Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-04

question 10 which the committee gave
much attention. as in their opinion one
of the most plausible theories was that
one of the convicts placed something OF
an explosive character in one OF the
stoyes.
MR.. BURToRT.
Mr.. T. NJ. Burfort, one OF the guards
who went on duty that night at O'Clock,
was next called. He was on the inside
Of the prison between The outer wall and
the sboe-shop. He noticed the fire
about 5:15. Saw a small light through
the window and thought it was Mr..
keece making a fire. The fire seemed
10 grow larger and no started out q his
box 10 look after it. just as he got to
the door ho saw the fire break
ont Just over the two windows.
lie then ran to the gate to sound the
alarm. He heard the noise as no came
ont Of the box aud thought it was MIR.
Recce slamming the door together. The
roof he thought fell in about $50
O'Clock. He saw nothing unusual that
night on his beat. Had no idea what
time Mr. Reece went through that room
except that he remembered seeing the
lantern in the room about o'clock, he
thought.
sEACHER AYREs.
Mr.. J. ". Ayres said he was a guard
and searched the shops. His hours OF
duty are from Z p. NJ. to A. II. He
vas relieved at the last named hour on
the night OF the fire 10y Mr.. Recce. He
was IN this room at 1928, and knelt
down 10 tie his shoe just where the fire
was said 70 have originated. The stoves
were MI cold when he was in the room.
Witness knew nothing Of the mode Of
lighting the fires; had never seen MIR.
Roeco with a pipe or cigar in his mouth.
LIKE STRIKING A FEATHRR-BED.
Mr.. j. n. Garth. fifth assistant keeper,
whose hours are from TO a. M. and
who relieves Mr.. Levil|, said he was in
his box in the back yard-about fifty
wards distant-when he heard low,
mmbliug noise, like striking feather
bed with "a stick. He looked up and
SAW the fire breaking out Of one Of the
windows. This was about twenty min
utes after o'clock. Mr. Reece. he
said, left his box between FIVE AID ten
minutes after 8 O'clock, and went Mp into
the building. IheyOunger Reece lcitsoon
afterwards, and both of them were IN
the building when the fire broke ont
Nr. Bcecc went out on search soon
alter and returned to the box shortly
before > o'clock. This was either the
second or third search he hal made since
he (necce) came on duty. The yOnnger
Becce was the first person 10 give the
alarm from the cutting-rOom. lie was
at the time on the platform at
the break in the steps. " lie
said, continued the witness, 1.-THE penn
tentinry is on fire. / replied: 'Ihe peni-
Tertiary is not on fire the shoe-shop Is
on fire.. Rcece then said that he had
not been in that room that night The
prisoner Jones, who runs the engine,
went ont at ! o'clock to start the fire IN
the engine, hut he was watched by the
elder Beece and could not get into the
shop except to come by prisoners box
GUARD LEVEL.
Mr.. John r. level, one of the guards,
said he saW nothing unusual that night.
lie Was 1ire-searcher for some time.
His evidence brought out nothing new
WHY CHANGED.
Superintendent Moses at this iuncture
said that the mode OF fire-lighting had
been changed because he considered the
system of having the fires made at an
carly hour III the morning 10y the con
yict5 Il very dangerous one. Until quite
recently conyicts were sent ont early III
the morning to make the fires.