Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-06-19
Indiana State Prison on Fire---Au IusurrectIon.
Among the Couylcts


Between six ard seven O'Clock last eve
ming a fire broke ont in the Indiana peniten-
tiary, Immediately opposite this city. The
fire had very threatening appearance, and
from this side of the river il appeared as If
the whole institution was cnvelOped in
flames.
The fire was not completely extinguished
till nearly II O'Clock, and was confined 10
the hospital, which was entirely destroyed.
1t was set on fire in the third story, which
was filed with furniture. belonging to Mr..
Patterson, the lessee The loss of Mr. p. is
5000 to $4,000, and the loss of the build
| ing, which falls on the State, is from $4,000
to 5000. Other buildings we've more or
less damaged by water
The officers of the institution, as soon as
they discovered the fire, put the cOnyicts in
to the cells, many of whom were not at all
aware Of the disaster.
The building was set on FIRE by some of
/ the convicts. Ii appears that Mr.. Patterson's
lease expired on Sunday, and yesterday
morning the State assumed the charge of the
/ institution. Mr. Miller was the newly ap-
/ pointed warden. Il appears that report had
gained currency among the prisoners that
the State had no constitutional right to re.
I they could be all liberated by a writ Of la.
beas corpus In view of this, Gov Wright
| addressed them on Sunday, and informed
them that any attempt to resist the author.
I ty Of the officers would be promptly met.
Yesterday morning eighteen of the convicts
went'out and sat down on a plat of grass, re-
fusing to work. Rev. Mr.. Woods, moral in
structOr of the institution, had q conversation
with them on the subject of their conduct,
when all but few appeared to be satisfied
TO return TO their woIk.
The leader among the conSpirators was a
man named Eaton, who is represented as
desperate fellow. He has only ore year to
serve and has been in the institution some
four months. There is no doubt that the
building was fired by some of the prisoners
for the purpose of gaining their liberty
During the excitement, several Of them had
gone to work to make an opening in the walls
of their cells for the purpose of escaping, but
they were discovered and promptly secured.
There are about $50 prisoners in the Insti-
tuition. A few trustworthy, who have but
a short time to serve and are allowed the
liberty Of working out doors and the plivi-
lege of the guard house, assisted at the fire
When we left the place of disaster, IL o'clock,
the ToiI nad not Deen called, ana 10 was not
known whether any of them had left, though
it was supposed that in view of all the
circumstances surrounding them, none at
tempted it.
Besides the Jacksonville fire companies,
the Franklin, Hope. and kentucky companies
with their engines and hose, the Relief com.
pauy with their hose, and the Hook and Lad
der company, all from this city, did good SER
vice at the fire. The Relief and the Unien
companies were at the ferry landing ready to
go over, but the ferry boat refused to take
them in consequence Of the great weight she
had already on board.
We notice that Governor Wright was pres
ent, who, when the fire first broke out. was
in this city. The Governor and the Com.
missioners appointed for that purpose were
engaged yesterday in appraising the property
: belonging to the late lessee, which was to be
taken by the State
! We neglected to mention that none of the
} prisoners were injured.-LolisvHc journal
: 17M-