New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-24
A PENITENTIARY ON FIRE.
DISCIPLINE AMONG THE PRISONERS.
WAS IT OF INCENDIARY oRrGIy'-EsrrMATED
LOSS TO KINGS COUNTY AND TO
THE CONTRACTORS.

The lz-shop Of the Kings County Pcntentary d
Crown and Carroll sts.. Brooklyn, caught fire ycster-
day morning about twenty minutes past IL O'Clock,
from some unknown cause The general opinion seemed
to be that ii OF incendlary origin. as might
imply from the report Of some Of the wariens
that it broke ont in three different places. The
same building set on fire yeas ago by OF
the prisoners when was In Use for shoe mann acus-
ing, and the forlom hope OF escape during oe noise
and confusion that result from such an affair.
orally present in prisoners mind, seems with other
facts to furnish evidence that yesterdays fire
repetition OF the former one. Some OF the waFdens
say. however that they think it resulted from
defective nue. Forty minutes after the alarm was
given the fire burning furiousy almost f:Om
end to end OF the north part Of the main building and
running well out to the extremity of the cast wing.
Since the manufacturing of shoes was discontinued
in the prison the top floor or attic, where the fire
originated, and which the keepers only were per
mitted to enter. has not been u.ei. but the Other
floors occupied by various industries. When tho
alarm was given there about 40 prisoners at
work In the shop, including about 10 shirt
makers, 1875 ailors, male and female and 80 chair
operatives.
When the message reached the fremen that there
was fire at the pententlary the news aroused
good deal Of excitement. as visions of feDw-
creatures sufrocating behind iron bars rushed into
their minds. Not a moment was lost IN getting ~
the field OF action, and bco< long the prison yard was
pulsating in unison with fifteen throb5ins engines.
Outside the prison gathered a m0>t!cy throng
Women whose tattered apparel LeOkened the felon's
wife, and gray haired mothers whose hearts wcrc
locked up inside the bars, shook the iron doors and
asked for loved hid from view. on The sur
rounding hills and the tops Of houses stood hun
dreds OF spectators imagining thing, they could nos
see they watched the sheet OF flame shoot up from
within the prison walls and fiji the sky With smoke
But with the prisoners all going on much az
usual. When Keeper James schollaTd discovered tho
fire from the outside Of the building he Informed
Keeper Hallnms. who had charge Of the workshop.
II escape to be made then the tine, and
perhaps the desperate hope thrilled tho pulse Of many
convict a. moment seemingly OF hesitation, eMp,ed
before the order came to fall beck from the benches
and form line. It was a critical instant, but habit
prevailed and before they knew IL the hope had
persisted and one BIZ one they filed out Of the workshop
and into the dismal corridor, q the prison There vas
stampede 10 noise, only strict discipline and perfect
obedience An hour afterw1ird the isocr, ma oat
again in single file, crossed the court the room,
took their bowl Of soup and dole Of bread. and re-
within 100 feet Of them the fierce confederation az
rs height. About seventy convicts worA.Ag outside
also before the fire engines reached the spot. and
keeper, armed win rites and policemen were posted
or rescue but there was none.
The workshop Is an old one. but in good repair.
while wing is i25 feet long "a and 100 broad O'T TSe
irenen found great difficulty In getting at the flames
impenetrable she'll over the burning ,imbers. The
grated windows, too, prevented access By o'clock
however, the fire WAS under control The entire loss
cannot be estimated yet and do doubt great deal
OF the material of the shops, which was drenchcd with
water and to extent injured by the fire, may
nevertheless be put TO some use The building was not
Insured and the loss upon it is estimated al $1,000
was estimated at $4,000, Williams 4 Martins on
carriage bodies at $1,000, and T. Cort Johnsons on
The Investigation of the Commissioners Of Charities
and Correction and the police in regard 10 the cause
defective fuc