Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-14
THE PRISON ABLAZE.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS OF THE BUM
ING OF THE PeNlTENTlARY IN 1923.
The Convicts Taken Out Under GUARD
and Great Excitement Prevailed
ueroi.m of Captain Freeman.

more eagerly scanned than graphic ac-
counts Of such catastrophes.
The DISPATCH TINS morning presents one
Of these picturesque stories, and 1t Will
prove all the more interesting since 1t PIC
lures one Of the most destructive conila-
grations that hes ever visited the State
prison.
There have been numerous big fires at
the Virginia penitontiary, end those Of the
evacuation and Of q Few years ago when
the shoe-shOp was destroyed are yet fresh
in the minds Of the average citizen who
Ia. reached two-scOrs years. Some OF tno
older inhabitants also recOllect the FIRE u.
which the workshops IN rear OF the pri-
son were burned on the night of December
7, 1851.
But the following from well-worn copy
Of the Petersburg Erprcse Of December H..
1854 kindly shown D.spATCu reporter
by Mr. Albert l.. West). and copied from
the Pnny past OF the Saturday before,
gives an account of an exciting fire. which
all will read with decided interest:
BURNING OF Tue pENIITSrIARY.
An account Of the fire 40 the peniten-
tiary was published in our local columns
Yesterday morning. We have thought II
might not be Unacceptable 70 our readers
TO give short abstract OF the editorial
article Of the Enquirer detailing the KIN
bred catastrophe which occurred on tie
9Th Of August. 1923. We should have
been pleased TO publish the article IN
full, but II - 100 long for our means. THIS
article, written more than thirty years ago.
places in strong relief the difference OF
the rapidity with which news j. spread al
the present and at that day. The hie oc-
CURED on FRIDAY night. The account IN
the EHTiirtr was not published until tues
day morning. Decidedly, that would not
do for the age Of lightning and steam.
Before sunrise yesterday we suspect we
late catastrophe was known IN New VI
leans.
TIE PRISON ~ ASHES.
The Post then gives a. condensation OF
the EHqtrsr's article, as follows
I'VE have this day 10 announce great
public calamity. The State penltentlary'
which has drawn so much OF the attention
If citizens and strangers. IS now IN asheS.
The loss TO the CommDnY tn an IL the III
convenience Ii imposes on the cit!I rs are
20 great, and the questions winch grow
ont of them so new. That we think u our
duty 70 give as minute an account OF tue
event a. we have been able to c1iiect.
few minutes before - o'clock on the
night of FRIDAY the 8tn instant the appal-
tlIf CIV OF Ult IAA- lAAlDA-t R't 's
Id was soon discovered 10 be a. the state
penitentlary. the Public Guard from the
ArmOry. the COmpdnla with tlolr engine,
and "a crowd of citizens immediately
rushed p the scene OF the coniiag alton.
The roof uf the central range OF buildings,
"a well as tine eastern extremity Oh the clr-
cular building. WAS wrapped IN "a Uelnen-
dous sheet of flames. WI en- were fapldS
communicated t. every part Oh the ounce
THE ORIGINAL BUILDING.
The penitent,ary was builtin the form
Of "A seni-clrcic the two eXtenltles OF
winch were connected 10y hlFl wall,
about the centre Of which stood ue spaci-
ous building designed tor the resid nee ot
the keeuer but which has Of late boen
concerted INTO n s Ore-hOuse, d.. Parallel
10 this wall and building s-Col what was
called the c,Hre judiH;. OF the same heig
with the circular building and connected
with 10 az each end. II was exclusively
used for workshops. The circular build
inc was three stories high. with three
ranges If galleries extending from one *
tremity the other. The twOupper stories
were used for lodgng-room5 and the nos
ptal, &c, and the lower for workshops
ana cells
The prisoners were collected in
the outer yard. and there waite until the
gate was thrown open.
CoNyIcTs TAKEN OUT UNDER GUARD.
In the mean time the Public Guard and
n body of citizens sufficiently strong 10
prevent oscape having arrived. the gate
was opened and they were passed out.
30 great had been their terror that
not q single motion OF mutinr had
been observed. They were AL rs quiet
and as orderly "a Sabbath cOngre2 "a
ton, 50 completely had the rage Of
tho master element cOWcd tue Te-olG-
ton of the most determined among hem.
When assembled outside their demeGnor
continued TO be perfectly uulet and suo-
mlssve, and they were all, 10 tue number
of 2li. marched of without the slightest
difficulty 10 the place assigned for them.
The women. eleven IN number, were
placed IN toe old barracks. which stood
where the Bell House nOw stands, AZ the
southwestern corner of the Capitol. The
men were marched into the area OF the
CAPITOL and guards were placed over both.
In the meantime the flames continued TO
progress with fearful rapi ilty. and the eN-
citement natural to the occasion was reused
70 the most terrible intensity ny q cry
winch spread among the crowd that some
of the prisoners were still Locked up III
their cells
"FOR GODS SAKE, LIT Us SAVE THEM.
Avell of agony issued from the vast assem-
blage: Let us save them; for Gods sake
let Us save them. is there no one here to
save these Wretched beings - There was
among the crowd IF spectators Il young
man IN the prime of lie, wh1 was neither
an officer nor "a seeker Of Office, and had
only become known by his daring exer
tons IN the cause of humanity on seye-
raj previous occasions. The name Of
TINS Young man was Samuel Free
man. He neither shouted nor wrung his
hands uor expressed any great sympathy
for the doomed cOnylcts, nor gave any
other sign that he was more than OTdina-
rily moved. but selZing the proper tools,
he rushed through fire, smoke. and
crashing timbers. regarding the latter "a
they fell around him no more than II they
had been thlstle-dOwn or snOW-nakes.
The intrepldity of this daring man electri-
fed the crowd. On be pushed. Soon the
noise of his powerful blows rose above the
Internal din that rOared around. He
has succeeded. he has cut through
the wall. he drags one wretched
t. assist him, by the collar into
the yard-he leaves him TO others-he
plunges still deeper into the ilames-and
soon energies with another victim whom
he mas rescued from the most terrible OF
deaths A hundred voices cry out to him
t. pause-that another essay will be GER
tain ieath. He heeds them not proba-
by does not even hear them. He listens
alone To the voice Of humanity. and that
voice calls 10 HIM from the midst OF tho
flames. 4 third time he essays, aud third
time. blackened aud scorched almost out
of the sembauce OF q human being, sue
ceeds IN giving life TO fell0w-creature.
HIS MISSION FULLY ACCOMPLISHED.
Nor Is he vet satisfied. In spite Of the
increasing danger. ne explores the very
bowels of tho burning he'll. calling aloud
on the prisoners, and never leaving his
periious mission unll II has been 1ully ac-
cOmphshed. Sucn are the deeds tnat do
honor 10 our nature-such Is the stun OF
which heroes are made. Samuel Free
man. ON that night of terror, was
as much the hero rs was Lawrence
when he fell on the deck Of the Chesa-
peake. or Burroughs When he breathed his
last with the flag of his country waving
III triumph over MS head. We are pleased
to say that he still lives. and that there is
not brisker step or llvellef manner TO oe
seen on our streets than that which DIS
tugulshes the veteran Captain sam.
Freeman. Time has land bis hand gently
upon him, and ms benevolent heart has
kept hun 50 clear OF the envy, malice, ami
Observation-Disclosures so natural 10 man anu 80