The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-01-31
STATE PRISON BURNED.
The Cell Building Of the SILVIA.
ter Prison Consumed by a Fire
Breaking Out just Before
Midnight.

u u
Breaking Out just Before
Midnight.
The Building Entirely Destroyed,
with Offices and Papers or the
Northwestern Car Company
and the Warden.
| A fire caught in the basement of the
Minnesota state penitentiary at Saltwater,
It 1145 o'clock, Friday night the 25th. The
ire caught under the main Office, and when
he department arrived it was impossible to
10 any effective work on
account of the dense smoke
The fire spread with remarkable rapidity
md starting at the east end of the Or son
ronting on Main street. it soon reached the
varden's office and the ro0ms occupied by
he guards. 1t then spread to the Off ces Of
he Northwestern Car company, the entire
ront part of the building being q mass of
lanes. FrOsn the Office of the Car COM
,any the fire spread to the kit hen and eat.
ng room of the prison adjoining which was
ituated the chapel. All the above named
departments was Quilted. The front part OF
he building where the fire started was
composed of considerable frame wood work,
hus affording means of transmitting TIE
lanes 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 resr of the Offices was doomed,
md Company K, of the state militia was
Jailed out to assist in removing the con-
n by means of long fine chain and re-
moved to different parts of the prison
grounds.
The deputy warden, Abe Hall. was pros
rated by smoke, and almost suffocated. II
he walls can be used again; the loss will loot
up to about $15O,OOO. The insurance is
rom $4,000 to SIS 100. The fixtures and
urni,ure in the Northwestern Car COM
pany's Office belong to the company, the
balance to the state.
| Militia Company K was sent for aud with
their assistance thu 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-
acbments 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 well. and did
not offer to make any disturbance. The
gates were guarded by the militia. The
and they remained peaceably in the found
~. Hot coffee and tea was distributed
among them. Everything in the buildin :.
the deputy warden's stock, the matrOn and
stewards goods and furniture were all de.
strey ed. 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
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
cell doors were opened some of them were
pale and trembling, as il 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
put he was forgotten. Con Riellen, OF the
convicts, insisted on being left be hind, and
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. 1t is
thought they can be put back in their cells
inside of two days, although there is no
root on the building; but temporarily this
may have to be done. The convicts will
necessarily suffer somewhat from cold, and
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 Mr..
Geo. P, Dodd, of Saltwater, of Company
ks 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 were turned in the direction
OF the cell occupied by the apparently
doomed man. 1t was q critical moment,
and one which q man is called upon to
face but once in life time. George Dodd,
in this instance, came to the front like q
| into the building and was lost to view in
| the column of binding smoke which belcf-
| ed out as from a furnace. In less tin
than it can be recorded, he had reached the
cell of the convict who proved to be new
man in the PERSON, and In . few minutes
returned bearing the rescued convict. 1t is
| 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):
was in my cell on the ground floor on
the south side. l had gone to sleep. and
was awakened by the alarm whistle. !
| looked out of my window, but could not
see any fire; smelIed the smoke but thought
it was gas escaping in the CORR tors. had
no knowledge of the fire until the door was
opened. did not apprehend any danger.
The guard told me that the building was on
fire and I must hurry. had my pictures
on the wall, and my books, but couldn't
take them, Wrapped myself up in blanket
In drawer had pair of worsted rist'
had sent me for Christmas. I put
nothing else. I regret chiefly the loss Of
two books Gen. Sibley had given me Wit
and Humor and Gods Book OF Nature. My
brothers and were released and taken 10
the storeoom. 1t 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
clC CuACAy 0n0lu 0UOut OuI b1SePAuS 4OOA
and meals tomorrow, / wish now that
could go back to the Rice county Jail under
sheriff Barton. until they provide fnr us here.
My brothers and I worked in the belt shop.
suppose we shall have to lay around for q
while. They all have treated us well here,
however, and we have nothing 10 complain
of. When the guard opened the door he
was go1nP to take US down chained, and
told him would give my word of honor
not to try to escape. have been here too
long to go 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 bravely volun.
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 I found . 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.