Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-01
Africans in Every stne-A Frightful 0c-
currence III Chicago.

From the Chicago Trib are. 27th.l
Much has been said about the Cook
county Jail; much m ore needs to be said,
unless things will qr ckly change for the
better without sayiP g, and of such con-
hope. 1t is an abr animation in the sight
of mana pest-hr use in which the living
decompose-a @ asrnel-house at which
the dead revolt No wonder it is
"haunted IF not in reality, at least
in the diseased minds of its inmates.
To the many o'.her miseries and tortures
that, in years past, have been the plague
and death of unfortunate prisoners, that
of fire was added yesterday. Would it
have ,Jeen loss if the entire structure
had gone up in smoke and flames, so
long as no lives and records were sacri-
feed =? 1t is true, perhaps, that the ter
rible catastrophe Of yesterday might
have occurred in the very best appointed
and regulated of jails; but it really
seems as though it was entirely proper
and in place that it should occur in the
Cook county jail. The particulars are as
follows:
Cell No. s, facing the north, and the
second west of the entrance or dividing
corridor, was the habitation of five Young
colored men, named George Washington
(No. ~, George Washington (Ne. p,
BENJAMIN Wilson, John Williams and
Charles Pile. They are accused ofvarious
crimes, ranging from burglary to petty
larceny. In accordance with the rules,
or in the absence of any rules, the pris-
oners are allowed to smoke among the
straw, bedding, and other combustible
material that make up the contents OF
the coils. Regarding the good or bad
policy OF this privilege we will say no
more than that it was the cause OF the sad
affair
About one o'clock yesterday afternoon
the person mentioned as Charles Pile felt
an inclination to indulge in smoke.
After lighting his pipe he threw the burn
ing paper on the bed, and in 9 moment
some Of the straw had caught FIRE. The
other inmates demonstrated with Pile on
his reckless conduct, but this individual
cody remarked Let it alone; let the
id Jail burn up" However pious this
thought may have been under ordinary
circumstances, it was q trihe reckless
coming from an individual under lock
and key. He had no sooner gwen ut
terance TO the expression when the bed
presented sheet of hame-snd, for the
information of outsiders, be it said that
these cells have little room besides. The
prisoners confined in the little five
by. six hell-holes generally deprive them
selves Of all clothing but their
pantaloons, and in this state were
the inmates Of cell No. s. When the
flames leaped into the air, one of the
George Washingtons made an effort to
extinguish them, but of no avail, and
soon Joined with the rest in crying for
help. Everything combustible in the
cell was soon on fire. and the inmates
literally stoed in the fame. Not being
salsmanders the FIRE had the usual effect
upon their persons, and as the flames
licked about their breasts, shoulders,
arms aud heads, their cries for succor
we're piteous 20 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 a view Of the outside, and gave
those outside view Of the burning fur
mace, with The roasting men within, it
was nevertheless an eheciual barrier
against escape.
Assistant Turnkey W. +. Rice was in
the Office at the time, aud the moment
the cries Of the unfortunate prisoners
reached his ears be hurried 10 their res
cue. When be reached the door the