Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-01
long and there was consequent loss OF
FORMER FIRES.

pipes.
FORMER FIRES.
The workshops of the penitentiary
were destroyed by fire in December,
1854. The fire arose in the pickingroom
Of the weaving department, and the
weaving-shop and the shoe-shop were
burned.
In 1861, these shops having been re-
built, were again destroyed.
At the evacuation OF Richmond. April
3, 1865, after all the guards we're with
drawn from the penitentiary, the prison
ers broke out and the mob from the city
broke in and the institution was pillaged
and fired, and the superintendent office
and the hospital were destroyed before,
by the help of the Federal troops and a
few of the officers who remained in the
city, the flames were extinguished.
In 1879, under Colonel Swans super
intendency, the shoe-sbops (the build
ing now occupied by Larus a BrotheD
were again destroyed.
SO four several times the principal
workshops OF the institution have been
destroyed by fire, and on each occasion
there was a total loss to the State, as the
State carries its own insurance-that IS,
it doesn't insure at all.
LOSSES.
Some Of the walls of the shoe-shop are
still standing, but for all practical pur-
poses they had just as well be level with
the ground.
The structure was heavy, coarsely-
built thing, and a better one could pro-
baby be erected for $50, 900.
The Davis Shoe Company probably
lose S170, 600, on which they have an in
surance of Sl36,598
They were making $500 pair of
shoes per day, and had on hand,
either wholly finished or in process
Of manufacture, $4,000 pair of shoes.
Their machinery was worth 335, 600 and
their stock of leather, &c, about S45,-
600.
Mr.. George, the representative here OF
the Davis Shoe Company, who have the
lease for several years to come. said yes
terday: "It is onr desire to resume work
as soon as possible. 1t is the duty of the
State to furnish us with the building and
we will have to put in the machinery.
If the institution hasn't the money to re-
place the buildings, why we will advance
It, We wish to lose no unnecessary
time"
This company has been paying to the
State for hires about $1,000 per month.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The cause of the fire has not yet been
ascertained and may never be. Some of
the fremen who were earliest on the
ground were told that there had been an
explosion. II may be SO; but it does
not seem very probable. There was no
explosive material-not even city gas
known to be in the cuttingroom. And
vet the extreme rapidity with which the
fire spread is not easily accounted for in
any other way.
Some of the older officers of the in
stitution, who have for years been OBJ
servers of the faithlessness and treachery
of conyicts, say that they believe it was
a slow-match laid by some of the men
before quitting work the night before.
The total number Of prisoners In the
prison yesterday was 796. This includes
the women, who are housed IN a new
building on the west side and beyond
the high walls Of the main prison.
There are 170 convicts at work on the
South Atlantic and Ohio railroad, in
Scott county. and Al at work on the
Farmville and Powhatln railroad.
ACCIDENT.
The fremen raised a ladder on the
west side OF the shoe-shop at an early
stage of the fire and were successfully
at work on it when a gust of wind came
and elected the flames from window
burning Messrs. Weimerand Shewbridge.
Mr.. Gibbs jumped to save himself and
was considerably injured by the fall and
was sent home, but soon returned to
work The others were burned about
the hands, Dut stuck to duty.
Another fireman, name not gotten,
was likewise burned.
MILITARY ALARM.
Superintendent Moses tried to per
suade the First station-house officers tC
turn in the military call, but they, in ac-
cordance with standing orders, informed
him-they were talking through tele-
phone-that ne must get Chief Fuqua
to do it.
As soon as Mr.. Moses could get to Mr..
Fuqua he told him of his wishes, and
Mr.. Fuqua turned in the alarm, but un'
fortunately it struck IA Oftener than 10.
This produced some confusion.
Before that time the penitentiary bel
had been tolling 10, and in answer to II
numerous policemen and many OF the
neighbors came in, and those OF the lat
ter without arms were armed by the
penitentiary officers.
When this military alarm was ordered
to be sounded the roof of the main
building where all the cells are located,
was on fire, and it was the opinion Of
nearly all present that all the prisoners
would have to be marched out OF the
prison to Monroe Park, or to some lot
where they could be securely guarded.
All the military, white and colOred
cavalry, artillery, and infantry, and al
the police responded, giving Superln
tendent Moses an overwhelming force
but their services were not needed ex
cept to overawe-not needed for the
original purpose, but they were useful il
controlling the curious and excitedcrO
which had assembled about the prison
and were getting in the way.
THE FIRE-sEARCHEB.
OF old a convict used to go into the
shoe-shop and make the fires in tine
morning. Mr.. Moses some time ago sug
0ested to Mr.. George that tins wa
fraught with some danger that the con
Wet might Intentionally leave some fire
where It would do damage. Thereupor
Mr.. George agreed TO employ and pay
citizen to do TINS work.
He employed Mr.. Reese, son OF The
Mr.. Reese who was employed by the
S,ate as fire-searcher in the same build
ing
The elder Mr.. Reese is regarded as one
Of the most astute fire searchers eve
known in this prison. He has rendered
much valuable service in this direction
but the origin OF this fire is as much
mystery 20 hin and his son as it is to the
general public.
The theory Of slow match and some
explosive material and train laid by
convict finds ready credence with many