New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-08
GREAT FIRE IN THE STATE PRISON
AT SIN G.SING.
$4,000 Worth Property Destroyed.

Although The TRIBUNE of yesterday contained
report OF the fire which occurred at Siog Sing Prison
on Thursday evening" yet owing to the laeness OF the
hour at which the news reached us, report WAS
necessarily incomplete. From our special reporter
who visited the Prison yesterday we gather the fJ
lowing particulars:
At quarter past O'Clock on Thursday everog, the
guard in the Prison yard discovered smoke issu-
irg fom the State shop and gave the ala IN
of fire. All Of the prisoners were in their cells
at the time, it being pas. the hour for lock-
ing them up. The prison engines were got out at
cree and the hose attached to the Croon ny drants
sDo put In operation. Some of the officers en- cred
the building supposed to be on fire; but though
deIse smoke filed it in every part no fire could then
be discovered; few seconds sferward however, the
femes burst into life, and soon spread through the
eI ii 6 building.
The prison bell rang an alarm, and the citizens and
fire companies Of Sing Sing came down to the prison,
with the exception of one company tina. remained on
tie hill and sent down message to the effect that
they were on the bill With their engine, and would
come down aid help put cut the fire provided tbsy
were paid for it. No notice taken Of the offer,
snd they went back to the town.
In few minutes after the flames became visible.
above the hat and State shops and soon burned
through the roof The progress of the fire was ex
oeeoingy rapid that only a few hats and about ten
bales Of wool we're saved-the rest Of the stock aud
the valuable machinery were entirely destroyed the
buildings burned were the two-story south
wing and oDe-story building situated
at right angles with the same. Both Of these
buildings, although Of stone, we're completely gutted
Ibe hat shop was occupied by Mr.. CHARLES Watson,
who carried on very extensive business fu rnishing
employ nent for some one hundred and twenty
clnvicts.
In the State shop the property destroyed was com
posed mainly Of old rubbsh which had been sccumu-
lsDg there for long period and the machinery used
in the manufacture of clothing 10 this department
thirty five convic's were constantly employed in
siipg wearing apparel for the inmates of the Prison.
As the south wing acjoined the mse prs On the dire
burned coee to the walls Of the latter bulldog, aud
for some time it feared that the prison woad be
burned. Fortunately, however. the Building was not
Injured although Ope period il was feared thsi the
f e had broken in the upper alieries from ths
fact that large quantity OF smoke had found its way
In hIoogb an open window, nearly suffocsting the
prisoners who in their distress and terror yelled RI ht
Justify for assis .snce. Had the FIRE commune sted
with the prison the consequences would have beeE
extrsmey disastrous, as the cells contained no less
than nine hundred and forty fur convicz OF both
sexes.
cozen Of the couvicts were let out of the &c Is to
assist in subduitg TIE flames, and It is said worked
fully at the engines and the burning bui dngs 1t
wa mainly owing TO their efforts that the Ere
prevented fom taking bold of large pile of lumber
iust in The rear Of the south wing Indeed, it was
tesers tines on fire, and threatened destruction TO
tie stone dressing chop, new and large frame build
ing sgsrs, which is wss piled, but by entifal
supply Of water the damage was averei. Another
source of great d4quetuoe the store-rSom alage
building stusted bear the burning pile, which was
FLIED with iDAsmmsbe matter, and c,mmuni,ated
with the cabiret-shop On tie opposite eide OF the
p,soo-y ard; the roof caught FIRE several times, but
te fire VISA speedily put out The roofs of the bura
ing buildings fell in about 81 O'Clock, bu; the hsusI
lighted up the country fer MANI miles round untl
after m6nis h. About O'Clock yesterday morning
the FIRE broke out anew among ihe ruins Of the hs.-
.hcp and close to the prson wall, but additional
dsmsee wss DONE
During the fire the whistle OF the boiler in the he
sbop kept ND most horrible shreking, and it wssex
pected that the boilers would explode. The fear Of
thu resnt kept the freen and Others at respectful
di.tshce from that locality.
TIE cause Of the fire is unknown. fbe Prison su
y critics assert that it must have been scci6ent;
the contractors are of the opinion that the shop
fred de.gpedly by the convicts; outsiders say teat it
vs. the rok Of the convcts 10 revenge for the des.h
Of one of their number who was shot dead by the
keeper the other day while engaged in revolt If it
WAS the work Of the convcts the State is oonsbe
for the damsge done One Of the keepers stated that
this mace the eighth fire which be has witnessed in
this institution. Among tbs articles burned up in the
State shop wss the showerbsth used to pcnish rebel
icus COZ vics. Thi. fact becoming kno~n TO ons Of
the convict, 1t wss specify communicated to bis fe
low prisoners, who .eot up joyfal sound taerest
which could be distinctly be ard above the roar of the
fence.
The buildings destroyed were the south wing. two
story stone brdipg three hundred fest Ioas By thirty
feet wide, and an sdjoipipg onsstoy building OF
stone, eighty by thirty fve fsst
Mr.. WILSON'S loa Is sonething between 90, oss end