The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-05-02

i cuScI NrpOtf ylICcS duu lEcl5Ll AJ-Sc1i ~AN
the freight houses Of the Detroit and Toledo
and Great Western railroads, and also the
Steam Ferry Boat Windsor which piled
across the river from the Great Western
railroad 10 the Detroit and Milwaukee de-
pot. The fire was caused By the explosion
Of barrel Of Benzine Oil which was on the
! dock The barrel was leaking, and light
being brought near the barrel by a work
man, the gas was ignited, and the barrel
exploded, scattering the flames in every d.
rectlon, at once firing the Windsor before
| IL could be lOOsened from the dock, and il
| foated down the river a mass Of flames.
The hands were many Of them killed by the
IRE on the boat, or drowned in attempting
10 escape by throwing themselves into the
river The Windsor was finally towed az
greatrisk across the river, between Windsor
and Sandwich, where It now lies a useless
hulk. The flames instantaneOusly cOmmu-
nicated with the depot and freight houses,
consuming all the goods in the depOts, de-
strOying the cars and burning the Offices OF
the company. The liremen with the steam
ers were on hand, and fought the deyouring
element calamity, but were pOwerless ex-
cept % prevent its extension 10 other build
ings. The loss Of property IS unequalled,
except at the burning OF the Michigan
Central depot last winter, and in loss Of life,
/ its horrors are unparalleled by any Gre that
4 -
The losses are very large upon iudividu-
ais who had freight in store, aud it tails
heavily upon the various railroad companies
and Is estimated as follows by the Detroit
AdrertiSer.
/ The loss Of the Great Western Railway
Company, the officers estimate, will reach
about SIS, 900 Tie building occupied by
that company as freight warehouse was
owned by the Detroit and Milwaukee Rail-
/ road Company, upon which organization
+ the burden falls.
The aggregate loss Of the Detroit and
Milwaukee Railway Company, cannot al
/ present be estimated, but is very large II
il very probable that this Company had 10
insurance upon its buildings, but il is be-
lleved that 10 had an open policy upon IL
/ lrelght or 500 600.
the Southern Railroad authorities esti-
mate their loss. over and above Insurance,
at $4,000 AT the present writing We
cannot ascertain whether they had any in
surance upon their freight, but it is pre-
sumed they had. This corporation had no
passenger cars burned. Of their passenger
stock hut one baggage ear was destroyed.
They lost nine freight cars.
In previous edition we maintained that
The aggregate loss by the disaster would
not tall short of 81 900 600, anP have not
yet learned that that figure will be lessen
ed. The officers Of the Detroit and Milwau-
kee Railroad Company estimate that the
T total loss--everythiDg considered-will
reach $3.50, zoe. We have no desire to ex-
a9gerate anything. but the best information
lead US 10 the conclusion that the loss will
exceed that figure We hope not
however, and will gladly announce the
fact when it shall become positively known.
The loss OF the Merchants Dispatch Com
pany is estimated at from $40, 600 to $50, =
600 Thirty cars loaded with freight were
destroyed AMI the loss falls about equally
upon the Detroit and Milwaukee and Mich
igan Southern roads. Forty-fonr empty
freight cars were burned. The papers OF
the Company stored in eighteen safes, it is
supposed are secure, az some have been
opened and their contents found uninjured.
The most important were in the safe OF
George Jerome, Esq, Attorney of the De-
troit and Milwaukee Railroad Company.
This ssfs foil th-eussl., bet - - ,I.o--Lt the
papers are not burned. Mr.. JerOme's law
library was also saved with little damage
The loss OF the Windsor is estimated al
$50, 600. partially insured Thomas Nc
Graw lost 5000 pounds Of wool. Two
hundred thousand slaves were burned upon
upon the docks, OF which 100, 900 belonged
TO A. Bixby Of this city, and were insured
for 81, 600. Ut is also thought four pack
ages consigned to F. Wells. druggist Of this
merOus to mention, fall heavily upon the
merchants OF Detroit, and various cities and
towns throughout the State A train OF
passenger cars made mp for Saginaw was
also burned. The loss Of lite is uncertain
but probably not less than Is to 20 persons
persisted. Some of them were of the crew
70 the Windsor some were workmen en-
ployed 10y the Great Western Railway,
and several railroad passengers persisted
Large quantities Of -four, potatoes, sugar.
hardware and miscellaneous freight Of
every description was destroyed Carl
Schurz, editor of the Detroit Post
lost the larger portion OF his library the
letters received by him for the last twelve
years, and military charts, SC, many Of
his papers being OF the most valuable char
acter Several mail bags for the interior
were burned.
The cause OF this fire. destroying proper
ty to the amount Of 81. coo OO0 is the same
as that which destroyed the Michigan
Central Freight Depot. the handling of
kerosene in the night, and bringing a light
too near the dangerous and in1ammabe
compound These lessons ought to be
sufficient, not only for these roads. but for
all others in the country. This material
should not be stored or shipped with other
freight, and ought To be handled under no
circumstances, except in the day time.
Lie and property should not be so lightly
estimated, and while we regret the loss
which falls 50 heavily upon the various
companies we trust precautions will
be exercised to prevent the repetition OF
such 4 calamity. Our next Legislature
should pass a stringent law upon this sub
juct, that shall regulate and control the
action OF railroads. The safety of the COM
munity at large requires such legislation,
and We trust it will receive early and care
ful attention.
The Detroit Post after abiding to the
great tire Of the Central Depot which de-
stroyed property to the amount of 81. O0O.-
600, and to the fact that both that and the
present fire proceeded from the same cause. /
leaking barrels Of Benzine oil SAYS:
We are sincerely sorry Tor their loss: but I
we trust they have been learned 4 lesson to 4