Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-09
BURNED TO the eR0UHD.
The Br;dgewater State Work
house Destroyed by Fire.
The Prisoners Escaped Unframed
The Fire the Work of an Inmate
Loss S75, 900.
ROsIoN. July Z

N ID itgcW dtci cpctidi 10 tHt IiSTdIu says
Mr.. Hollis NJ. Blackstone. the new superin-
tendent of the state workhonse here, has been
literally given ''warm'' reception to his
new sphere of duty. Mr.. Blackstone. who
has for several years past been superintend-
ent of the Marcella street home in Boston,
was lately elected to succeed Capt. Leonard.
who declined a reelection, as superintendent
of the workhouse. and he arrived, with his
family, Thursday evening He had been lit
tie more than 80 hours at the Institution,
therefore, when. at . % clock this morning.
while passing through the east wing of the
main building. he discovered a brisk fire
rapidly spreading in ventilating hue He
promptly gave the alarm, and efforts were at
zee made u stay the progress of the flames,
but without success. For some unexplained
reason the steam fire pump connected with
the Institution refused To work satisfactorily,
and the flames spread rapidly. and almost
unchecked, through the bulding. Finding
it impossible TO save the structure, Supt.
Blackstone directed his attention to getting
the inmates, Isl in number, to place of
safety. This was accomplished quickly and
without special excitement. the male inmates
evincing marked desire to assist in saving
property, appare nifty without thought of at.
tempting to escape. The women and chill
dren inmates were removed to a building
intended to be used as a pesthouse, located
at a safe distance from the fire. while the
men, after the building became evidently
doomed, stayed quietly the scene
Requests for aid were sent to Brockton and
Taunton, and a steamer was sent by special
train from each of these places, arriving in
season to save, by hard work, the two large
barns connected with the institution. The
burned buildings, which were of wood, three
stories in height, were of the same style and
arrangement as those at the Tewksbury and
Monson institutions, and, like them, were
erected in 1854. tor the use of state paupers.
In 1865 a portion of the Institution was set
off as a w0rkhOuse, and from 1865 until 1877:
it was used conformity as an almshouse and
workhouse. In 1872 the amshouse depart
ment was abolished, and since that time the
entire institution has been used as a work
house, although still the board of health
lunacy and charity has power to transfer
from the state almshouse paupers to be sup
ported there.
The fire burned briskly in the teeth of d
strong southwest wind. A portion only Of
the contents of the work-house was saved
consisting of comparatively small quantity
of bedding, furniture, etc. The books of the
institution, however, and other valuable,
were rescued from the office. The loss was
at first sOmew hat widely estimated, $50, 00t
being the figures telegraphed to Boston; but
careful calculation reduces this early estimate
to one-half, it now being thought that the
buildings and contents could be replaced for
S75, 200. There is no insurance, as the State
does not insure its property. The question
of caring for the inmates was one which pre-
scented itself to Supt Blackstone, who tele
graphed to Boston for tents, to be sent 10
shelter his charges tonight. 1t was not nee
essary to use them however. since all but a
very few of the most Trustworthy inmate.
were tnken by special train late this after
noon to Boston, en- route for Tewksburv
where they are tonight quartered. Hon j
f. Crane, of this town, chairman of the board
of trustees of the work-house, was early OF
the ground. and Hon. J. White Belcher O
Ranpolph. another of the trustees arrived
shortly before 2 o'clock. Both gentlemen
lost no time in consulting Supt. Blackstone
respecting the necessities of the occasion
and remained until matters had been prett,
well Strengthened out.
The cause of the fire is not known witt
certainty, though it is suspected that it wa
set by a colored inmate named Gilmore wht
was, it is said, seen near the spot where the
fire broke out but short time before it wa
discovered. 1t is also thought that the steam
tre pump had been tempered with. as The
apparatus was new, had been frequently ant
satisfactorily worked tor other purposes thar
fire extinguishing, and there was a good heaC
of steam on. The inmate Gilmore is the
only one now missing. Early in the fire. he
seemed active in his desire to assist in extin
gushing the flames, and Sup.. Blackstone
himself strapped a fire extinguisher upon his
back and babe him ''go ahead" Later, how.
ever, he was missed, and is tonight at large
ATTLEBoRo, Mass. July s.
Deputy Sheriff Capron arrested this even.
ing James Gilmore. colored, and Edward
Whalan, two escaped convlcts from the State
workhouse at Bridgew alter, burned Saturday.
Early this evening Whalen applied to officer
Starkey for nights lodging, and when he
was in the lookup admitted he was an es.
capped convict from the workhouse and tina,
also Gilmore was with him and set the fire.
Wordwas entSherff Capron and he was found
and arrested, offering but little resistance
tie said he did not have anything to do with
the fire, but subsequently admitted he was
the one. and said. Il have carried a match
for one year to accomplish it | showed a
lot of straw up ventiiator flue and tempered
with the steam pumps and l am glad the
d-n place is in ashes, and when | get out
of this will this town." Whalan said he
met Gilmore the other side of Taunton this
morning, and another convict in his company
escaped and went towards Providence.