North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-02-19

| RANDOLPH JAIL BURNT. Beetwen and two
O'Clock in the morning of Saturday last Rev. Mr..
Lawrence surprised in his dormitory by the glare
of light. Rushing TO the door, he beheId the roof
of the brick Jail recently built, in flames. Having
rung his tavern bell for few moments, he made
haste the court house, and rang the court bell TO give
all our citizens alarm. In few minutes many
at the scene of confagration, and among the first,
Col. Drake. ailor. With nothing protect his per-
son but his sleeping vestments, he not without great
risk, made his way up to the cell of James, runa
way slave advertised in last weeks paper. When
he had opened door, the smoke and falling flames
being beyond endurance, he compelled retreat,
and was able to doSWithout slight injury.
ladder was then procured, and Mr.. Cooper chief
engineer of the Plank road, who had came 10 our
village on the preceding evening, assembled it with
sedge, and made strong but unsuccessful effort TO
break in the window CRATES of the prisoners cell.
The last ray hope for the of James departed
with this effort During the continuance of efforts
for his release, his of the origin of the fire
was that some came into the jail with candle
and igni,ed the building. When Mr.. Cooper in
formed him that he must perish in the fumes, being
then asked how the fire originated. he was distinct
ly understood by several to acknowledge himself the
incendiary. He then fervently implored mercy,
wrapped lis blanket closely around his body, and laid
himself down, after which no more was heard save
piercing shrieks at the falling in of the roof.
His body of course entirely consumed.
All the doors found safely locked by the jail
err. That the negro the builder of his own pyre
there is not Doubt and it is little less certain how
he procured the means. On Thursday last Will
liam Mataw, free mulatto, was committed TO Jail
for the costs of some misdemeanor, and confined in
the cell with James for night. Mataw had match
es in his pocket and informed the aiIor day af
he had been set at liberty, that his pockets had
been searched, but the latter, considering him drunk,
thought the disclosure unworthy of attention. The
fire appeared have been started in the partition be-
TWEEN the prisoner and the entry and it perfectly
clear every present that it was kindIed in the
cell.
Notwithstanding the Jail Immediately
rounded by a high plank pailing, Mrs. Hoovers sta
bles standing few PAGES north and Mr.. Worh's
store but little farther south, the fire nca
ted to nothing beyond its walls, the wind blowing
from the west and carrying the flames in direction
where buildings 1t is singular that the
gro was not heard to make the slightest noise till the
citizens had assembled. His object doubtless
to escape In conseq uence of fears entertained by
the Sheriff that he might break out, did two prs-
oners some weeks ago. he had been chained, but had
picked or broken the lock when burnt. Such the
facts so far have been able collect them
neeted with this sad loss of life and destruction Of
public property. We are now without Jail, the old
one having been torn down and the new one being
in ashes. The brick wall is still standing, but en-
tirey ruined, having cracks from top foundation in
various places. Marlborough Herald