The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-05-09
The Great Fire ut Detroit.
From the Detroit Post

From the Detroit Post, April q.
Last evening at about 10 o'clock, while an
employee Of the Detroit aud Milwaukee
Railroad Company was rolling barrel OF
kerosene oil from the compauy's buildings
| at the foot Of Brush street, in this city, to
those Of the Great Western Railroad Com
pany adjoining, where it was to be stored,
tn" barrel sprung leak. The man at once
called cooper to repair the cask, and top
the fow Of oil, and while this operation was
being performed, some one passed with a
light. The gas from the escaping oil com.
municated Herewith, setting fire instantly
to the barrel and lis contents. An ex plosion
at once followed, and the burning oil ran
down along the dock in sill directions, com
municating to other barrels of kerosene
| upon the premises, until with almost light.
ming rapidity the flames reached the freight
house and the passenger depot Of the De-
troit and Milwaukee Railroad, and the
| freight boat Windsor, which was lying at
the dock.
The buildings, being Of wood, burnt like
finder, and were soon mass of seething,
cracking flames. At the time of the break
ing out of the fire. there were some SIS men
at work on the boat and premises, and in
| the confusion Of the moment and the fright
| incident thereto, some lost all presence Of
mind, and, instead Of endeavoring to subdue
the flames, rushed wildly to and fro along
the pier. Others jumped from the boat in.
to the river, and were picked up while
clinging to the docks, or floating down the
stream. Meanwhile the vessel, wrapped in
fire, swung loose from her mornings and
foated down the stream. lighting up the
shores on either side, and reminding one of
the 8. fire. boats" the rebels sent down the
Mississippi.
The scene was grand beyond description.
Every mast, spar, rope, and tackle Of the
vessels anchored along tho channel were
most distinctly and clearly outlined agains.
the sky. On the shore was FIRE; on the
river fire; and on both land and water the
FIRE King held his revels. On shore were
the sturdy fremen battling with might and
main the fiery element In the stream was
the burning windsor" drifting along with
the fast-sweeping current. Obeying no
helm, she ground against tho docks, brushed
here steamer and there q sail boat, and
then shot for moment into the channel,
only to be swept by the changing current
again toward the shore. Small tugs ran
here and there, cutting loose the varied
fastened water crafts, and towing them to
places of safety. At last the burning steam
er struck the foot Of Woodward avenue. and,
being nom ,n,arily held fast, the captain of
the ferry boat " Detroit" succeeded in Crap
ping and towing her into deep water in the
middle Of the river, where she could no
longer endanger valuable property, and
where. when fire had done its best, water
her native element-might fold her in its
embrace, and hide her charred and ruined
frame.
In passing Brush street, man, since as
certained to be Mr.. Daniel McCuen, resid-
ing on the Second gravel road at Windsor,
was seen clinging to one Of the stanchions
back of the wheel-house. He was rescued
by some citizens, who put of to his assist
ance in small boat, and taken to the Amer
lean Hotel, in this city, more frightened
than hurt.
Many instances Of manly daring and pluck
were exhibited, but one, at least, deserved
special mention.
Officer Peter Grogan, Mr.. William Bur-
rell, and Mr.. T. Westbrook, broke into boat
house. and taking therefrom an old water
logged craft, pushed out to the rescue Of the
drowning men, who were endcavoring To
support themselves on pieces Of board and
floating boxes. They succeeded in saving
four persons, but two others persisted before
they could reach them. There were un-
doubtedly several lives lost, but in the hur-
~ and confusion Of the moment we could
not learn positively Of any other than
these.
The 6remen worked nobly to conquer the
flames in the depot and adjoining buildings,
but for nearly two hours were unable to
make Roadway against the devouring ele-
ment. The freight depot, the Offices ada
cent, and The freight piled on the docks all
contributed to swell the column of smoke
and fire. The barrels Of oil upon the pier
caught, and one by one exploded. thus con-
stantly adding fresh fuel thereto. Water
seemed neither to quenoh nor control it.
A loaded freight train, which. owing to the
immense heat could not be removed, was
also ignited. and the greater portion con-
sumed. The mails from the East, and those
going West, were destroyed The baggage
was but partially removed. and most valua-
BILE papers belonging to the company were
either burned up or 50 trampled under foot
in the mud as 10 be entirely useless and
illegible. The houses on the opposite side
of the street were only saved by being kept
soaked with water. Furniture Of eli kinds
was removed and the dwellings emptisd Of