Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-01
Nebraska's Penitentiary Near Lin
coin Birns 4his Morning.
ONE. CONVICT LOSES His LIFE
Militia Prevents Others From Es-
capingTnthe Confusion.
DAMAGE PUT AT 100000


: March 1-Nebraskas state
penttentiary,. shreesgniles from this city
was almost destroyed BY attire which start
100000
One convict.sGeerge. Pae,iger, lost his life.
He was released. with the other convicts
and had marched seut with@them, but went
back to his cell for some, personal effects.
When the ruins began to- cool off today his
charred body wal found.sS- Pfeuger was
serving a sentence for the murder of his
wife.
There was no disorder among the con-
victs, who were guarded by militiamen has
tily summoned from Lincoln. The main
building Of the penitentiary was practically
new. Nothing was left but the east wing.
occupied by the warden, the chapel and a
small reserve cell room
Every precaution> has been taken to guard
the prisoners who were removed to the
reserve room under extra guard without
difficulty. Lieutenant Governor Savage ar
ranged to have sufficient number of the
national guard sent to the penitentiary to
prevent any escapes being made.
The fire was discovered by Warden Davis
shortly before midnight, when he was
aroused by the cracking Of flames and
odor of smoke. An alarm was Immediately
given, convicts, guards and employees were
aroused and an appeal was telephoned the
Lincoln fire depar trnent for help. The con-
Victs were ordered to clOthe themselves
and were marched into the great court
yard. where, for several hours, 800 of them
were kept standing In a long double line,
under the espionage of score Of armed
guards patrulfing the top Of the wall sur
rounding the yard.
Books and Records Saved.
Warden Davis and his aids made quick
81 <l,A oorIo ND
papers of the institution to a place Of
safety. Nothing else Of value was saved
from the burning structures.
The fire originated in a kitchen of the
wardens apartments, in the upper story of
the main building, almost directly over the
office and near the cell house, running down
from the west end OF the yard.
From the kitchen the flames spread in
all directions, gradually eating their way
westward through..the new cell house and
eastward through: the main building. The
Lincoln fire department responded with
hose carts and steamers, and two streams
from the. pond, were. soon playing on the
flames, with the effect, however, of only
temporarily checking their spread.
After it was seen that the major portion
of the building was doomed all efforts were
concentrated on the east end of the build
ing, occupied by the deputy warden, the
chapel and obtaining a reserve cell room
The woodwork in this portion of the build
ing was thoroughly soaked and the fire
men finally succeeded in saving it.
Bedding and Clothing Burned.
All bedding and extra clothing for the
convcts was destroyed, and it is probable
that until permanent quarters can be pro-
vided the ,coHyicts win have to sleep in
tents. -'f -
81 have no opinion to offer regarding the
origin Of the f1ames.Y said Warden Davis.
Several trustV conviets prepared supper
for my family IN the9room at 6 clock, but
all of them: rsstiredrdo their cells early in
the evening. How the fire started Is more
than | cam tell. Warden Davis took
charge Of the Institution February 16
No complete estimate of the losses has
yet been made 1t Is certain they will
reach 100000 however, with no insur-
ance.
Company f. "a Nebraska National Guard.
was ordered to the scene this morning to
act additional guards for the convicts.
A remarkable feature Of the ruins is that
the great walls of the main building, which
were of thick, heavy stone, crumbe1 like
pulp under the intense heat The actions
Of the prisoners also were remarkable They
were apparently the least concerned of all
the excited men when the fire was at its
height. and never was a body Of supposed
lawless men more tractable and orderly.
Perfect prison discipline was maintained.
Casualties among, the fire fighters were
confined to slight burns or bruises.
Lincoln Department Called Out.
When the flames were discovered a prison
alarm was sounded, and the limited appara-
tus Of the institutions was brought into play.
The Lincoln department was appealed to
and the run Of nearly four miles from the
city was made in good time but when the
department arrived the flames were burst
ing through the roof of the main building.
Warden Davis meantime had ordered the
taken from their cells to the out
side stockade Enclosure and the ward guard
was doubled. A patrol wagon loaded with
policemen from Lincoln assisted In the work
until militiamen arrived.
After four hours the fire was under con-
troll.
News Of the fire caused great excitement
In the city, heightened by baseless reports
Of loss OF life, mutiny and the escape Of
many convicts.
AS the legislature is in session it is be-
lieved that early action will be taken to
provide for new buildings.