New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-20
LIVELY TIMES IN SING SING
THE PRISONS BIG WHISTLE SCARED THE
VILLAGE.

A PRISONER TRIED TO CREMATE HIMSELF. a
FOUNDRY cuPoLA CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENGI-
NEER LOST HIS HEAD AND WARDEN
SAGE LOST Ills SLEEP.
Warden o. " Sage Principal Keeper Connaugh-
ton and the keepers and guards in Sing sing Prison
had lively time Wednesday night. In fact. there
was more excitement In the prison In a few hours
than there has been since Warden Sage TOOK
charge of the big institution about year ago
After the prisoners had been locked up Tor the
night and Warden Sage and his family had retired
leaving the prison In charge OF the night guards,
the first thing to disturb the quiet was the yelling
of the convicts on the top tier Of the prison They
had discovered fire In the cell of Charles NalDurg,
who had been in prison since August 10 last The
noise attracted the attention of the guards. They
found Walburg had set fire TO the bedding IN his
cell with his kerosene lamp. and then had jumped
into the flames. The cell of Walburg quickly
opened and he was dragged Off the burning bed.
More guards went into the cell and put
out the fire. When Waburg taken out
Of the cell his clothing a of flames.
The flames were extlngulshed and he was hastily
sent to the hospital on the prison grounds. DR..
Irvine. the prison physician. called. and found
that he had been rightfully burned about the face
head, hands and body. His eyes were BABY burned
The man died yesterday.
After the fire In the cell had been extngulshcd
the usual quiet again prevailed about the prison.
The Warden went back TO his apartments, Dut ne
not allowed TO remain long In bed.
The convcts were nearly all asleep when they
were suddenly startled by the blowing of the big
whistle at 2:3O O'Clock yesterday morning. First
there one long. loud blast, which was fol-
lowed by four short blasts. This indicated that
there had been an escape at the prison. but this
wrong. People Of the village To the number
Of about 800 dressed themselves and FASTENED to the
prison. They made Inquiries and learned that in
stead Of being escape there a small fire one
of the keepers had found the cupOla OF the foundry
in the north end OF the grounds, on fre He pulled
the string which connects with the small whistle
In the apartments OF Warden Sage. The latter for
the second time hurriedly dressed himself and
pulled the cord connecting with the engine room
TO order the engineer to blow the big whistle an
nOuncing that there a fire. This signal was
long, loud toot and three small, quick blasts
The engineer down in the boiler-room became ex-
cited and pulled the whistle four short times which
indicated an escape. Then he recovered his nerve
and pulled the whistle for one long and three short
blasts.
The people. when they heard the whistle blown for
the second time. thought that there had also been
fire and an escape in the prison. The fremen re-
sponded quickly 10 the alarm of fire. and the flames
in the cupola were put out without much damage
The fire had been caused by the furnace having be-
come overheated and setting fire to the woodwork
around the furnace.
The convicts did not appear frightened by the
blowing OF the big whistle When the small fire had
been put out the villagers all went back TO their
homes. but Warden Sage did not get much rest dur
ing the remainder of the night
The day guards. who off duty, all hurried
TO the prison on hearing the alarm from the whistle
and they were all armed and ready TO start out to
look for the supposed ped convict After every
thing had become quiet they went 10 their homes.