The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-05-11

sor into the water, struggle for moment
and sink 10 rise 60 more. One Patrick
Carol, with whom our reporter conversed
stated that when the alarm was given on
board the boat all means Of escape were
cut eff. The whole vast pile of buildings
along the dock were one vast sheet of
flames, and the upper works of TIE boat
had already igni,ed. i: was some time
before the vessel was cut loose, and by
that time the flames had driven terror
stricken workmen to the opposite side
Some shouted agonizingly for help, stating
that they could not swim and would GER
tainly drown. One hv one they dropped
into the water as the flames drove them OF
that alternative. Carol states that he
ing that if he jumped in he would be
caught and dragged down with the drown
ing men. lie at length took small box
and leaped overheard, but finding the box
was of no service, he abandoned it and
struck out for a boat which mad been
launched 10 the rescue. He succeeded
in reaching it, almost exhausted; another
moment and he would, with bis compar-
ions, have found watery grave. He
fears that two of the workmen, who could
not swim, named Bayard and Mulrooney,
have persisted.
TIE LossEs.
Calculation runs wild in attempting TO
arrive TO an estimate of the fearful loss.
The Detroit & Milwaukee company are Of
course the heaviest losers. Their depot
was filled with valuable freight of all kinds,
not an ounce of which was saved. Their
company and ticket Offices are destroyed,
with all or nearly all their valuable con
tents. A few scattering papers and some
books were taken cut or thrown from the
windows o. the brick building. bu. moth
ing of value was rescued. Their depot
and freight building are now mass Of
blackened ruins, presenting a deplorabie
picture Of the horrors Of conhagratlor.
From twelve to twenty cara, most of them
packed with FREE ght, were consumed. and
Others we're badly damaged. The Micbi,
gan Southern are also losers to an enor-
nous amount. Their depot also contained
vast piles of freight, all of which, with
their offices. persisted. Some of the books
were saved, but in all probability the
more valuable ones were consumed. They
also lost seven or eight freight cars loaded
with goods. The Grea, Western company
are heavy losers Their depot has never
been so crowded with goods as at The time
when the fire occurred. The il'fated
Windsor had been engaged all day III
bringing over heavy loads Of freight, and
extra gangs of men had been employed
to store the merchandise. All has
persisted.
Mr. George Hendrie lost several wagons
and all bis books and papers, but as the
more important Of the latter are dupica'
ted in another Office, his loss in this re.
spect is not so severe.
Buildings IN DANGER.
Lewis 4 Cos warehouse about eleven
o'clock became fired from sparks falling
on the roof but was promptly saved fl on
obstruction. The wooden building, oppo
site, On Randolph street, at this time were
also in imminent danger, but the timely
application Of the hose pipe rescued them
Before the flames bad spread far, and
when confined to the passenger depot on
Brush street, the most heart-rending spec
tac!e of the evening occurred. Fourteen
or fifteen men, terrified by the sudden
breaking out of the fire, leaped into the
river and hoated down, drifting with the
current, holding on to pieces Of boards
boxes or anything on WHICH they coulc
lay hold
EXPLOSIONS.
During the progress of the fire severa
loud and heavy explosions occurred, send
ing up volumes of flame and burning ma
te'ial, which were generally supposed tc
he caused 10y the bursting of oil barrels
1t was also reported that quantity OF am
muniion belonging to the artillery was IL
the building, which, if true, would account
for some of these explosions, none of which
were, however, sufficiently heavy to cause
any particular damage OF danger.
OTHER VESSELS BURNED.
Two or three schooners lying alongside
the dock, the names of which we could no
ascertain, were burned. Any attempt te
rescue them from the burning pile woult
have been disastrous, and they were left tc
their fate.
&c In the house Of representatives or
Thursday Mr. EIDREDGE presented memo