The Topeka state journal., 1901-03-01
A HEAP OF RUINS.
Nebraska Penitentiary Buildings
Destroyed by Fire.
The Loss Is Estimated at $780,
OOO-NO Insurance.
STARTED IN KITCHEN.
Beyond Control When the Lin
coin Department Reached 1t.
COnYicts Lined up in StOckade
Under Extra Guard.
'TARTED in KITCHEN.


ka state penitcntiary is in ruins
A fire which started at midnight last
night destroyed the cell house and the
entire main building, and the loss viii
not be less than S30O.0O0 and viii prob
ably exceed thst amount. The building
was practically naw. The only building
saved was the east wing, occupied by
the warden. the chapel and small re-
serve cell room. Precautions have been
taken to guard the prisoners who were
removed under extra guard without dif-
fculty. Lieutenant Governor Savage
has arranged to have a sufficient number
of the National Cruaru sent to the pepi-
tentiary to prevent any escapes being
made.
Davis himself shortly before midnight.
he being aroused by the cracking ~
flames and smell OF smoke.
The alarm was Immediately given
conVicts. guards and employees aroused
and appeal teiephoned the Lincoln
fire department for help. The convicta
were ordered to ciCthe themselves apd iu
their prison garb were marshaled into
the huge cour5 yard. where two hours
later they Were sill standing IN a long
double line to he number Of nearly 300
under the espionage Of a score Of armed
guards patroling on the top of the wall
surrounding the court yard.
The main building and west cell house
both of which are three-stOry stone
structures. are q LOIHl loss. IlE FORMER
about 4)xS0 feet and the latter 50x120 feet
in dimensions The warden and his inn
mediate aids made quick work OF re-
moving the books, records and papers
of the institution TO a place Of safety.
Nothing else of vslue was saved from
the burning structures.
The room where the fire originated
was a kitchen for the wardens apart
ments. 1t was loc2red 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. sradually eatiug their
way westward thf Ougn the cell house
and eastward through the main build
ing The Lincoln fire department re-
and two streams from the pond We're
soon playing on the flames with the
effect. however. Of only temporarily
checking their spread
After ii was seen that the major por-
ton of the building was doomed to de-
structiOn. all efforts were concentrated
on the east end OF the building, occu-
pied iJy the deputy warden the chapel
and containing a reserve cell room The
WOOdw ork in this portion OF the building
was thoroughly soaked and the firemen
inally succeeded IL saying It.
1t was impossible this morning to esti-
mate accurately the probable amount of
the damage, hut it is thought will
amount to S300O0o.
All bedding and extra clothing was
destI Dyed, and il is probable that until
permanent quarters can be provided the
convicts will have to sleep in tents
Company F of the Nebraska National
Guard left for the scene at $3.50 this
morning under orders from Lieutenant
Governor Savage. acting governor in the
absence of Cover nor Dietrich.
Warden Davis fook charge Of the in
stitution February 16. None Of the
property was insured
Il hare no opinion to offer regarding
the origin Of the flames" said Warden
Davis Several trustv cOnvicts who
served under former Warden Hopkins
prepared supper for my family in the
room at 5 o'clock. but all Of them retired
the fire started is moro than / can tell "
It is believed the east wing. though
badly damaged. can be used as a tempo-
rary housing place for the 2Ss convicts.
The stocFade walls remain intact
The prisoners were apparently the
least concerned Of all the excited men
when the fire was raging most furiOusiyf
and never was body of supposed law
less men mora tractable and orderly
when the panic was at its height Per
feet prison discipline was maintained
and not a convict was injured. The
casualties among the fire fighters was
confined to slight burns or bruises The
fire -w zs- discoVerci bv Mrs. Davis. wife
cf the warden. who detected the pres
ence of smoke shortly before midnight
News of the,-ire caused great excite
ment in the city. heightened by baselcss
reports Of loss Of life. mutiny and the
escape Of many COnVicts. SO far as can
be learned every prisoner and prison at-
tache is accounted for. The legislature
being IN session. IT is believed early ac-
ton viii be taken to make provision 70
meet The emergency. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Sewage has notified by wire Gov
ernor Dietrich. who is on his way to
WASHINGTON to attend the inauguration.
When a search was made 0f the r.ina
Of the west cell house at the burned state
prison this morning the remains Of Geo
Paeuger was discovered ia his CELL He
had been released with tins other con~
victs from the building and had march
ed out with them, but had gone DaciS
to get some personal cTectE. Two fellow
convicts told Deputy wa den welsh
that Pfeuger- had come back but this
proved mistake. Pneuger was sent
from Cunning county Tor life six and a
half years ago for the murder Of Lis
wife