The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-01-23


Horrible Catastrophe-Jail Consumed
by Fire-Twenty-two Persons Burn.
ed to DEATH
we are called upon to record one of
the most horrifying and melancholy &C
cideuts which has ever occurred within
the limits Of this State. Though an &C.
cldent which no caution or foresight
could avoid it will send thrill of bor.
ror throughout the whole country. On
the evening Of the 7th instant, between
the hours Of 8 and 8 p. M, the occupant
OF the Jail heard, very suddenly, rumb
ling noise in the upper stories Of the Jail
as if tho iron CRATES were being shaken,
and Immediately followed the cry Of fire,
he rushed from his room to ascertain
whether the Jail was on fire or not, and
after walking around the Jail he observed
little smoke, issuing from one of the
windows on the third floor, his next OBJ.
Ject was to open the prison door and ex.
tngu'sh it, but remembering that Mr..
barineau, who was the jailor, ard who
was living several hundred yards from the
JAIL had the keys in his possession, he
(the occupant of the jaiO Immediately
dispatched a messenger for him. Mr..
barineau, accompanied by the sheriff,
were soon at the Jail in the meantime,
however, numbers Of persons had collect
ed. The 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 thu assistance of nearly
all the citizens Of the village, and the
garrison at this place, immediately took
the most active measures to save. if DOS.
sible, the unfortunate INN ates. The door
on the basement was opened, but the
dense and suffocating smoke prevented
ANY one from rescuing those who occupied
the third story. As last resort s,renu.
GUS efforts were then made, with the as,
sistancs OF ladders, to remove the grating
from one Of the windows, which proved
effectusl. Al this time the cries and
screams OF tbs suffering inmates were
heart rending. The Jail was in flames
and twenty two human beings were being
burnt to death without any pessbl. relief
Human agency could effect nothing, every
effort was made 10 rescue them which
could be suggested, but all to no purpose.
the devouring flames soon consumed
them, and in the charred ruins is only to
bs seen the ghastly spectacle Of bones
Horrible as the accident may be, and as
much as it may be regretted, a consola,
ton follows Of having done our duty to
the best Of our abilities; and that acci
dent is confined to place or order Of cir
cumstances. With. US rests tho duty, bu,
the result with God.
AT !hs time the Jail caught FIRE thsr,
were in It twenty three prisoners. Twent,
two negroes were confined in the uppe
cells on the third floor, among whom
were three women. On the second stor,
Rober. II. Finn, white man, was con
fined on bail process. Mr.. M. F Nc
Bride, by great daring, rushed to NJ
Flinns room, which WAS the frs, one a
the head Of the starr way, and unlocke,
the door, he thereby making his escape
Mr.. Mcbride deserves the highest credit
but in his attempt to save the prisoner
he came nigh losing his own life. III
fell twice by suffocation before reaehip.
the foot Of the staircase.
Where every one did bis utmost, i
would be wrong te make invidious dis
tinctions. As to the origin Of this fir
We can only conjecture. Whether it wa
accidental OF designed by the pri,one en-
for the purpose Of making their csc ape,
one of those mysteries that will rem ali
unexplained. A jury Of iuques, is no,
sitting for the investigation Of the Who'll
matter; but up to this time Of going t
press they have not rendered their verdic
} The Boston Post asks: "If the pre,