Year: 1866

mn


The night express on the Detroit aud Milwaukee,
road had been made up and was waiting in the
depot lOr Inc engine. There were two passenger
coaches sleeping car and baggage car inside fbe
building. The sleeping was partly occupied by
passengers some Of whom had retired to their berths
Nhen the startling alarm that the depot was ON fire
was given, the widest CONSERVATION prevailed on
board the train. man rushed through the cars
arouslng the sleepers, all of whom made rush for
the DOORS pushing and jamming, shrieking and ours
ing the stronger overcoming the weaker and tramp
ing them under foot. Those in the sleenine cp-
pushed forward to the forward coach WHERE tbe1
were met by those in the latter going the Opp0ste
way. Meantime the flames, like thousand Kissing
serpehS. were collng their way around the roof and
ratters, licking their way among posts and pilIars
ana enyeloplng the doomed train within their fiery
folds. Dense volumes of smoke rolled through the
avenues and with their demon sister, fire. presented
rightiul picture of impending doom to the frantic
crowd struggling for egresS through the narrow aper-


Many rushed to their assistance and as fast as one
or more emerged they were fOrcbly thrown from the
platforms to make way for those following close be-
mnd Inc tiames came cracking on and soon the
rear end OF the sleeping took fire. while several
passengers were yet inside, begging and imploring
Tor d. The windows smashed in and one or
twoTescuel thrqqgh the openings thus made but the
rapdlty with which the flames advanced drove away
all turtner assistance, and it is feared that several
persisted. 1t is almost certain that one poor old man
Infrm with years and sickness, and another whom
heaven forgive was in beasty state of ntoxication
perlShed IN the flames. Whether there were others
lost cannot as yet be aScertaned as in the fright and
confusion and hurry to escape but little attention
was PAD to one another SO rapid was the progress
of the fire that of the later ones in tho sleeping
cars escaped only partially clothed. They were com
pletely stupetied and bewildered with the sudden


Loss OF LIFE.


Ihe absolute certainty that from six to twelve hu-
man beings lost their lives on that occasion is the
most deplorabe feature fthe catastrophe In addi-
ton TO those already mentioned eye-witnesseg state
that they saw several jump from the Windsor into
the water struggle Tor moment, and sink to rise no
more. One Patrick Carol, with whom our reporter
conyersed, stated that when the alarm was given on
board the boat all means Of escape was cut Off The
whole vast pile of buildings along the dock were one
vast sheet OF ame and the upper works of the boat
had already ignited 1t was some firnc bafro ~
vessel was cut loose and by that time the flames had
driven the fear stricken wOrkmen to the OpDosite
side. Some shouted agOnizngly for help stating
that they could not swim, and would certainly drown
Hhe Dy one they dropped INTO the water as the flames
drove them to that alternative. Carol stated that
was among the last to leave the boat fearing that
II ne plunged IN he would be caught and dragged
down by tho drowning men. He at length took a
small box and eaped overheard, but, finding the box
was OF no service ne abandoned it and struck out for
boat which had been launched to the rescue. He
succeeded in reaching il almost exhausted another
moment ho would, with his companions have found
waterT grave. lie fears that two of the workmen
who could not swim, named Ryard and MulrOoney
have persisted. 1t is supposed that in all from eight
rived.


THE LOSS OF THE WINDSOR.


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 raPidity Of the lightnings flash, it would
was cut Off some of the thirty to forty on board
would have discovered that only slight resistance
obstrueted passage from the dock to the yard be-
yond the depot that the idea would have suggest
cd itself when the vessel took fire to cut her loose
from her mOorings and drift her out of reach of the
burning pile: But the men appeared to be perfectly
parayzed. Many of them seemed to think that their
doom was settled, and dare not venture to face the
danger: The only one on board who exhibited any
thing like coolness 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 but before reaching the spot the
explosion took place, and he, with the others was
driven on board the torked tongue of the devourinp
element following close at their heels and seizing
the boat almost before Mr.. Firby had sounded the
alarm to cast of the ltnes created such a panic
EoWeress to help themselves obey the orders de-
lvered to them.


The woodwork of the boat being as dry as tinder.
was soon mass of flames on the port side and little
or no effort being made to stay their progress the
doomed men were driven to the opposite side foot by
loot by the relentless enemy until their clothes took
hre and their faces and hands began to blister 1t
was then only that they plunged into the water very
many OF them to meet quito certain but less ter
Tibla tate. The most urgent appeals were made by
the mate to them to keep cool, but well might he
have attempted to quiet the roaring flames with q
thlmbletul OF water. Some of the crew who were
asleep on the boat aroused late to reach the
deck, and more than was seen to stagger wildly
forward for second, and then fall headlOng into the
burning cauldron The assistant cook, named ThOmp-
son. slept in the hold and he has since been seen;
II is supposed that he suffocated. A fireman
named Freeman, who also asleep in the hold has
not since been heard Of