The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-01-31
STATE PRISON BURNED.
The Cell Building of the .StillWa-
!. terPrlsOn Consumed byaFire
!. Breaking Out just Before
a a. e Midnight.


p a u s:#
The Building Entirely Destroyed,
with Offices and Papers or the
Northwestern Car Company
and the Warden. -.... 10.
A fire caught in the basement Of the
Minnesota state psnitentiary at Saltwater,
at 11:46 O'Clock, Friday night, the 25th. The
fire caught usler the main Office, and when
the department arrived it was impossible to
do any effective work on
account of ! the dense smoke
The fire spread with: remarkable rspidity
and starting at the east end of the pr son
fronting on Main street. it soon reached the
warden's office and the rooms occupied by
the guards. It then spread to the Off ces of
the Northwestern Car company, the entire
front part of the building being mass of
flames. From the Office of3the Car COM
pany the fire spread to the kit hen and eat.
ing room of the prison adjoining which was
situated the chapel. All the above named
departments was Quilted. The front part of
the building where the fire started was
composed of considerable frame wood work,
thus affording a'means of transmitting the
flames to the cell department of the prison,
which unfortunately was capped by q
wooden cornice.
AT one o'clock it became evident that the
prison in the rear of the Offices was doomed,
and Company T., OF the state militia was
called out to assist in removing the con-
victs; about $50 in all, were shackled togeth-
er by means of a long fine chain and re-
moved to different parts of the prison
grounds.
The deputy warden, Abe Hall, was pros
trated by smoke, and almost suffocated. IF
the walls can be used again; the loss will foot
up to about $3.50, 900. The insurance is
from $780, to 5000. The fixtures and
furniture in the Northwestern Car COM
pany's office belong to the company, the
balance to the state.
Militia Company K was seat for aud with
their assistance tho prisoners will be re-
moved out and placed in the store room
west of the cell building. They suffered
from the cold and were soon moved by de-
tachments into the foundry north of the
cell building, where there were fires. The
eight female prisoners were taken to the
warden's house adjoining the south wall.
The prisoners behaved very we'll, and did
not offer to make any disturbance. The
gates were guarded by the militia. The
shackles were removed ftom the convicts
and they remained peaceably in the found
ry. Hot coffee ana tea was distributed
among them. Everything in the buildin
the deputy warden's stock, the matron and
stewards goods and furniture were all de-
stroyed. nothing being saved but few
blankets. The warden telegraphed to Gov.
Hubbard for company of the militia
from st. Paul to relieve Company K. The
convicts sat around the foundry singing
SONGS, and behaved nob]y. The Younger
brothers and the st. Paul negro murderers
were with the others and perfectly quiet.
The smoke had penetrated the cells before
the convicts could be reached. When the
pale and trembling, as if fearing the fire
would reach them before they could be
saved. Most # the men were cool and
careless. The Younger brothers when their
cells were opened, took their blankets coolly
and followed the guards, with no sign of
uneasiness. One of the convicts came near
being burned to death. He was in his cell,
and when the other prisoners were taken
out he was forgotten. Con Riellen, of the
the guards went back and found him locked
in. A crowbar was used to batter the door
and he was taken out in time to save his
life.
The question OF what disposition to make
of the cOnvicts is serious one. Some sug-
gest they be transferred to Fort Smelling;
others that they be taken to st. Paul. It is
thought they can be put lack in their cells
inside of two days, although there is no
root on the building; but temporarily this
may have tosbe done. The convicts will
their bedding is wet or destroyed, but the
citizens will make every provision possible
to shelter and feed them. The fire was
marked by an act of great heroism by MI.
Geo. P. Dodd, of Saltwater, of Company
K) Immediately after the convicts had
been removed, cry was raised that man
was confined in cell No. 200. The crowd
stood aghast at the horrible fate
in in, store for ,o the poor r. wretch
OF the cell occupied by the apparently
doomed man. 1t was critical moment,
and one which man is called upon to
face but once in life time. George Dodd,
in this instance, came to the front like q
hero. Pushing the crowd aside he rushed
into the building and was lost to view: in
the column of binding smoke which belch.
ed out as from a furnace. In less time
than it can be recorded, he had reached the
cell of the convict, who proved to be q new
man in the PERSON, and In few minutes
considered an act of great heroism, and
praises are to be heard on every side..
The Younger boys were seen in the foundry
by reporter while the fire was in progress,
said Cole (the oldest):
I was in my cell on the ground floor on
the south side. 1 had gone to sleep, and
was awakened by the alarm whistle. I
looked out of my window, but could not
see any fire; smelled the smoke but thought
- ;nk 1o bows T Hol
no knowledge of the fire ~ il the door was
opened. did not apprehs'.*l any danger.
The guard told me that the building was on
fire and must hurry. had :rY pictures
on the WALL and my books, bus couldn't
take them, Wrapped myself up in blanket.
In drawer I had pair of worsted wrist
let's that Mrs. Cayon, sister of Mrs. O Brien,
had sent me for Christmas. put
them on, and could save
nothing else. regret chiefly the loss of
two books Gen. Sibley had given me Wit
brothers and were released and taken to
the storeoom. It was very cold there.
Then we were taken to where it was very
comfortable, as we came out there was
much confusion in the upper galleries. We
are chiefly afraid about our sleeping room
and meals tc-morrow, wish now that
could go back to the Rice county Jail under
sheriff Barton, until they provide for us here
My brothers and worked in the belt shop
suppose We shall have to lay around for a
while. They all have treated us we'll here,
however, and we have nothing TO complain
of. When the guard opened the door he
was go1ng to take US down chained, aud 7
told him would give my word of honor
not to try to escape. have been here too
long to 20 out except honorably.
L. M. Sage of Faribault. in for the muir
der of J. W. Shipley, said:
was in cell 36 on the top floor, over the
Younger boys; the smoke was sitting, and
the boys were much warmed. r. B. Con-
roy of Minneapolis met the guard Brown,
who was exhausted. He brave]y voun.
teered to release the prisoners, and crawled
along the upper gallery in the binding
smoke and released thirty prisoners. He
says there was great terror on the upper
floor. In one cell found a man on his
knees praying. There were many praying.
They got over their fright when we got
them out and behaved very we'll. We
went up three times to release the men.
Terrible Calamity in a Colorado Coal
Mine.
Denver (Col:) Special:-A terrible explo-
sion occurred at o'clock Thursday the Oath
at Crested Butte, Gunnison county, in
the Crested Butte coal mine. From forty to
fifty miners, it is believed, lost their lives by
the awful affair. The explosion blockaded
the entrance to the mine in which the men
were at work, so that the exact extent of the