The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-15
WINDSOR TUNNEL.
/. FIRE SNUFFS OUT
TWO LIVES
WALTER r. kiM5ALL AND BERT
JOHNSON DEAD, AND THREE
OTHERS WERE OVERCOME ~
SMOKE.

Two lives were lost and severui
workmen had narrow escapes from
death In 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 II.
Kimball superintendent, No. 70
Bruce-ave., Windsor. and Bert John
son. carpenter. No. 11S Glengarry-ave.,
Windsor.
Bert Schuman, night shaft superin-
tendent; Frank Anderson, a work
man. and Charles Cakebread, a 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 a 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 1t Is the damage
will amount to several thousand dol
lars.
The fire originated either from
crossed electric wires or burning
gas jet about $50 feet in from the
mouth of the tunnel. just after the
800 men at work in the shaft had be-
gun to ascend for the midnight lunch.
About 200 remained. however, when
the cry Of fire echoed through the UNI
IAa hi, rf,x m
all who heard.
Then followed wild stampede Tor
safety. The two hoists used for car
rying workmen and materials up and
down were filed in a twinkling and
shot upward. The others took to the
stairways on either side of the shaft,
which were already filled 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. moment later Frank Ander-
son, workman, toppled over, and he.
too, was picked up by companions.
Once in the open air they revived
QUICKLY.
After reaching the surface in safety.
along with the rest, Superintendent
Kimball went back into the shaft to
see II any had been left behind. With
the same purpose, Bert Johnson. \
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.
Kimballs presence in the tunnel at
the time OF the fire Is a mystery, az
he was not supposed to be working
nights, II is said. Kimball is survived
| by HIS wife. whom he married only
two months ago.
Jack Mcintyre, a lock attendant,
was one OF the heroes OF the occasion.
Instead Of joining in the rush for
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
serious handicap at first, and In the
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 fremen were able to get at the
fire to- better advantage.