of Minneapolis, His Wife and Two Children Among the Victims. [Minneapolis speaial.l When ex-Mayor Rand, his family, and a few frien s started out lor an excursion on Lake Minnetonka in the little steam yacht Minnie Cook on the afternoon of Sunday, July 12. the clouds uuiitf d«rk atul low. IrleuJs tried to dissuade them from emharKinc. Mrs. Rand, as »he stepped off the St. Louts dock onto the frail l ttie craft with Its flapping tarpaulin shades, lunched at the remot.sttance, and replied gavly that she had braved worse weather on Lake Minnetonka. Husband, son, daughter, and a n phew followed her ai o ird with merry jest and lauvh at . the fears expressed, and took seats by her side. As the yacht steamed off toward the narrows the happy party was last observed waving handkerchiefs and hats. ’1 he intention was to visit, the upper lake. The yacht was scarcely out of sight before a ferritic windstorm swept over the lake from the northwest. Thunder followed 1 1 rapid and reverberating peals. The usually calm water rolled In i uge billows that came beating up over the boat houses and quays, and to complete the disturbance the rain began to fall in torrents. It was llko a New Kngland lake squall, coming with no warning save tho leaden clouds, and raging with blinding force for only a brief spell. The huge passenger steamers sereame 1 horsely as the rain clouds settled down, and high above the din could be heard the seemingly traglo shrieks front the whistles of tlie steam yachts, many of which were crossing front the bt. Louis landing to ttie Lafayette pier when the hurricane struck them. From either shore It was impossible to distinguish bods. The first ovldenee of disaster was found in pieces of trimming from the Miunle Cook whleh floated in on the waves at the east shore of Wayiatta Bay. The news was not slow In passing along the lake shote clear to Lafayette. Large, sturdy boats wont in search of the illfated little ctalt, but no further tiaco of her could bo had. It was at last determined that she sunk and that the ten passenuers who ombarked on their poritoua journey in such happy spirits, hail perished. Laier a boatman named James Carroll, who had miraculously succeeded In weathering ,tho tornado in a yawl, appeared on the Wayzatta Bav beach, dragging his miniature craft after him. When he had recovered sufficiently from his fright and exhaustion to speak oohi rently he told of having passed the Minnie Cook just before tlie squall|struok the bay. He thought the party had observed tho .danger and was quite certain that Kngineer McDonald had turned the yacht from her course into the bay: tho next moment his boat raised heavenward, as if lifted out or the water By some superhuman agency, and then ho wits enveloped in spray. Boon afterward he hoard a shriek like that of a woman in acuto distress. And looking off through tho almost blinding mist to the spot wliero the yacht was a moment before floating, nothing was to lie seen but tho white-caps and tho waveß ro'llng mountain high. Helssuro the shriek he heard was that of Mrs. Rand, and that the Minnie Cook at that ln-itant capsized. For safety he tell Into the bottom of his yawl and there clung until the suuall had passed. The following Is a list of tho passengers on the yacht: Ex-Mayor Rand, aged fill; Mrs. Rand, uged 60; Mary Rand, aged 16, daughter of the abovo; Harvey Rand, aged l:l, son; Frank Rand, aged IH, a nephew; J. R. Coykendall, uged lift; Mrs. Coykendall, aged 27; Katie Coykendall, aged 4, daughter of the above; Engineer George McDonald. Robert Hussy, aged 10, employed on the yacht. Tho bodies of Mrs. Rand and Engineer MoDonald were recovered and brought to Minneapolis. Mr. Rand’s two terms as Chlet Magistrate of tho city were served previous to the incumbency of Mayor Ames. Tho ex-Mayor was quite wealthy. John Coykendall was a member of the firm of Coykendall Bro. ifc Co., whloh owns one of the largest and best-known drygoods stares In the city. The two families belonged to the highest business and social circles In the city.