Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-02
The Fire

The Detroit Fire.
The Detroit Tribune of Friday evening
gives the following additional information
in relation to the great fire:
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
1t is now known precisely how the fire
originated. Twenty-Five barrels of oil, nap
tina or ~benzine, had been received by the
Southern road, and was to be shipped on by
the Detroit and Milwaukee. This had been
wheeled down to the latter depot ON trucks,
preparatory to being loaded into the D. and
W. cars. There it was discovered that one
of the barrels leaked badly, when an attempt
was made to drive down the hoops and thus
stop the leak. While this was being done,
one OF the hand held q lantern close to the
barrel to ascertain whether the liquid was
still escaping, when in an instant the whole
barrel was in a blaze. Mr.. Piwell, who had
charge of the gang of hands employed on
the dock, at once ordered the men to roll the
barrel into the river, but the words were
scarcely out of his mouth ere the whole thing
exploded, spreading fame in every direc-
ton.
THE BURNE SLEEPING AR.
The colored attendant in the sleeping car,
John johnson by name, states that there
were about forty passengers in his car, about
half of whom had gone to bed. When the
flames first broke out he advised thu
passengers to keep their seats and couches,
expecting that the train would be drawn out
of the depot by the engine that was waiting
to take it of. Finding that the train was
not being hauled out, and seeing that the
flames were close upon them, he exerted
himself to get the passengers out of the car.
Before leaving he hastily visited each berth,
and belives that no person remained. He
then went himself, the car being by this
time well on fire.
THE Loss OF LIFE. |
There seems to be no doubt that loss of
life was very great, much larger that was at
first opposed. It is believed by the conduc
tor of the train that no passengers were
burned. A merchant named D. NJ. Gardner,
of Caskade, Kent county, however is among
the missing and it is supposed may have been
burned TO death. He made some purchases,
and transacted some business in the city du-
ring the day and in the evening remarked
that he would go down to the depot and Sc
cure 8 hearth in the sleeping car. 1t is sup
posed that he did so, and as he has not since
been seen, it is feared that he persisted. If
there were any other persons in the car, it
will doubtless never be known.
The greatest loss of life occurred among
the crew of the ferry steamer Windsor, and
the men employed in landing freight. Many
of these were burned to death on board the
boat, and Others were drowned. Ten of the
crew of the Windsor are reported missing.
and eighteen of the workmen employed by
the Great Western Railroad to handle
freight.
h BURNING OK THE INDsoR
The Windsor was lying at the dock of the
depot, unloading, Captain Clinton, her coma
mander, was on shore. and she was under
the charge of FIrby, who, by his calm self
possession and cool bravery, did much 10
better the condition of affairs, terrible as
they proved. When the oil first became ig-
nited, Mr.. Flrby was standing on board of
his boat, and rushed on to the dock to dis.
cover the origin of the fire, but before he
had time to get to the burning oil, it explod-
and drove all on board the Wilkinson. Re-
gaining his boat, Firby rang the bell and
blew the whistle for the craft to move of,
but it was too late, the vessel was doomed to
destruction. The crew and workmen. en-
ployed by the Great Western Road, panic
stricken, rushed on board in great Confusion.
each one intent only in saving his W life
Had they resorted to the starboard paddle
box of the steamer for q short time, it is
likely that many more would have been res
eued, as that portion of the boat was SO soak
ed with water, that it is even now untouched
while the rest of the boat consists of charred
timbers only. There were eighto of the crew
and nearly 80 of the railroad laborers on
board of the Windsor, and it is probable
that fully half of that number were los. All
crowded around the stern of the vessel, and
a few only having self possession enough to
cast over doors, boxes, etc. The good swim
zo., =, H. $500 -4-.-I.-- 81
their lives, and those who were unfortunate
enough not TO be able to sustain themselves
were shrieking wildly for assistance. Firby,
the mate, with manly heroism, begged the
frightened wretches TO be cool, and stood on
the side of the boat throwing over life-pre
servers until his coat was burned from his
back, and his rms badly scorched, when he,
almost the last one to leave the boat, finally
threw himself of, and without aid saved
himself by swimming TO the Gem. Tho fire
having burned her cables, the Windsor float
ed down the stream, carrying with her the
bodies of several who persisted in the flames.
HEARTREEDING GENES.
There were many heartrendhng incidents
connected with the loss of life, especially
among the unfortunate sufferers who were
forced on board the Inflated steamer.
One OF the fremen was asleep in the hold
of the vessel and was aroused from his slum-
Ders by the noise overhead and the cracking
of fire. He attempted to escape, but the
smoke was SO thick he could not reach the
ladder leading to the ~hatchway. He was
distinctly heard to cry for help, and his last
words were, my God, can no Que save met"
Another poor fellow was seen to make his
way out of his room, but he fell through the
burning deck and was never more seen.
A majority of the men leaped overheard,
and many were drowned. Several boats
from the revenue cutter, John Sherman,
were launched and sent TO the rescueo of those
in the water. A small boat from the little
Gem, and several others were sent
out, but several of them were too small to be
Of any service. Colin Graham, a Waterman
employed on the Windsor, was pickedup BY i
one of the Sberman's boats and his life
He is very badly burned about the
head. Several men nearly drowned, whose
names mi as yet be ascertained, were
picked up by mail boats. !
Une of the boilers of the Windsor was
empty and in process of being repaired, and ;
it was currently reported that q workman
engaged on the inside and persisted
Captain Clinton, however, thinks
this is a mistake. Captain Clinton saved
TWO men. whom he picked up in an almost
exhausted condition. Mr.. A. G. Edwards
in rescuing six or seven others. An
was made to pick up three of the un-
fortunates by some parties in the Gems boat,
but the poor fellows were so mpsh exhausted
that they sank when distant from the boat
not more than eight feet. i
THE LOSSES. +,
1t is impossible to give anything like
estimate of the IOsss. The denots and |
stock of the roads, which were de-
were valued at over $3.50, 600, while
an immense amount of mere handize of all
descriptions was destroyed, the value of
cannot be ascertained.