60 years ago today…the deadly storm

Just wanted to note that 60 years ago to this day the very worst storm in history swept through the Mississippi River Valley leaving hundreds of duck hunters and fishers in serious trouble. 32 outdoors people died on that day on the Mississippi. 70 to 100 mile an hour sustained winds accompanied a sleet, snow, and wind driven storm that must have been an absolute horror for those that were caught in that storm. Stories of hunters having to take shelter on islands and spend the night burning their decoys to stay warm and alive send chills up the spine. History has it that the day started out as a blue bird type day much like the weather we’ve had lately and then by noon it just got ugly and one can only imagine what it would be like to be out in a skiff with no motor and oar locks being the only means of travel. The barometric pressure in La Crosse dropped into the mid 28’s which is still the lowest pressure reading ever recorded their. Most of us are undoubtedly too young or werent even born then but it’s worth remembering because it was one god awful storm and alot of innocent outdoors people died or were injured and it serves as a reminder to be safe out there. If anyone has any stories or can share some of the details of this horrific day, please share them.

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

Earlier this spring I actually got a first-hand recount of some of the horrors of that storm from the last living survivor of that storm… Owen Redmond of Red Wing, MN. I guided him and his son James back on June 20th. He had some incredible stories about being one of the fortunate ones to get off the water, how incredibly brutal the storm was, and later helping stack the frozen corpses on the docks as they removed the bodies from the river.

What a story to be told from one’s own experiences!

James Holst

Moving Waters Guide Service

http://www.movingwaters.net

I was watching Dave Carlson’s Northland Adventure’s last night on tv and they interviewed a couple old timers that survived it. Im not sure if Owen was on the show. This thing happened from Iowa all the way to Minneapolis so it affected everyone on the entire upper mississippi.

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

Edited by hougie on 11/12/01 05:17 AM.

No real stories, but I remember well my father talking about that. He and his brother had been duck hunting that morning, but were off the river by the time the bad weather hit. That was a sad time..

The 10th was the anniversary of sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald (1975). After spending the past few days out on Erie, in rough weather, miles from shore I spent time thinking how close to the line people are, without even knowing it. This time of year (and spring) you need to be careful as things change drastically in a hurry. You don’t have to be on a Great Lake to be in great trouble.

Be safer than you think you should be and stay alive.

-Jeff

Edited by Jeff Berg on 11/12/01 09:39 PM.

James, If you have a few extra minutes some time To post a note telling a few of the stories that you were told I would be extreamly interested in reading your post.

There is a pretty decent aticle about the armistice storm in the November outdoor life. If you want I could scan and email it to you.