The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-20

The Carroll county Jail, in this city, was
DESTROYED by fire on Thursday morning. The
fire originated from chimney on the east
side. and was probably burning under the
roof for some time before the flames broke
through. About Q o clock the alarm was
sounded by the steam whistle of the Taylor
Works, located near the Jail, but the alarm
was not understood by the citizens. and 1t was
fully ten minutes before the fire bell summon
ed the members of the Fire Department and
located the fire. The Department, with en-
CINE and trucks, responded promptly. BY the
time Of their arrival the roof and upper floors
were ablaze. and the Department went to work
with a will All the furniture was saved
except chest of blankets, including Sheriff
Thurman furniture, and the first floor OF the
manipulating. or dwelling part. The opera
tives of the Taylor Works did good service,
and hose from the engine that drives the
machinery poured water on the flames, aiding
very materially in subduing the fire. Many
of the operatives were away on an excursion,
and but for their absence Superintendent
Beck believes he could have saved the build
ing, as the operatives are well trained to tght
fire. and their proximity would have enabled
them to be on hand in moments notice.
The prisoners in the jail, of whom there
were sixteen. discovered the fire before the
alarm was sounded, and asked to be liberated.
Mrs. Thurman, to whom the appeal was made,
thought it a ruse to escape, and refused. The
Sheriff and his deputies arrived shortly after,
and the prisoners were rescued and taken to
the court house. and subsequently to the Aims
House. John Gibson. colored. did not want
to 90 10 the court house, and when being
taken over he was so abusive TO Deputy Sher-
i'll Shower, that Mr.. Shower slapped him.
Gibson thereupou struck Mr.. Shower in the
face with his fist. and in turn was dealta blow
on the head with revolver, which determin-
ed him To go along quietly. The prisoners
when the fire first broke ont, 1t Is believed,
thought they would get away They were
somewhat scattered in the excitement and
several went to work helping to eXtinguish
the FIRE When the officer took them IN
charge. one was heard 20 say 'our plan Is
MP. or some similar expression.
During the FIRE several hremen and citizens
were injured. but none seriously. ". +. Ty-
Ter had his right wrist badly cut hy falling
stone. and his injury IS the most severe.
The Jail was u stone structure. and was built
in 1897 hv 3. f. Forester and .lohnzee Selby,
and cost $1,000. Since then the yard and
wall around have been added, and other re-
pairs and improvements. costing about 900.
This was done prior to lSG7. The Jail was IN
bad condition and unsafe. In the past few
years number of prisoners have escaped,
aud the building of new Jail has been talked
or The old structure would have done for .
few wears longer bat new one would soon
have been necessity that could not have been
avoided. Ii was insured in the Mutual Fire
Insurance Company Of Carroll county for
$1,000.
Since the above was written. the belief Is
becoming general that the Jail was set on FIRE
BY some Of the prisoners. Two gentlemen
coming to Westminster by tbs Manchester
road, saw the FIRE before the alarm was sound
ed, and they report that the smoke was issuing
from the back part OF the Jail, over the water
tank. This, with the expressions casually
caught from the prisoners. leads to the belief
that the jail was fired by the prisoners,