Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-01
The Detroit Fire-Additional Particu
The Detroit Free Press says:

The Detroit Free Press says:
The appalling loss of life among the
crew and workmen employed on board
the Windsor is beyond comprehension.
Admitting that the flames spread with
the rspidity Of the lightnings flash, it
would seem that wher all hopes of escape
tn: ough the depot was cut of, some one
Of the thirty to forty on board would have
discovered that a slight resistance OBJ
stTucted the passage from the dock to the
yard below the depot, or that the idea
would have suggested itself when the YES
sci took fire to cut her loose from her
moorings and drift out of reach of the
burning pile. But the men appeared TO
be perfectly paraiyzed. Many of them
seemed to think that their doom was set
lied, and dare net venture TO face the
danger. The only one on board who ex-
hlbited anything ike GOODNESS or bravery
was Mr.. W. Firby, mate, who had been
left in charge of the boat. When the
alarm was first given he went ashore TO
discover the cause, hut before reach
ing the spot the explosion took place,
and he, with the others, were driven
on board again, the forked tongue of the
devouring element following close at
their heels, and Selling the boat almost
before Mr.. Firby had sounded the alarm
to cast out the lines, created such q panic
among among the terror stricken work
men that they became powerless to help
themselves or obey the orders delivered
to them. The woodwork of the boat be-
ing as dry as finder, was soon a mass Of
flames on the port side, and little OF no
effort being made'to stay their progress,
the doomed men were driven to the oppo-
site side, foot by foot by the relentless
enemy, until their clothes took fire, and
their faces and hands began to blister. 1t
was then only that they plunged into the
water, very many of them to meet quite
as certain but less terrible fate. The
most urgent appeals were made by the
mate to them TO keep cool, but as we'll
might he have attempted to quiet the
roaring flames with a thimble full Of
water. Some of the crew who were
asleep on the boat were aroused too late
to reach the deck, and more than one was
seen to stagger wildly forward for 3
second, and then fall headlonE into the
burning cauldron. TIE assistant COOK,
named Thompson, slept in the hold and
as he has not since been seen it is supposed
that he was suffocated. \ fireman named
Freeman who was also asleep in the hold
has not since been heard of. Among
those belonging to the boats crew reported
to US as missing are Cyrus Thompson,
second cook; James Stevenson, deck
hand; Robert Freeman, porter George
Freeman, fireman; Hayden Parker, por-
ter; Richard Mason, porter; Alexander
Watson, porter; " Big Robert, tcolOredl
deck hand; Richard Fitzpatrick, cabin
boy Little Cooke" deck hand. Those
who had assembled on the dock near the
foot of Randolph street, describe the
shrieks and appeals Of those in the water
for aid rs truly h-eart-rendiDg. As soon
as possible for some bosts were got out,
and many instances of individual heroism
were performed. Among those worthy Of
mention were tho gallant efforts Of the
seamen on board the revenue cutter John
Sherman, who saved several by the aid Of
their boats. Mr.. +. Reeume, officer Gro
gan, Mr.. William Burrell, Mr. y. G. Ed
wards, Capt. Clinton, Mr.. Tho7. Mitchell,
and Others whose names we could net
learn, rescued several from "A watery
grave, and although they used almost su-
p%erhumhn efforts 10 save all, were COM
PEELED to witness several 20 do Wn without
the power TO save. At latest reports the
following workmen, all Of whom resided
in Windsor, were missing: Alexander
Moncar, foreman Of one of The gangs j.
Mason, J. Bishop, Neil Henderson, c.
Cuyler, VIM. McMaster, Jas. Fisher, Jer-
emiah Neil, Patrick Shearer, Patrick Ma
rooney, NJ. Tierney, F. Chase lcolored),
ID. McCrae, Jas. Brocker, and Thos. VIII
son. Most Of the above have wives and
families in Windsor and other adjacent
Canadian towns. The grief of the be-
reaved women and children, US they stood
on the dock yesterday afternoon watching
for those who would come no more, was
painful to witness.
The Detroit Post says
AN IRREPARABLE LOSS.
Au,,D1 tho losa-c l. tba chief gy5f,r ,c