The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-20
TEE NEW JERSEY STATE PRISON
CONFEDERATION.

TEE NEW JERSEY STATE PRISON
CONFEDERATION.
~~
One Wing Of the Building Observation-Disclosures
Scenes Within the PrisOn-Desperate Strug.
gle with a Wife Murderer-Several Con.
victs Escape.
At halfpast seven O'Clock on saturday evening, as
was announced by special telegram in yesterdays
HERALD the fire bells rang out on the placid evening
air. and the intelligence that the State Prison
fire circulated rapidly through the citizens. Ere
many minutes had elapsed the busy tread Of fremen
and inquisitive people was heard fastening to the
scene of the confagraton. Before the fire engines
could be arranged for work the flames burst through
the roof of the chain shop and in quick time the urd
glare of the atmosphere in that vicinity told too
plainly the whereabouts and intensity of the fire.
The evening was still, the air balmy with
gentle breeze from the South, and those
who were disposed to take their accustomed
walk after shutdown and those who were not con-
gregated in serried groups about the outer walls.
The flames rose higher and higher, every moment
attaining fresh vigor, and they glided along the
shingled roof assumed such briancy that rejected
from the of upturned faces, made them distinctly
recognizable and enabled one to take notes with
facility the way side. The spectators relished the
blazing spectacle, the sexes coquetted, the more
the commons to enjoy with the terrific gran
deur of the scence, and in short, the outside pre-
scented one general view of sprghtliness and uncon-
Germ. When the fire engines and hose carriages ar
rived the authorities hesitated In allowing them to
operate through the main entrance. The firemen
eXpostulated the fire was increasing In rage, and at
length, when the directors Of the prison came to
e s RI Ss tine hose to be
ranged along the canal side, about three hundred
yards from the prison walls but after beginning to
Wn Of hnA0 h,vdf tkA
water escaped along the aOor Of the hall. BY the
way some OF the hose is about fifteen years old, and
besides the quantity was quite insufficient, that
messengers had to be despatched to the city to OBJ.
tain necessary supply. With this delay and the
distance OF the water supply great confusion ensued
gear the connagration had assumed formidable pro-
In the inside one had to wade to his knees through
the water on the floor; the smoke was almost sufo-
eating, and what with the vociferating tongues Of
operatives and the cries Of the prisoners the Interior
was hideous in the extreme. BY nine O'Clock the
chain shop In the southwest end, which was con-
structed entirely Of wood, was entirely consumed
and the south wing beginning to burn vigorously.
Several streams of water were directed to this wing
but without any perceptibe advantage. The inmates,
TO feel the heat and manifested their apprehensve
danger by the most piteous walls imaginable. The
fire ragged on, the cells became more heated and
heat no longer they Frustrated themselves on their
faces to keep it away If possible from the sensi
connagration 1t was found indispensably necessary
to remove the convicts from the burning wing Com
captain Beve was called on and 1--WE with ther assist
ance and that Of the police officers they were deliv.
cred from their torrid confines and some slowed
away In other apartments and Others allowed to re-
main In halls under the guardianship Of the National
Guards
While the convicts were being transferred one OF
them, named Rooney. imprisoned for life for muir.
dering his wife, refused to leave his cell. Two OF
the keepers essayed to force him, but he repelled
entered hts cell that he could be constrained TO leave
He remarked he was tired OF living and wished to
die and form part OF the general wreck OF matter.
II has not yet been ascertained how many escaped.
Some have certainly decamped, but IN the general
chaos inside no definite account OF the number
could be given at this writing one outsider was
confined there yesterday for having given his clothes
to a convict Who succeeded in getting away.
Up to midnight the same surging crowd, ringing
laughter and promenading still continued without,
and 1t was not until sabbath morning dawned and
drowsy sleep began to fall with cumbrous weight
upon the eyelids OF the spectators that the crowd
commenced TO dispense At four O'Clock yesterday
morning the fire engines ceased playing. after an I'M
interrupted period OF nine hours operation. The
state certainly owes debt OF gratitude TO the Fire
Department Of Trenton for their untlring exertions
ment. Company A renamed under arms through.
out the night and special waichmen were also pro-
cured for the occasion. Yesterday morning at ak
O'Clock some Of the convicts were engaged IN wash
ing and drying the halls and others in removing the
debris from the cells that escaped demolition IN the
wing, the chain shop and with the exception OF
few cells the wing ITSELF are utterly consumed The
damage 10 tue institution cannot De less tnan
$4,000: The keeper has not been able to
leave bis room for the last two weeks and
the disaster that has befallen the prison
preys heavily on him. The PHYSICIANS
administered opium to him on Saturday night, but
yesterday morning he was very enervated. Great
apprehensions were entertained yesterday OF gen.
eral stampede among the convicts and additional
supervision was employed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRISON.
The New Jersey state Prison Is situated on the Dor
ders Of the city, In the district known South Tren-
ton. II was massive stone structure, embracing
in extent almost block, detached from all other
buildings, and far removed from the hustle OF busy
life. The original building was erected In 1873
Since that time additional wings were added but,
Notwithstanding this enlargement the prison lot
many years was totally inadequate 10 ACCOMMODATE
the rapidly increasing number OF convcts 10 such
. an extent was this observable that IN many
instances two and even three, prisoners occupied
the same cell.
To the stranger az he approached the sombre walls
that surrounded the main building, feelings OF sad
ness would naturally come welllng up IN MS nearS
made more so, perhaps, by their isolated nature.
Passing the solid iron wicket at the prlncpai
entrance one was ushered into q broad, high hall,
part OF the space lined oy TWO ranges OF massNe
stone columns supporting gallery, portion OF
which many Of the cells opened INTO, the otner ex-
tremity being the residence OF the keeper Oh tne
prison and his family. This hall opened into the
outer portion Of the building, whore there were the
greater number OF cells workshops culinary depart
ments &C. -. = a..
The number OF inmates at the time Of the IRE was
about $50 forty only being females The extreme Oh
ages was recorded among them and they nad com.
convict was about fifteen, while the eldest bore the
troubles of seventy years upon his head. -,
The industrial occupations OF the place were tnose
OF shoemaking leather cutting and chair making.
brought into requisition. aud the amount OF WORN
turned ont in the various branches was astonishing