Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-04-25
washington County Jail Burnt.


Between the hours of IL and o'clock
on Friday last, Washington County Jai
was discovered to be on fire, and the a
llarm given. Our Firemen and other citi
zens repaired to the spot, but on account
of the scarcity of the water in the vicinity
of the Jail, and the difficulty of reaching
the fire until it burst through the ROOT
they were unable to save the building
The entire wood work Of the Jail proper
was destroyed but lhe Sheriff's residence
which is detached few feet, was preser-
we'd. The Firemen worked faithfully,
but the devouring element had made such
Roadway upon the roof and the floors Of
the structure before their apparatus could
be broughtto bear upon it, that /! could
neither be checked nor subdued until II
had completed its work of destruction.
The massive, bu. charred and blackened
walls are all that now remain OF the Wash
ing,on County Prison.
Sheriff Garlinger was not at home when
The FIRE occurred, having on that morning
started for Cumberland with prisoner
named Brown, indicted for horse-stealing
who had removed his trial from this coun'
ty to Allegany, but his lady displayed
great presence of mind under the trying
circumstances. She held the keys of the
doors, refusing to open them until The
proper officers arrived to take the prisoners
into custody. These, seven in number,
when the destruction Of the building was
inevitable, were safely conducted TO q
house in the neighborhood by Officers
Hose, Henry Freaner and Deputy Sheriff
Nesbi,t, and afterwards removed 10 the
Grand Jury Room in the Court House
where they were confined and guarded
during The nigh. Of Friday.
A despatch was sent 10 the Sheriff on
Friday afternoon, informing him of The
fire, and before daylight on Saturday
morning he raurned and took charge OF
,he prisoners. lie has fitted up a room
for them in his residence, but as it is no
place of security, he is obliged at great
trouble, Inconvenience and expense. 10
keep watch over them night and day.
The origin of the fire is wrapped in
mystery. The first impression was, that
II was the act of an incendiary. but sub
sequent reflection and investigation rem
der this supposilion somewhat improba-
BILE. The fire started in the garrett, i'm.
mediately under the roof, which was in
accessible TO the prisoners. The garrett
floor was plastered, and the hatch-hole
leading to i, closed by a heavy door lock-
ed and spiked down. By punching holes
through the ceiling fire might have been
placed upon the garrett, but those who
first entered the Prison say that this was
not done. 1t is possible that there was
an orifice or crevire in one Of the Chin
neys through which sparks from the stoves
below might have escaped into the garnet,
and ignited the floor or the roof.
The Prison was built in the year 1926
and cost some twelve or fifteen thousand
dollars. But it was unnecessarily large
and never has been filled with prisoners
since it was erected. As the walls are
just as good as they were before the fire,
| (ihey were never very durable or subslan'
italy we presume il can be repaired. by
reducing il a story, at a cost Of some five
or six thousand dollars.-HagerStoocn
| Herald.