The Sea Wing disaster occurs on July 13, 1890 when a strong squall line overturns the excursion vessel Sea Wing on Lake Pepin near Lake City, Minnesota.
Approximately two hundred and fifteen people are aboard the vessel when it overturna and as a result of the accident ninety-eight passengers drown.
An excursion barge that is being towed by the Sea Wing is either cut loose or breaks loose and survives the disaster with its passengers unharmed.
It is one of the worst maritime disasters that has occurred on the upper Mississippi River.
While tornadoes had occurred earlier in the evening farther north in the Twin Cities area it is believed that downburst winds from a thunderstorm were the cause of the accident.
