Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-01-16
Horrible Catastrophe--Jail Consumed
- by Fire--Twenty.two Persons
Burned to Death!

Burned to Death!
We are called upon to record one Of the
most horrifyipg and melancholy accidents
which has ever occurred within tire limits Of
this State. Though IN accident which no
caution or foresight could avoid, it will send
thrill of horror throughout the whole coun-
try. On the evening of the 7th instant, be-
tween the hours of and p. NJ, the occu
pant of the Jail heard, very suddenly, a.rum
bling ncise in the upper stories Of the Jail as
if the iron CRATES were being shaken, and
Immediately followed the cry of fire. he
rushed from his room to ascertain whether
the ail was. On fire or not, and after walking
around the Jail he observed q little smoke,
issuing from one of the windows on the thifd
foor his next object was to open the prison
door and exlingu;sh it, but remembering that
Mr.. Barincau, who was the TAILOR, and who
was living several hundred yards from the
Jail, had the keysfa his possession, he (the
occupant of the jail) Immediately dispatched
messenger for him. Mr.. Barineau, accom-
panied BY the sheriff, was soon at the jail !;
in the meantime, however. numbels. of per-
sons had collected. ..hc fire, apparently, at
this time had not made as rapid progress as
was shown in few minutes although dense
smoke was issuing from every window The
sheriff. with The assistance Of nearly all the
citizens of the village, and the garrison at
this place, immediately took the mos! active
measures to save, ii possible, the unfortunate
inmates The door on tie basement was
opened, but the dense and su!locaiing smoke
prevented a..y one from rcscaiDg those who
81, " Lax 81
strenuous efforts were then mHic, with the
assistance of ladders, 10 remove the grating
from one of the window, which proved dlec.
Itual At this lime The cries and screams cf
the suffering inmates were heart.rending
The iail WAS in lamcs and twenty-five human
beings were being burnt 10 death wi:hont any
possible relief. Human agency could effect
nothing, every Tort was made 10 rescue
them which could be suggested, but all to no
purpose, the derourng danes soon consumed
them, and in the char:ed ruins is Only to be
seen the qhastly spectacle Of bones. llor-
rible rs the accident may be, aud rs m'ict! rs
it may lie regretted, a consolation follows Of
having done orr duty 10 the best of Our abili.
tics; and that accident is confined to no place
or order Of circumstances. With US rests the
dutt, but the result with God.
At the lime the Jail caught Gre there were
in it twen:y-threc prisoners. Twenty-two
negroes were confined in the upper cells on
the third floor, among whom were three VIC
men. On the second story Iiobert Ii. Finn,
white man, was confined on bail process.
Mr. NJ. F. Mcbride, by great daring, rushed
to Mr.. Flnn's room, which was The first one
at the head of the stairway and unlocked the
door, he thereby making his escape. Mr.. Me
Bride deserves the highest credit, but in his
attempt to save the prisoner, he came nigh
losing his own life. He fell twice By. suf-
location before reached the foot Of the STAR
case.
Where every one Gid SO we'll it woald be
wrong to make invidous distinctions, but we
cannot withhold our need Of praise of the
superhuman ctfJrts Of Lieutenant Ross, prl-
yate NYm. Green (who mounted ladder at
the most perious crisis, and asccnded to
window on the third story,) Sheriff Matthews,
Mr.. Beck Joe and William Biakely, (col6red,J
particularly excited our commentator.
As to the origin Of this FIRE VIC can only
conjecture. Whether it was accidental or de.
signed by the prisoners, for the purpose of
making their escape, is one Of those mystc-
ries that will remain unexplained. A jury of
inquest is now sitting for the investigation Of
The whole matter; but up TO time Of going TO
press they have not rendered their verdict
kiugsrcc Star.