The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-01
THE DEED OF ADEMON
Dave Denee Attempts to Burn
the County Jail.
HIS cELLMArE NEARLY KILLED.


David Denee the dime novel boy deepesodo.
Who stood up the Elite faro henk snd shot Dick
Richard aboat . month aso, and Who b nov
under fourteen yeaw sentence fos these
his despsrsfe and dfahoieal character By
sitting frs 70 the mattress il his cell IN tie
county jail. thsFehy not only endal ger
Ing his own life and thst Of his
eestmsse, Jack Gay but the hves Of the thfFsJ
ocd other prisoners co fined there A II vns.
bis terrible deed was discovered 10 time to pre-
vent . holocanss. although Rot before bis cell
mate hsd been rear asphs II ated.
Deree occupies the fou III cell on the south
corridor with Jsck Gay, who h under indi =
menf for ssesiing merchancss from the
20 rm6ia Puget Sound Shore rced.
Last night the two men we're locked
In the cell II the usual hour. Denee had II
ready addressed and retired to his bed which
wss on the door about swo feet distans from
Gays
Gay vent 70 bed abouts o'clock. and i'm
mediafe , fell asleep He vas aroused nbout
E30, and foand the narrow cell allied with
smoke. while flames were shooting mp the op-
posate wall from Denee's mattress and h.apketA
Denee, fully dressed. was standing over him.
keeping perfectly still
In bis terror Gay spfang 70 hia feet with
yeli. but Denes spranx 81 nim. and With
curse. told him not 70 utter another sound o. It
voa be his last
inspired By fear. Gay commenced . struggle
with the demon, who Was holding him on the
foor. and succee ed In SHAKING his hands lose
rom bis throat and giving voice 70 several loud
cries for helm
By this time the whole Jail was 6l'ed with
smoke and several other prisoners were aroused
Night Jailer Ryan heard the cries and rushed
down stairs. closely followed by Chief Mitchell
and Police Captain Bigelow. who had heard
Gay Yelling, while passing BY the jail Jatier
Pat Farrsher was also awakened By the smoke,
which filed his room over the jail. and rushed
below.
Jaiier Ryan, who was the nrst 10 reach the
jail. being alone, passed his keys through the
outer grating to Jake Terry. frusty. INSTRUCT
ing him to rush 70 tpe cell. and do what he
could until other help could arrive
Terry did - commanded, on reaching the cell
he found the two prisoners clinched Ia strux-
gle. Gay was evide nifty overpowered and wss
nearly unconscious although he stili tried to
cali for help while Denee appeared - be Gil
right, ami was attempting to choke the utter
ance Of his unfortunate cell mate.
The cell door was thrown oren and the two
men were with difficulty pulled out OF the cell.
Both inca fell to the door Of the corridor, ap-
p.rensly unconscious
Il was soon made evident that Denee WA
snsmming. while Gay was really In . critical
condition. Tbs d, Sporadic when be saw that
enlightened mp, and with horrible oatbs,
cursed those who had baked his desperate
schemes He was taken back TO his cell. and
locked up.
Gay was suffering terrible agony from the
smoke he had inspired, and City Physician
Grant, who was hastily summoned. pronounced
his condition to b critical Sheriff McGraw
arrived few minutes later and had the suffsr
Ina man carried upsfairA
He suffered terrible sgony breathing with the
gre stest ditiit atty and pain. His throat and
lungs were terribly congcsted BY the smoke be
had iuha ed, and his terrible struggle With
Denes had LETT him In . greatly weak.
ened condition DR.. Grant WORKED
with him until his sufferings were
alleviafcd, and Ct O'Clock this morning he was
much easier. while there II no immediate Aan-
Ger Of death. his lungs are In such condition
thar he may not recover
Dcnee Absolutely refused to give reason Tor
bis deed. Il 70 supposed. however. that Il
vas his purpose 70 dre the Jail
In hope of making his escape
in the excitement or Il may have been that In
his desperation he chose this means
Of committing suicide. which he
threatened 70 do If his sentence was not In
part remisfed drschm bottle OF morphine
was found In bis cell after the are aud
Gay says that he must have taken some OF II
just before setting the Ore.
AtS:2o O'Clock this morning Dr.. 7. Cay Was
called to the side Of his nephew. whose con-
dition appears to be more critical