Evening star., 1897-07-29
GIRL INMATES CONSPIRED
Fire at Reform School the Result Of In
oe1diarAm.
Omcial Report Made by Herbert w
8
Lewis, superintendent of Charities
The Trustees Concur.

The superintendent oficharities, Mr.. Her
bert w. Lewis. today made his report to
the Commissioners of the recent fire at the
girls reform school. He says there was
evidently conspiracy to burn the school.
His report in full is as follows:
Il have made careful inquiry regarding
the circumstances attending the fire which
occurred at the reform school for girls, the
evening of the 10th instant, and in response
to the request received from the president
of the board Of Commissioners. I have the
honor of submitting the following report:
Shortly before o'clock the evening of
the Goth instant, while the inmates of the
school were preparing for supper, the alarm
of fire was given by child, who had been
sent to the laundry an errand. Miss
Rule, the superintendent, was absent. and
the institution was in charge Of Miss Rear
don. the school teacher. Hasty examina-
tion revealed the fact that the inside of
the laundry room was burning, and that
the fire had made such Roadway before II
was discovered that the entire building was
in the greatest danger. The three men
employed about the place instantly re-
sponded to calls for help. The matron and
teachers assembled the inmates on the
lawn in front of the building and did what
they could to prevent the outbreak of dam
gerouS excitement. Two girls who had
been locked in cells We're promptly released.
Precautions Taken.
'1t appearing likely that the fire would
spread to all parts of the building, the
Office and parlor furniture and fixtures
from the front part of the building were
removed by the girls under direction OF
the officers in charge.
1.-The upper floors of the building are sup
piled with hose kept attached to pipes
communicating with the water supply.
This fire, however originated in the base
ment. which is not so supplied, and the fire
hose could not be brought into use. A
small hose was secured and attached to
water pipe in the basement, and with this
Mr.. Schaffer, the overseer, crept under the
sitting smoke into the burning room, where
he remained until the fire was under con-
troll. The two other men gave valuable as
sistance
After the return Of the girls to the
house, and upon calling the roll, 1t was
discovered that five were gone. Word was
at once sent to the police department, and
other efforts made to recover the abscond-
ers. with the result that all were returned
within twenty-four hours.
Conspiracy Formed.
II visited the school, in company with
Maj Frank Strong and Mr.. Chaplin Brown
of the board of trustees. After looking
over the building and grounds and putting
the girls who escaped through a searching
examination, we quite agree that there was
a conspiracy TO Durn the DululIS, III WHICH
all the girls who escaped, and possibly
Others, We're implicated Four of the girls
unite in saying that the fire was actually
started by Katie Tillman, the youngest of
the five. although they all deny having
seen her do it. it is certain that they
talked about setting the place on fire for
several days before the plan was carried
out, and that they hoped for the destruc-
ton of the institution in order that they
should no longer be confined in it. One girl
says the object was to set at liberty two
inmates who were in punishment cells.
THE child who is accused Of starting the
fire is about twelve years old, and has no
criminal record, while the others in the
conspiracy are from fifteen to twenty years
Of age, and at least one Of them has
criminal record.