The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-16

tue commentator Oh tnelr OmccFS.
THE LOSS.
The actual loss to the State Of Virginia by
the fire will, it is believed, be about as fol-
lows:
On building totally 90
On machinery tsome of It newt In coop
er-shop... ................-.-. 1877 Il
On stock in and adjacent to cooper
suoD D,UUU W
On machinery In carpenter, shoe, and
. DrOOH-snODs. lU.1UU w
On stock IN shoe-shop. 1000 co
shops. .................... 1000 90
Total. ...t.............s 1.417 Il
To this must be added the loss OF time,
&c.
Colonel Swami had just received two
cargoes Of staves-one from Shenandoah
county and one from Grand Rapids, Mich,
besides number from A. l.. Sheppard &
Co. These were destroyed, and are in
cluded III the above estimate OF the loss.
EFT TCETERA.
AS we stated yesterday, none of the con-
victs escaped, and all behaved well, thanks
to the Superintendent excellent dis
cipline and his oft-repeated caution to the
prisoners not to get excited.
Captain H. T. Miller, of Company F.
First Virginia infantry, volunteered his
services to Colonel Swami, and in Il short
time had detachment Of his company on
the ground to do guard duty.
At the time Of the fire COL prisoners were
in the penitentiary.
The Board OF Directors OF the peniten-
tiary consists at present OF Colonel John y.
Cary, Mr.. Charles Campbell, and Dr.. Charles
Ii. Smith.
- /,.Jono1 c,r,,,,,e fret rooo IN ", n n RI J.
tions to the Board when he took charge OF
the Institution was to form tclegraphic COM
with the Richmond Fire De-
partment. II he had had it when the fire
was first discovered yesterday morning the
result might have been very different.
The institution appears to be poorly sup
piled with fire apparatus. 1t has reel ana
five hundred feet OF hose, three plugs, one
nected with pipes too small to do much
good.
The entire stock in all the penitentiary
shops before the fire was valued at S95,00O.
Colonel Swami is warm in his thanks to
the firemen and all who aided him yestcr-
day.
Fires at the Penitentiary In Past
Years.
From Mr.. r. 4. Brock we have obtained
some interesting facts concerning the fires
that have occurred at the penitentlary in
past years.
The first was on Friday, the 9Th of Au.
gust. 1928, breaking out little before l.
O'Clock at night. A lengthy account OF 1t
appears in the issue Of the Richmond En-
Quirer OF the 10Th OF the same month. We
in preference take a briefer but yet material
narrative from the Washington Quarterly
Magazine, volume /, No. ,, April, 1924, as
follows
VIRGINIA.
In the beginning OF August [1S23] the
penitentiary at Richmond was burned
down. We have given the account OF this
calamity as it was transmitted at the time,
and are happy to hear that by the energetic
exertions of the citizens the mischief is now
retrieved and the building restored. The
fire took place in the eastern wing OF the
central bulding-as is believed by most OF
those who were in the interior-in shoe.
maker's-shop. The sentinel who had re-
manned outside OF the eastern side OF Tho
building from 10 O'Clock most probably
gave the first alarm.
THE ALARM RAPIDLY SPREAD
through the interior. One OF the. turnkey:
saws when be was awakened the fire hat
broken out on the roof OF the central build
ing, and was no larger than his hat.
The first object OF the officers was to sciz'
the KEYS and open the sleeping-rooms OF th'
conyicts, who rushed in the inner yard
The smoke, however, was sulfocatln@ ant
the danger imminent; and there were TIVE
or three OF the solitary cells not unlocked
The Public Guard rushed to the spot, AM
wh hen the gate was opened received the con
victs, who made not the slightest effort t
effect their escape. When tue great body o
citizens and the tirc-engines had reached tn
SPOT it was too late to save the house. 10
the fire had rapidly spread to both its wing
by means Of the unfortunate central bulld
ing. The first inquiry OF everyone was
where are the convictS-are they sale:
FIN number 244, including eleven women.
They were Just outside OF the gate, but q
they had not been counted no one coult
ascertain how many were missing. The fat
OF the abserteeS gave rise to the most PAIN
fuI anxiety. 1t was soon buZZed about thl
great many were yet in the building
that
suP1EEs AND GRoANs, AND CRIES For ASSIST
ANCE
had been heard. and that this was korri
lt.e doom to await even the most abandonc
OF men. Pity was the predominant feeling
and means were taken by lnqulr!hS O
those who knew OF their location, anu D.
shouting 1T the windows OF their cells I
ascertain where they were. Four only Wer
found. Generous and energetic cltiZeh
promptly stepped forward to relieve them
The greatest effort was necessary al WIN
dow in the second story, which, ,cou!d on'
be approached by SIZED. Several mounte
the Shed, and after encountcring great II
tigue and some danger from the 1lamln
pieces OF the wooden cornice which droppc
around them they finally succeeded 1
loosening the iron-gratlng or the wlndo"
and dragged out q man OF color, Wnos
prayers had been patheticaliy addressed I
Heaven for his safety. Another part
mounted a ladder, and saved out OF
room in the east angle another 1ello"
creature, the bricks being cut on
OF the upper part OF the W'nao"
A third was drawn out OF hole IN III
wall which now seems scarce Dig enou?
to have let weaZe pass through. IN
last man was taken out OF room on IN
western side OF the building when the up
per part Of the whole edifice was on IRE
Indeed, if the rooms had not been arche'
with brick the lives OF these men cou
scarcely have been saved.
NOT LIFE WAS LOST.
Not an accident occurred during the awfu
scene. The heat must have been oppressiv
If moral causes had not been too strong t
permit the bystnnders to feel all its effects
Mystery still hangs over the cause OF tn
tire-whether it was produced BY acciden
or design-whose was the hand that laid tn
mischief. The loss to the Commonwealth
! is severe. The house cost at least $3.50. 00C
and the goods and raw materials were pre-
badly worth thirty or forty thousand do