Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-01-31
A pENi1EsTlARY BURNED.
Destruction of the Prison at saltwater,
Minnesota.

Destruction of the Prison at saltwater,
Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., January 90
at 1l:45 last night fire was discovered
under the main office of the Northwestern
Car Company at the east end OF the
Saltwater Penitentiary, and in spite of
every effort the prison buildings were
entirely destroyed. All the prisoners,
including the notorious Younger broth
ers, were removed from the burning
buildings and placed under strong guard
in the yard. The loss to the state will
be about $50, 1000. Partially covered by
insurance.
The fire was discovered in its incipien-
cy by q pedestrian who failed to attract
the attention OF the guards and ran
down town and turned in an alarm.
When the fire departn ent arrived it was
impossible 10 stem the roaring tide OF
flame and smoke AS soon as it became
evident that the buildings were doomed
company X Of the state militia was called
out to assist in removing the convicts-
about $50 in all. They were shackled
together by means of long, fine chains
and removed to different points of the
prison grounds. The transfer was made
with but little trOuble.
The origin of the fire is a complete
mystery. AS is stated above, it started
in the basement under the car offices,
whence it spread rapidly and soon
reached the warden's Office and the
rooms occupied by the guards. 1t next
communicated with the kitchen and eat
irg room adjoining, and to the chapel.
These departments. .wele entirely gutted.
The front part of the building, where
the fire originated, contained cons ider-
able woodwork, which afforded the
means of transmitting the flames to the
cell department of the prison, which
was capped by wooden cornice. The
cells proper are fire proof.
When the fire first started Chief Joy,
of the Saltwater fire department, had
narrow escape from death. He was
caught in the Office OF the Car Company
and was overpowered by the smoke.
While in this condition some one from
the outside turned stream of water into
the room, which knocked him down and
put out the light. He was discovered
almost sufocated and was dragged from
the building more dead than alive.
A fortunate feature consists IN the
saving of all the personal papers and
letters of Senator Sabin. They were
removed intact.
The fire was marked by an act of great
heroism by Geo. P. Dodd, of Saltwater
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 store for the poor wretch
and many faces turned in the direction
of the cell occupied by the apparently
doomed man. Dodd rushed into the
building and was lost to view in q col.
umn of binding smoke. In less time
than it can be recorded he had reached
the cell Of the convict who proved to be
new man in the prison, and in few
minutes he returned bearing the rescued
prisoner in his arms.
CHICAGO, January Ex-senator Sabin,
of Minnesota, who is also president OF
the Northwestern Car Company, which
has lease of the convict labor at Still
water, is in town and has received phi
vate dispatches to the effect that the loss
by this mornings fire will not exceed
$4,000, all Of which loss falls on
the state. The total loss sus.
tanned by the car company is
in the way of office furniture
and will not exceed 81, 900, fully covered
by insurance. All books and docu-
ments there as well as Senator Sabin's
private papers are safe in the va9lt.
Senator Sabin had intended starting for
Washington to-day, but will now go to
Minnesota tonight.