The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-05-03
APENlTENTlARY FIRE.
A II tai Loss OF Nearly @a6, ,OO0-The State
Renvv

cry mill within the walls Of the State
Penitentiary was destroyed by fire yes
terday afternoon between and z
o'clock. Nothing was saved but lot
Of hose. The fire was too fierce and
spread too quickly to permit anything
to be done and very little to be saved.
1t was the hottest and most stubborn
fire which Columbia firemen have been
called on to battle with In years.
The mill ls worked by convicts with
the exception OF probably twenty free
stopped zach afternoon at 8 o'clock.
The convicts are given their supper IN
tin pals and are then put into their
cells. When the machinery was shut
down yesterday afternoon at the usual
hour there was no fire In any depart
ment. The only person who remained
In the building longer than 6 o'clock
were Foreman Bald win, Mr.. Roe and q
white life term convict named Short. It
was the business Of the the convict to
lock the doors and see that everything
was all right.
Twenty minutes after 6 o'clock, while
Bookkeeper Burris was In the prison
yard, he saw smoke issuing from the
upper windows Of the building, which
was three. story brick structure, form
Ing aportion Of the Western wall Of the
prison. The building Is we'll known to
every person who has visited the Peni.
tentitary.
MT. Burris quickly gave the alarm,
notifying Captain Allen, who was in
the convict barber shop. Captain Allen
rushed to the building and was fol-
| lowed by several of the conyicts who
are allowed the privileges Of the yard.
The door Leading to the second and third
stories was knocked down and Captain
Allen and the convicts rushed up the
steps. They were forced to return at
once as the building was full Of smoke.
II was ascertained, however, that the
tire had been started In the toilet room
IN the second story Of the mill. There
was nothing inhammable in the room,
but 1t could have been saturated with
oil. After it started aad began to
spread there was plenty to feed the
| flames.
The fact that the building was burn
Ing was telephoned to the city, but the
alarm was late in being given. The
tiremen answered promptly, however,
the Columbia Company being the first
on the ground, followed by the Inde.
pendents. Long lines Of hose were
quickly stretched, being attached to
hydrants In the prison yard. 1t was
|
gotten on the flames. 1t was then too
late and the water had no effect. The
lire was SO hot that streams had to be
turned on the hospital building, over q
hundred yards away, to keep 1t from
catching ire. The flremen worked hard
and faithfully, but there was no possi-
BILE chance Of saving the building.
The walls fell In with a crash, MAX
Ing the work dangerous for the flremen.
Some OF the con VictS worked shoulder
to shoulder with the firemen, lending
assistance In holding the nozzles and
pulling the hose from point to point.
Only afeW convicts were at liberty,
however, the majority having been
locked up In tue big prison building at
the Eastern side Of the yard. This
building was never In danger. A con-
vict Is suspected of having set fire to
the mill. There Is nOt much ground
for the suspicion except that he was the
last person IN the building. l. is rot
known how the fire could have origi-
| mated In an accidental manner
The building was owned BY the State
and was worth not less than $1,000.
Nearly 81 600 had recently been expend-
ed on 1t In repairs. A new roof was
put on and much monty spent In i'm
provements on the inside. There was
not cent or insurance on the building,
In addition to this the State loses at
81 500 In machinery. A ten-horse power
and twenty-hor power engine be-
longing to the State were DESTROYED,
besides two electrict dynamos and a lot
of shafting, betting, etc. The State
merely furnished the motive power for
the mill. The State, therefore, sustains
clear loss Of fully $12,5OO. About ten
days ago an elec; ric dynamo, valued at
5000, was put In the mill. A year ago
third story was added 10 the struc-
ture.
The hosiery mill was established years
ago. 1t was run with varied success
until Captain J. M. Graham bought the
| machinery and began to operate It,
He leased the convicts to run it from
the State and did large business
throughout the South. A II the machin-
| cry belonged to him. He had heavy
stock Of goods on hand and the loss on
the stock was great. The total loss sus
tained by Mr. Graham Is estimated at
$12 900, $4,000 being on machinery and
$3, ,OCO on the stock. Mr.. Graham had q
total Of $4,000 insurance Register.
StNlo u Train.