The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-02-01
STATE PRISON BURNED.
Thc Cell Building Of the Stillwa
ter Prison Consumed by Fire
breaking Ont Just Before
Midnight.
The Binding Entirely Destroyed,
with Offices and Papers or the
Northwestern Car Company
and Warden.

Northwestern Car Company
and the Warden.
A fire caught in the basement of the
Minnesota state penitsntiary at Saltwater,
ct 11:45 O'Clock, Friday night, the 25th. The
fire caughtuNder 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 rapidity
and starting st the east end of the pr son
fronting on Main street, it soo reached the
warden's office and the rooms occupied by
the guards. II then spread to the 9tftces OF
the Northwestern Car company the entire
front part of the building being q mass OF
flames. From the Office of the Car COM
pauy the fire spread to the kit hen and eat
ing room OF the prison adjoining wh1ch was
situated the chapel. All the above named
departments wos Quilted. Tn front part Of
the building where the fire started was
composed OF considerable frame wood work,
thus affording a means of transmitting t&e
flames TO the cell department Of the prison,
which unfortunately was capped by a
wooden corptCe. w. ...E.-
At one O'Clock il became evident that the
prison in the rear Of the offices was doomed,
and Company K, 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. II
the walls can be used again; the loss will foot
up to about $3.50, 600. The insurance Is
from $1,000 to $15, 100. The fxtares and
furniture in the Northwestern Car com
psny's Office belong to the company, the
balance to the state.
Militia Company K was seat for and with
their assistance the prisoners will be re-
moved out and placed in the store room
west of the cell builling. They suffered
from the cold and were soon moved by de-
tacbments into the foundry north of the
cell building, where there were fires. Tne
eight femala 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
shackles were removed ftom the CON lets
and they remained p~eaceably 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.
stroyed. nothing being saved but q few
blankets. The warden telegraphed to Gov.
Hubbard for a company of the militia
from st. Paul to relieve Company K. The
c~onVicts sat around the foundry singing
| songs, and behaved nobly. The Younger
brothers aud 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 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
convicts, insisted on being left behind, and
the guards went back and fouLd him locked
Ia. 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 q serious one. Some sug-
gest they be transferred to Fort Smelling;
others that they be aiken to st. Paul. 1t is
thought they can be put hack in their cells
inside of two days, although there is no
roof 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
Ky Immediately after the ~convicts had
been removed, a cry was raised that q 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 o critical moment,
: and one which q man Is called upon to
isace but once in a life time. George Dodd,
in this instance, came to the front like a
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 a new
man In the perison, end In a few minutes
returned bearing tae rescued convict. 1t is
considered an aacss . great heroism, and
praises are TO be heard on every side.
The Younger boys were seen in the foundry
by O reporter while the fire was in progress,
said Cole (the eldfst):
I was in my cell on the ground floor on
the south side. bad gone to slees. and
was awakened by the alarm whistle. ]
looked out Of my window, but could not
see any fire; smelled the smoke but thoRghi
it was gas escaping in the CORR 'ors. / had
no knowledge OF the fire until the door was
opened. ! did not apprehend any danger
The guard told me that the building was or
fire and / must hurry. / had my pictures
on the wall. and my books, but couldn't
take them, wrapped myself up In a blanket
Ia a drawer l had q pair of worstsd ~rist
lets that Mrs. Cayon, sister of Mrs. OBrien
had sent me for Christmas. / pu|
them on, and could save
nothing else. / regret chiefly the loss oil
two books Gen. Sibley had given me Wi
and Humor and Gods Book of Nature. Ny
brothers and l were released and taken K
the storeoom. Il was very Guild there