Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1856-06-26
Indiana State Prison on Fire.
AN INsURREcTIoS AM0NG THE CoYyicI

Between six and seven o'clock last eve
ming fire broke out in the Indiana Pen.
itentiary, Immediately opposite This city
The fire had very threatening appear
appeared ii the whole institution was
en,eloped in flames.
The fire was not completely ex tinguish
ed till nearly IL O'Clock, and was con
fined TO the hospital. which was entirely
destroyed. II was set on ire in the third
story. which was filled with furniture.
belonging to Mr.. Patterson. the lessee.
The loss OF Mr.. P. is from So OOO TO
$4,000. and tho loss of the building
which falls on the State, is from Sl4, 00O
10 $4,000. Other buildings were more
or less damaged by water.
The officers Of the institution, as soon
ms they discovered the fire. put the con.
victs into The cells many of whom were
not at all aware of The disaster
Tie building was set on fire By somo Of
The convicts. 1t appears tina: Mr. Pat.
terson's lease expired on Sunday. and
yesterday morning the State assumed The
charge OF the institution. Mr.. Miller
was the newly eppointed warden. 1t
appears that report had gained currency
among the prisoners that the State had
no constitutional right to retain them un-
der its own charge. and that they could
be all Tolerated by a writ OF habeas cor
pus. In view Of this. Gov. Wright al
dressed them on Sunday. and informed
them that any attempt TO resist the au-
thority Of the officers would be promptly
met Yesterday morning eighteen Of the
convicts went out and sal down on plo,
of grass. refusing 10 work. Rev. MIR.
Woods, moral Instructor of the insiitu-
ton, had q conversation with them on
the subject Of their conduct, when all bull
a few appeared TO be satisfied TO return
10 their work.
The leader among the conspirators was
a man named Eaton, who is represented
as desperate fellow. lie has only one
year TO serve and has been in tho ;nsti-
tuition some four years, There is no
doubt that the building was fired BY some
of the prisoners FOR the purpose Of gain
ing ;heir liberty. During the excite
ment. several of them had gone TO work
to nuke an opening in the walls of their
cells for the purpose ofescaping. but they
were discovered and promptly secured.
There are about $50 prisoners in the
Institutions. A few trustworthy. who
have but Short time 10 sefve AMI ore al.
lowed the liberty of working out.i oors
and the privilege o! the guard house. rs
sisted al the fire. When we left the
place of disaster, o'cock. the roll had
not been called. and il was not known
whether any Of Them had left, though it
was supposed that in view Of all The cir
cumslances surrounding them, none at.
tempted it. e
Besides the Jacksonville fire tompan-
les, the franklin. Hope aud Kentucky
companies. with their engines and hose,
the Relief company with their hose. and
the Hook and Ladder company. oil from
this city. did good service at the fise.-
The Relief and Union companies were a
the ferry landing ready to go over. blu, the
ferry boat refused to take them in conse-
quence oil the great weight she ha d al.
ready on board. .eaaals9 sfr msfg I'D
We notice that Gov. Wright was pre-
sent. who when the fire first broke out
was In this city. The Governor and the
commissioners appointed for that purpose
were engaged yesterday in sppraisins the
property belonging to the late lessee.
which was 10 be taken by the State.
We neglected TO mention that none of
the prisoners were injured.
Louisville Jour. l7th.