The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-14
FIRE AT PENlTENTlARY.
The Administration Building and Main Cell
Building Destroyed.
THERE WERE NO FATALITIES OR INJURED
Loss Is Only About Thirty Thousand
Dollurs-None of the Con-
victs Escaped.

Huntsville, Texas, February lS.-Fire
this morning destroyed tho penitentiary
administration and cell buildings. Tho
men are at work and everything going
smoothly. No casualties. Loss not over
$50, 600, II that.
The burning OF tho penitentiary cells
and general Offices this morning caused
much excitement, not only because OF the
fact OF tho fire itself, but because Of the
fear OF a general escape OF convicts The
prisoners were greatly alarmed and were
calling Justify for aid.
Assistant Superintendent j. G. Smithcr
had them unlocked from their cells in
short order. quieting heir fears, when
they marched out into the yard and stood
in line, not one making the least effort
| to escape.
The Are was discovered at 5,45 o'clock
In the penitentiary in what was known as
the school building, which has been used
as cell building. On account OF the
Thermometer being at zero II was impcs-
sible 10 get water to play on the flames.
| Tho fire spread very slowly, but as there
| was no water tho main cell building was
| destroyed, as well as the main admins
| tratlon building.
| The fire was caused by defective fue.
| After about one hour the MIGRANTS were
thawed out by pouring hot waters on them
| and then the tire wac checked, saving the
| hospital, dining hall and chapel, 40. n
| ing t.e part that was destroyed. The
| wallis and foundation OF the burned puild-
| ings can be used again.
All factories were started only thirty
minutes late and men were fed on TIME.
No one hurt In any way.
The greatest trouble was experienced
in keeping half dozen crazy men, who
were in the yard, from running into lhe
fire. large number OF citizens assisted
Ia guarding the outer side, where tho
fire made nm opening TO tho street Tho
single guards roomcd NJ stairs near the
Offices between the cell buildings, and
on being aroused they shouldered their
guns and went immediately to places
where they could assist in holding the
convlcts; many OF them lost their trunks
and other possessions, mono stopping 4.
SEQ after personal effects, which were
lost. The convicts today were loud in
their praise Of the assistant superinten-
dent, feeling rejoiced that not one was
hurt.
But for the wator pipes being frozen,
been esaily stonped Tonight the prison.
ers are quartered IN the hospital, dining
room. chapel and other available places.
IL Is just twenty years last month since
the superintendent's residence and store
house we're burned and the new cell build
ings were erected shortly after that time
as soon as the fire stopped. arrange
ments were begun TO rebuild.
Only one cell escaped burning.
Tho cell buildings were erected in 1882
the contract price being sa6,S59S5. They
we're OF brick,the east wing being of three
stories OF cells and the west wing four
stories OF cells. The structure WAS s07 feet
6 Inches by 10 feet 8 inches. There were
forty-four cells 10 the story, or 3os cells.
Attut 600 convictE were 'incprcernted In
the penirentiary.
The pepiteniary grounds embrace about
ten acres. The administration building
and the cell buildings arc in front, Imme-
diotely In the rear OF the cell buildings
are the chapel. kitchen and dining room
building and the hospital building. and In
tho rear of them are the shops. The
grounds are surrounded by massive
wall.
Each cell Is exsxs, and is made to ao-
commodate two prisoners.