The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-05-02
A PENiTENTlaRY FIRE.
a :. tai Less Of Nearly SEQ, ooo-The State
Heavy L3ser.

!
Heavy L,ser.
COLUMBIA, S. C, April 26.-The hosi-
cry mill within the walls Of toe State
Penitentiary was DESTROYED by fire yes
terday AFTERNOON between 6 and I
o'clock. Nothing was saved but q lot
of hose. The fire YVES too fierce and
spread toe quickly to permit anything
to be done and very little TO be saved.
1t was the hottest and most stubborn
fire which Columbia iremen have been
called on TO battle with il years.
The mill is worked by couTicts with
the exception of probably twenty free
laborerS, mostly women. All wolk IS
stopped each afternoon at 6 o'clock.
The conVic:s are given their supper ID
tin pals aGd 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
ID the building longer than 6 o'clock
were Foreman Baldwin. Mr.. Roe and a
white life term convict nam ed Short. 1t
was the business Of the the convict to
lock the doors and see that everything
was all right.
Twenty minutes after 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 portion of the Western wall OF the
prison. The building IS we'll known to
every person who has visited the Penl-
tentitary.
MIR. Burris quickly gave the alarm,
notifying Captain Allen, who was IN
the convict barber shop. Captain allen
rushed to tee building and was fol-
lowed by several of the convicts 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 we're forced to return at
once as the building was full of smoke.
It was ascertained, however, that the
| fire had been started IN the toilet room
| in the second story of the mill. There
was nothing iphammsble il the room,
| but it 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 telepuoned to the city, but the
alarm was late in being given. The
fremen answered promptly, however,
the Columbia Company being the first
on the ground, followed by the 1nde-
pendents. Long lines of hose were
quickly stretched, being attached to
hydrants in the prison yard. It was
nearly o'clock before streams were
gotten on the flames. It was then too
late and the water had 10 effect. The
fire was 50 hot that streams had to be
turned on the hospital building, over a
hundred yards away, to keep it from
catching ire. The 6remen worked hard
and faithfully, but there was no posi-
BILE chance Of saving the building.
The walls fell IN with g crash, max
ing The work dangerous for the fremen.
Some of the con eicts worked shoulder
to shoulder with the iremeD, lending
assistance in holding the Iozzles and
pulling the hose from point to point.
Only a few conVicts were at liberty,
however, the majority having been
locked up in the big prison building at
the Eastern side OF the yard. This
building was never n ascGer. I. Goa
vict is suspected of having set fire to
the mill. There is nos muca ground
for the suspicion except that he was the
last person in ths building. It is not
known how the fire could have origi-
mated in an accidental manner
The building wes owned by the State
aud was worth notlsss than $4,000.
Nearly $1,000 had recently been expend-
ed On it in repairs. A pew roof was
put on and much monty spent in in
provements cn the inside. There was
not a cent oticsuraGce on the building.
In addition to this the State loses at
50 500 in machinery. a ten-horse power
and tWenty-hoTsa power engine be-
besides two electrics dynamos and lot
of shafting, betting, etc. The State
merely furnished the motive power for
the mill. The State, therefore, sustains
clear loss of fully S12,500. About ten
days ago an electric dynamo, valued at
$500, was put 10 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. N. Graham bought the
machinery and began to operate 1t.
He leased the convlcts to run it from
the State and did large business
throughout the South. All the machln
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
$4,000, $4,000 being on machinery and
$4,000 on the stock. MIR. Graham had
total Of $4,000 insurance Register.
The Reporter Wins.