Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-08-07

There was a pitiab,e and unfortunate
affair at the Jail, yesterday, which very
nearly resulted in tho death Of Harry
J. Fink. who is in confinement on a
warrant charging that he is OF unsound
mind.
The unfortunate young mans lie was
saved by very close work on ;he part OF
a prisoner named Williams, but he was
very badly burned, while the whole III
terror of the padded cell in which he
had been placed but few hours before
was consumed.
Mr.. Fink. who has been in The real
estate business on Market street, for
several years. and who is very WEI.
known. having been born and r. sed
on the Island, was taken into c4sJous
about a week ago, after Iansac,lo1
showing mental irresDons!DH-ty' anu
has since been held in coniiaelheh'
neDding the disposition OF lis case
physicians have made two eXamlua-
rion.s as to his menta, condition, Gut "l
TO Yesterday morning no definite con-
clus.On had been arrived al.
Yesterday morning Fink played sew
eral tricks upon other prisoners WllcA
tbev did not take kindly to, and one o.
them BACKED his eyes t5E nm. III.
was placed in q cell near the s2utn t-o
of the main cell building, on the lower
FER on the west side. and While there
he obtained some matches from the cell
of a prisoner named Mckay ana
ser fire to the bed clothing and ms
own clo-hes He was rescued from IA,
cell and the fire put out, and as be coul'
NOT wei be controlled and the officers
were afraid he would do himself some
further injury, h was placed IN a PAD
ded cell in the northern portion cI the
9eDarrment reserved for prisoners.
There are a number of these padded
cells. located under The main Office, ana
-his departmeu. IS cat of from The gen
cral space reserved for prisoners by q
heavy wall. i'm which there is an IRON
door. A passage way runs along north
Of this wall. between it and the cslls,
permit-ing access 10 all Of them. and a
complete circuit Of that particular de-
partment. These cells are entirely COW
cred. inside. with heavy duck, behind
which excelsior is tightly Wedged in
large quantities. with the view OF max
ing it impossible for a prisoner OF un-
sound mind 10 injuTe himself, no mat
Ter how yiolea, he may become.
When Fink was placed in one Of these
cells p AhaVed fairly Well for q time,
according to statements made by OFF,
cials and prisoners, buJ about half past
three o'clock be found another match,
whether i'm his own clothing or in the
cell could rot be asceroained y sterday
and set fire to the padding. In mo-
nenr his cell was filled with a dense
volume of smoke. when extend TO the
rassagaw2y separating the padded cells
| from the main cell room. and soon made
| It's appearance in the latter aPpartma Mt
! The prisoners at once gave the alarm
and in q moment The key of he iron
| 6oor was procured from The Office and
! Che door thrown open a binding cloud
! Of smoke and fame burst out into the
main cell room. but man named VIII
| jams. serving q term for assault and
battery plunged through it mo The
passage way. opened The door of FiDk's
cell ana dragged him out. links cloth
/ ing was in a bIaZ and he was very
badly burned abou, the hands. wris s.
neck. SAGE and head; his musJache and
eyebrows were gone, his hair s.nged
and blood was starting through the skin