New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-01

THE BAKEHOUSE AND ADMINISTRATORS
BUILDING DAMAGED TO THE EN-
TENT or $4,000

fire occurred at Sing Sing Prison AZ 2;O
o'clock yesterday morning which proved 70 be the
most destructive I'm the history Of the in.N'"'l"h'
The alarm was given by Waterman IN FACTORY
south Of the prison. who saw the flames coming
from the bakehouse and storeroom. Warden
Johnson was aroused and the great whistle OF the
prison engine room sounded the alarm but It WAS
nearly an hour before the volunteer department
was able to reach the flames with water Inc
flames spread rapidly from the bakehouse ana
storcroom until the cornice and roof or the ne"
Administration Building began 10 blaze and the en-
tire roof and the hospital which IS situated on the
top noor were destroyed causing a total estimated
loss to all the buildings Of $4,000 The state car
ries no insurance on prison property
The cause Of The fire Is a mystery TO al the
officials. Warden Johnson SAID yesterday that ne
did not believe II was the work Of an incendlaTy'
lie thought that as there was fire in the furnaces
Of the bakchouse It must have started there
in the prison hospital were twenty-ninc invalid
prisoners. md they were speedily removed TO tho
main prison where there was number Of vacant
cells Several Of tho sick tainted in the arms OF
tho Keepers ana one prisoner. suffering from heart
failure was believed 20 have died. but he rallied
and IS still living The furnishings Of the hos
pi;al are a total loss. The hospital was con-
sidored the most complete Of any connected with
institutions Of this kind IN the State. DR. Irvine
the prison physician lost all his clothing. save the
suit he wore
The Administration Building stands next 70 the
wardon's office. and southwest Of the main prison
where a thousand convicts were locked IN th'ir
cells The alarm given by the great whistle
aroused tho convic,s and the yell OF "fire'
Fire. rang through the corridors The men
were panic stricken. and shook the iron doors of
their cells demanding that they be freed from all
danger Of the flames. Warden Johnson ana PIN
cpal Keeper Connaughton ran through the prison
and 10 the cells assuring the men that they were
free from all danger. They We're reluctant to be-
neve this but after repeated assurances from
these officials they We're quoted.
The Administration Building where the heaviest
loss was sustained has been built FOR four years
and was "A model building Of the kind. II cost
10000 and most Of the work was done under the
direction Of the late John Y. Mckane. II con-
tains besides the prison hospital the two chapeS-
one Protestant and one Catholc-and the mess
room. The outside walls are OF hrebrlck. ana
there 10 considerable woodwork IN the Interior The
chapes are adorned with artistic pillars and wood
carvings. The loss to the walls by the abundance
Of water Will be considerable and II VIII require
much labor 10 get them back again into their
former beautiful condition
so conyicts were allowed 10 assist IN putting ont
the flames although IT, prison Dris"nc Tno dny
time begged - be- allowed 10 help the hi'nfn ne
officials 20 press them INTO service on Sh'h la't
morning. The Sing Sing Fire Department did not
Warden Johnson teleeraphed Tor assistance rom
Tarrvtovn and Pcckskil. and they responded
promptly ana ala good service TN keeping the
aamcs in check The building where The con
dcrnucd mcu arc confined awaiting the electric
chair is only thirty icct cast rom me pax ,uu,.i
but the direction ~ the wind which pie" t9waIa
the river saved that building Tho men could near
the rafting Of the umhcts as me haInes con,
summed them. but isolated as they were they were
John Curtiss ex-chief Of the Sing Sing Fire De-
parfment. was struck on the head by a falling
brick but was out OF all danger last night