New-York tribune., 1899-04-21
PATIENTS SAVED FROM FIRE
BRAVE CONDUCT OF CONVICTS ON
BLACKWELLS ISLAND.

rHEY RUSH THROUGH FLAMES AND SMOKE
TO CARRY OUT INMATES OF THE PRISON
HOSPITAL, WHICH IS BURNED-CoM-
MISSIONER LANTRY GLAD IT IS DE-
srRoYED. AS IT WAS FIRETRAP.
There are some men among the convicts on
'Blackwells Island who showed yesterday that
cowardice at least is not numbered among
-their shortcomings. when they rushed fearessly
into the prison hospital and carried out on their
backs six female and twelve male patients
Through flames and smoke. These convicts were
working about the grounds. when at $50 o'clock
fire was discovered on the fourth or top floor Of
the southern end of the big building. just over
the main entrance. This where the sick
prisoners lay Matron Sullivan who first saw
the flames at once informed Deputy Warden
Murphy and an alarm was sent in. Murphy
then turned his attention to getting out the pa
tients He called 10 the convicts who were out
doors at the time. and about a dozen or them
responded with alacrity. They and half dozen
keepers no less brave. rushed up the three hights
of stairs and found the sick ones gaspins with
the thick smoke which filled the rooms. They
were badly scared also
The rescuers soon got to them. and each hois'-
ing a patient on his back. bore them downstairs
70 safety and laId them out on blankets on the
grass
by this time the flames were attacking the
roof fercely. and had ascended the cupola. IL
was feared that the convcts in the penitentiary
building might make dash for liberty but
they showed no disposition to do Nothing
broke out but the fire 1t is doubtful II the
prisoners would have left the island II they
rf,bo fOO interested
scene They were all allowed TO go out upon
the lawns though many stayed inside the burn
ing building until II safe 10 remain no
longer and they threw out of the windows
large quantity Of clothing and other goods
Asa precaution. Acting Captain Lantry. OF the
East Fifty -frst-st. police station. went over 70
lthe island with the reserves Of his precinct ana
those of the East Sixty -seventh-st station, pue
they found nothing TO do
After the fire had been burning about twenty
minutes the cupola fell with crash upon the
roof which gave way and both went down
together upon the floor where the cots OF the
patients still stooo- ~,
40 which is stationed the island responded
quickly. One call a year is high record tor
that company. but IL was READY. Inc Wat1Iss
supply ig poor there and they propaply couIu
have done little had not the freboat Rave
meyer come 10 their assistance. The Cnariues
Department boat Thomas s. Brennan also to0h
across Engine No. 26 from East Twenty-slxt-
st They all did good work Captain boyitoi
men fought the flames from the ROOF OF @ tne
penitentiary building adjoining. ana as .le
hospital building was of stone and lron' the
flames were subdued before they could spread
Nobody was hurt and the loss will be ABOUT
$4,000. ,,, mas
The third floor Of the burned building was
used as a chapel, kitchen and sewing room rms
was burned out completely. The second moor
contained the living rooms OF the deputy
den and the matron. These were badly Dam Gam
aged by water, as were the rooms on the nrst
floor which were used offices.
The cause Of the fire is unknown Deputy
Warden Murphy says he thinks eiectrlc wires
lstarted It. An investigation will be begun at
ronce. ,
The Commissioner of Correction. Francis j.
Lantry arrived the island soon a1ter the
fire was discovered. and remained unti II was was
under control. II am glad the building was
burned" said he, "and / thank COD that IL
burned in daylight. 1t was only question Oh
time until fire would destroy the place as II
was the worst sort OF firetrap | have mace
repeated attempts TO get the building made fire.
proof but could not convince the city authori-
ties of its need. More than that, / never was
able 10 get them to increase the water supply.
This has been and is now entirely inadequate
Had It not been for the ireboat there would
have been a great loss. AS 1t is now, there is
really no loss, for the building was worthless
or. worse than that. dangerous. 1t VIII cost
about S200O to replace II with modern struct
ure. / had saved some money from my allow
ance. and had put in the elevator Had 1t not
been for this avenue of escape, some lives would
certainly have been lost. The cOnvicts did
nobly In their efforts 10 save the patients. They
proved. after all. that they men like the
rest OF u.s. and willing to risk their lives
when the crisis presented itself The fire ap
pears TO have started in the kitchen 1t found
its way TO the roof through a defective f1ue.
The kitchen should never have been under the
tsick wards. and will not be when the new build
ing Is put up I trust this may be warning
ito the city authorities. and that they will see
10 the improvement OF the water supply"