The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-15
WINDSOR TUN N FL
FIRE SNUFFS OUT
TWO LIVES
WALTER r. klMBAlL AND BERT
JOHNSON DEAD, AND THREE
OTHERS WERE OVERCOME BY
SMOKE.

Two lives were lost and several
workmen had narrow escapes from
death In a fire which broke out in
shaft No. 4, on the Windsor end OF the
Michigan Central tunnel shortly after
II o'clock. Tuesday morning, and
which continued TO burn well into the
forenoon. The dead are Walter r.
Kimball, superintendent. No 10
Bruce-ave., Windsor, and Bert John
son, carpenter. No. rs Glengarry-aye..
Windsor.
Bert Schuman, night shaft superln-
tendent: Frank Anderson. work
man. and Charles Cakebread, mem
Der Of the Windsor fire department.
were overcome by smoke, but all were
rescued in time.
Fortunately the fire was confined to
that part of the tunnel approach where
the cement work has been completed,
and the timbers destroyed would have
been pulled down within few days.
Had the flames spread beyond the air
shield into the tunnel proper, the
walls OF which are supported by the
timbers alone, the loss would have
been enormous and would have meant
serious delay. AS il is the damage
will amount TO several thousand dol
lars.
The fire originated either from
crossed electric wires or a burning
gas Jet about $50 feet in from the
mouth OF the tunnel. just after the
500 men at work in the shaft had be-
20. mt nj
About 200 remained. however, when
the cry OF fire echoed through the un-
derground cavern. bringing terror to
all who heard.
Then followed wild stampede for
safety. The two hoists used for car
rying workmen and materials up and
down were filed in twinkling and
shot upward. The others took 70 the
stairways on either side OF the shaft,
which were already filed with smoke.
Up these the men CROPPED their way.
holding their breath to keep the
smoke from their lungs.
Long before the danger zone was
passed. Bert Schumann, the night
superintendent. dropped. overcome.
Some OF the workmen picked him up
and dragged his limp form along with
them A moment later Frank Adder
son, workman, toppled over. and he,
too. was picked up by companions
Once in the open air they revived
quickly.
Die Like Heroes.
After reaching the surface in safety.
along with the rest, superintendent
Kimball went back into the shaft to
see if any had been left behind. With
the same purpose. Bert Johnson, a
carpenter. followed Kimball's example.
An hour later their dead bodies were
dragged out by volunteer searching
parties. Every effort was made at
resuscitation. but all to no purpose.
kimball's presence In the tunnel at
the time OF the fire is a mystery. as
he was not supposed to be working
nights, II is said. Kmball is survived
by his wife, whom he married only
two months ago.
Jack Mcintyre, lock attendant,
was one OF the heroes OF the occasion.
Instead of Joining in the rush for
safety. he remained at his post. tend
ing the doors of the air chambers and
keeping the way open until the last
man got out. Not until then would
he leave and he reached the open air
is an exhausted condition.
The Windsor fire department re-
sponded promptly to an alarm,
but the dense smoke proved a
first attack on the flames Charles
Cakebread was overcome. He was
carried out by Assistant. Chief De
Fields and Daniel Stewart
Later the smoke was driven out by
the release OF the compressed air, and
the flremen were able TO get at the
fire to better advantage.
Wilson S. Kinnear, chief engineer
OF the Detroit river tunnel company
said in his Office Tuesday morning
that the men were not trapped In the
tunnel and thus lost their lives. but
that from the best information he had
received every one had escaped TO
safety, and that Kimball and Johnson
must have gone back TO investigate
concerning the fire and were over
come by the smoke.
Engineer kinnear's Statement.
'Mr. Kimball was not employed on
the night shift" said Mr. Kinnear,
but was assistant superintendent of
one of the day shifts. | do not think
he had been changed. He must have
been there out of curiosity or interest
in the work He was an ambitious
engineer and probably dropped around
for an hour or 80 to see how matters
were going and thus lost his life. From
what | hear, Kimball had gotten out
and he and Johnson went back to see
what they could do. The engineer
told me that both men were accounted
for once.
The fire started about 400 feet
from the starting point OF the tunnel
There Is an air lock not far from the
foot of the shaft where the men went
down and that Is cemented around,
then covered with tar paper and pitch.
presume that some one threw light
ed match down after passing through
the air lock. and this ignlted some of
the tar paper. The fire must have
been forced through between the tim
Der lining and concrete above the air
lock and filed the shaft with smoke.
The smoke from the tarred paper
would be very heavy and this smoth.
cred the men.
IF the men had stayed where they
were they could have gotten out, even
though that shaft had been impassa.
BILE. There is another outlet about
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