The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-08-05
From the Oshkosh Courier.
Another Fire! Loss of Life!!
Arrest Of Incendiaries.

Last tuesday evening between eleven
and twelve o'clock, the Winnebago Coun-
| ty Jail in this city was discovered to be on
fire. The fire companies were promptly on
the ground soon after the alarm was sound
ed and shortly extinguished the fire, not
however, before the whole of the upper
part of the building was destroyed, togeth-
er with an addition, or projection on the
north side of the second story, in which
was confned at the time an insane woman
from the town of Winneconne. This poor
creature was burned to death in her room,
in spite of all the efforts that were made
to rescue her. She was Norwegian, and
the wife of man named Thomson, living
in the town of Winneconne, and having be-
come county charge, was sent to the
common Jail of the county for want of
better or more suitable place for her safe
keeping.
The upper part of the building was d.
vided into four apartments the largest of
which was used by the jailor as a sort of
office, the others were kept for the accom-
mediation of female prisoners, insane per-
sons, or those in temporary confinement
for trifing offences.-These apartments
|
mates, the insane woman and a drunken
squaw, upon whom the city authorities
were trying a rather dubious experiment,
with view of bringing her to a realizing
sense of the pernicious consequences re-
sulting from a continual inhibition of their
regularly licensed red eye The first story
of the jail was built of heavy hewn timber,
and in it are the cells where male culprits
and convicts are usually kept. This part
was uninjured by the fire.
1t is not known how this fire originated.
1t is conjectured by some that the crazy
woman might have fired the building, or
that it might have been done by the vi
cious OLD squaw in the adjoining room;
but as neither lights, matches, or other
means of kindling fire were allowed the
prisoners, this supposition does not ap-
pear probable Others think the building
was fired from the outside, by the same in
cendiaries, or their confederates, who
caused the fire of the tenth of May. The
testimony Of those who were first on the
ground after the alarm was given, differs
materially. Some say that the fire came
, from the inside, and that it first broke
! through the north east corner of the roof
of the projection, while others affirm that
the outside Of the bilding was first in flames
: that the clap boards appeared to have been
+ partially pried up, and pieces of paper sat,
urated with oil or other infamable fluid
thrust into the openings. At any rate the
| fire could not have been caused by acct
. dent, nor is there any reason to suppose
that it was the result of carelessness on the
i part of those who had charge Of the build
ing.
: Ever since the fire of the tenth of May
: our city authorities have been busly en-
gagged in terreting out the individuals who
, were the principals or accessories in that
incendiary business. Experienced police
: detectives have been employed and all the
means and appliances ever used in such
cases, have been brought into requisition
in order to discover the scoundrels and
bring them to punishment. 1t is not nee
= essary to detail all that has been done for
the purpose of accomplishing this desira-
bic object; but the efforts of those having
the matter in charge have been partially,
u if not entirely successful. 1t was known
0 that on Tuesday night there would be an
= OtiASi 'ttlCili' W SCI III W Tie LOWD.
n and measures were taken to surprise the
parties engaged in it in the very act.
J., About an hour after the fire at the Jail
n had been subdued, and the firemen and
i citizens had dispersed and gone to their
I, homes, three men were discovered in the
: act of setting fire to the dwelling house of
n Z '. Wright. Esq, on Algoma street, by
d certain officials who were lying in wait for
) that purpose. They were seen to heap up
9 a pile of shaving and paper saturated with
: oil against the outside of shed attached
e to the house, and to ignite the same with
Y matches, when the party who had been
watching their proceedings, rushed in up
on them, and after short struggle, sue
: ceeded in capturing one of them; the 9TH
er two made good their escape.-The man
arrested was Immediately hand cuffed and
e placed IN charge of a guard. His name is
George Lacy. lie is man of dlsreputa-
: bic character and connections. For year
t or two previous to the fire of the tenth Of
May he resided in this city, but since then
7 has made his headquarters at or near Me-
2 nasha. 1t is said that conclusive evidence
] OF his guilt In the matter of the first fire
: will be forthcoming at the proper time.
4 lie was examined yesterday morning be-
S fore Justice Cotton, and committed to Jail
! in default Of one thousand dollars bail,
sum low enough in all conscience, consid-
ering that he stands charged with one of
the highest crimes known to our laws.
Another man named Stephen Cass was
arrested on Wednesday at Horizon. He
is also implicated in the incendiarism of
the tenth of May, and the evidence against
him is said to be strong He is now in
, jail here. A man named Longstreth is
also under arrest The officers are on thu
track of others connected wit, tbazn III
!, lalnies, who will no doubt ne annrobondad
> in few days. ~ 'fp' '1'""'"
, NI>lCNS ON Wharf.-The CHICAGO