The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-04-09
A Human Roast.

In Chicago, FIVE negroes, named Chafie'
Piles, Benz amin Wilson, John Williams
George Washington No. 1, and George
Washington No. 2. were in small cell IL
the jail under the seass house, and waal
happeued them, on the 26:h ult., the tele
graph informs as follows:
Charles Pile felt an inclination to in
duIpe in 8 smoke After lighting his pipe
he threw the burning paper on the bed
aud in moment SOME Ut the straw nae
caught fire. The other inmates remons
trated. but he cooIy remarked: Let II
alone let the damned Jail burn up be
had no sooner given utterance to the
expression when the bed presented sheet
Ut flames. RS 80,
The inmates were nearly naked. When
the flames lesped into the air, one of the
George Washingtons made an effort to ex
ungulsh them, bur of no avail, and sot &
joined with the rest in crying for hep. Ev-
erything combustibie In the C ii was sooI
on fire, and the inmates literally stood IN the
fame.
Not being salamanders, the fire had the
usual effect upon their bare persons, and
rs the fatues licked about their breasts,
succor were piteous to hear. The heavy
wooden door had been thrown back, and
only the iron grated door was between
them and safety. But while this door
gave them view of the burning furnace
with the roasting men within, 1t was hev
er,heless an effectual barrier against es'
cape.
Assistant Turnkey. W. F. Rice, was in
the Office ut the time, and the moment the
cries Ut the unfortunate prisoners reached
his ears he hurried to their rescue. When
he reached the door, the flames we're rush
lng out IetNesn the bars, aud 1t Was with
great difficulty, not unaccOnlpanled with
danger, that the l0~s could he reached -
" h,ie NJ. RICE. al excitement and nef-
you>, OF course, WORKED aUUu, the lock,
the pri>oncrS set UP icariu yell, vi agony
aud pam, aud with might ami main thieW
themselves against the bars IN the vaiu en-
deavur to force ,hem from their fastening.
Finally the door flew open and out they ran
up aud down the corridors, howilHg plte
Uusiy, and it WAS many minutes before
they could be Gained sufficiently 10 accept
sucl, aid aid nuccOr rs their keeler
could afford them. DR.. S. g. Blake was
instantly called to the assistance OF the poor
wrelches, and did all ia his power to allie
viate their suffering. Flour, cotton and
sweet oil was applied in immense quaint
ties, and when the doctor had concluded
his work, his patients presented very
uud appearance, TIE dark SKINS contrasting
very curlou>iy with the -four aud white
cotton with when they had been sprlnhied
aud baudaged.
The ta: George Washington was most
severely burnt. His entire body Is Que
mass of oien wounds, and IN many places
the flesh is fairly roasted. Wilson is badly
burned about the back, shoulders and face
W as hlngton No. 2 the same. Charles
Pile. the author Of the catastrophe, faxed
u trac better, and John Williams, who
had taken retny" nrd.r sho b~d, cscapeu
with some comparatively slight burns
about the hands aud face. 1t is feared
that one, and perhaps three OF the unior
lunates may lose their lives.
As soon as the men had escaped from
the cell quantity of water was dashed
upon the danes. and the fire was ex.in-
gulshed before the building way seriously