Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-02-01
ST B ]. Fl Is o N B URN ED.
The Cell Building Of the StiIlWa
ter Prison Consumed by q Fire
Breaking Ont just BcfOre
Mi dnight. {. 4


. ter Prison Consumed by q Fire
Breaking Ont just Before
1idnight. &
The Building Entirely Destroyed.
with Offices and Papers or the
& Northwestern Gar Company II
: and the Warden.
a. FIRE caught ID the basement of thu
Minnesota state penitentiary at Saltwater
at 11-45 O'Clock, Friday night, the 25th. Th,
fire caught uader the main Office, and whel
the department. arrived it was impossible to
do any effective work on
account Of the dense snok.
The fire spread with remarkable rapidity
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 ola ces Of
the Northwestern Car company, the entr-
front part Of the building being mass q
flames. From the office of the Car com
pany the fire spread to the kit hen and eat:
ing room of the prison adjoining hich 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 sfordiDg means of transmitting tke
flames to the cell department. Of the prison,
which unfortunately was capped by
wooden cornice.
At one o'clock it 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 shackied togeth.
er by means of a long fine chain and re-
moved to different parts of the prison
grounds.
The deputy wasden, Abe Hall. was pros
trated by smoke, and almost suffocated. L.
the walls can be used again; the loss will foot
up TO about $l50c00. The insurance is
from $1O,0 600 to SIS 90. The fx'hres and
furniture in the Northwest m Car COM
pany's Office belong to the company, the
balance to the state.
Militia Company K was seat for and 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-
tacf ments into the foundry north of 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 disturla ce. The
gates were guarded by the militia. The
shackles were removed tom the convicts
and they remained peaceably in the found.
ry. Hot coffee and tea was distributed
among them. Everything in the buildin :,
the deputy waraen's stock, the matron and
stroved. nothing being saved but few
blankets. The warden te]egraphed to Gov
Hubbard for a company of the militia
from St. Paul.to relieve Company K. The
convicts sat around the foundry singing
songs, and behaved nob]y. Tne 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
cell doors were opened, some OF them were
pale and trembling, as if fearing the fire
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. Goa Riellen; of the
convicts, insisted on being left b. 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. S0pe sug.
gest they be transferred to Fort Sn .ling;
others that they be taken to St. Paul. Il is
thought they can be put aackin their cells
inside of two days, although there is no
root on the building; but temporarily this
may have to be done. The onvicts 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
Geo. P. Dodd, of Saltwater, of COMPANY
X Immediately after the convicts had
been removed, cry was raised that q man
was confined in cell No. 200 The crowd
stood aghast at the horrible fate
in store tor the poor wretch,
and many faces were turned in the direction
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 a 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 blindi1 g smoke which belch.
ed out as from a furnace. In less time
than ii can be recorded, he had reached the
cell of the convict, who proved to be new
man in the PERSON, and in q lew 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 eldest):
was in my cell on the ground floor on
! the south side. 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 tho aght
| it was gas escaping in the CORR ors. had
no knowledge of the fire until the door was
opened. I did not apprehend any danger.
! The guard told me that the building was on
fire and must hurry. had my pictures
| on the wall. aud my books, but couldn't
e drawer haa par Of W gorsed 1o riss
lets that Mrs. oayon, sister Of Mrs. O'Brien
| had sent me for Christmas. I put
| them on and could save
| nothing else. I regret chiefly the loss o,
| two books Gen. Sibley had given me Wi,
and Humor and Gods Book OF Nature. My
brothers and were released and taken t.
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
| and meals t'-morrow. I 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 well here,
however, anil we have nothing 10 complain
of. When the guard opened the door he
was golngsto take us Gown chained, and I
told him I would give my word Of honor
not to try to escape. I have been here too
| long to 60 out except honorably. =. ! H..
/ E. M. Sage of Faribault, ia for the muir
der of J. w. Shirley, said: p as:s,s
! I was in cell IS on the top floor, over the
| Younger boys; the smoke was tihing, and
the boys were much warmed. r. B. Com