The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-01

THREE WOMEN BURNED TO ASHES IN THE JAIL Az
at. scHoLAsrIoux. CANADA EAST.


at. sCHoLAsTIQUE, CANADA EAST.
Iron the Montreal Herald, July 29.l
correspondent who went from this CITY to St. Soho
lastique furnishes with the following narrative
regret much that the rumors OF the loss or life ard
destruction OF Court House and prison al st. Sohoss
sVe aus twelve ococs the are s
covered in the Court House, IN that portion OF the st
floor occupied Kitchen by the jaiier, Mr. Quinn
The sleeping the adjoining room was the first
who gave the alarm; this about fifteen minutes 70
twelve o'clock On awakening, Mr.. Quinn immediately
building was on fire. but instead instantly returning
he left the building TO alarm the sheriff, who resided
about one and half acres distant When he returned
WAS too late; the 1re and smoke had extended from
the kitchen to the only stairway leading TO the cells IL
Is but right TO say Mr. Quinn told Mrs. Quinn and the
turnkey 10 release the prisoners should they think It 70
qnise before he returned. Mrs. Quinn deserves credit
for making exerons TO do but unfortunately she waa
overpovered by the smoke that filled tho stairway, and
becoming exhausted had barely time to return 10 hee
own room and rescue her three little children. the
youngest being an infant. About this time the ALARM
was general the villagers raying 10 render such assist
ance they best could Picture their horror finding
that within that burning tomb we're six human beings %
the point OF perishing by the fire. speedily releases
from without The shrieks OF the three confined 10
the inner cells imporing aid could be heard above Ill
to contain one prisoner in each. and each hss 4
heavy iron.g grated door ite entrance bolted and
locked So confined the inmates could not leave their
now In the story below them and spreading With gres
rapdty. No ladders to ascend the windows could b
found about the promises: but from church at d.
lance of quarter Of mile one was subsequently OBJ
tained Fortunately the flooring between the Gre and
the prisoners thick and deadened keeping Il from
them at the time. When the ladder arrived Q maA
mounted 1t. taking with him sedge hammer In mo-
ment the sill Of the passage window broken to at0s
and the iron bars gave way. Two courageous new
jumped TO the bottom OF the passage, ten feet IN
depth They had key to open the doors of the cells;
but the sledge hammer handed to them, and few
strokes did the work. The prisoners now released
from the cells but death yet stared them and sbeir
In the face for the window feet from
the floor. But ropes banded to them In time, and
they escaped With lte while these events were taking
place In the second story, three more unfortunate pr
he In the story above them These
confined in cells and they had full TO the
windows; at one of which OF the unfortunate
victims peously imploring 6 Mon Deu sauvez nousi
sauveZ nous' Above pale face the dense black
smoke cured If gloating its intended victim.
To relieve her was now beyond the Of man. Men,
women and children who spectators Of this
fell their kneas. praying the Almighty to pity
her AT the topmost step Of the fragile ladder, were
the feet OF the Rev. n. Barnabe with hands caspng Tie
iron bars mporng the creature TO prepare to meet
her God Here this good, pous man, at the risk Of hn
fe gave the dying creature the last consolation q BIZ
red and 10 the poor girl fell back 70 be neither heard
again. Her mother and sister Victims with
her. but neither OF them heard from tho ous
side. Suffocation no doubt cauno carly over them.
These three women had been confined for destroying
now born infant The eldest daughter hadgiven birth -
It, and her mother accused Of tho stranglng Of u,
The poor young girl whom we saw at tho window VA
held witness assinst them To-day the remains Of enc
OF them found In the stove No doubt the poor
creature had forced herself Into In IN attempt 70 save
her life. st..f s.s1 1.f ~ sG8 sa