Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-01
STATE 5 prison BURNS
Nebraska Penitentiary at Lin.
coin Burns to the Ground
This Morning.
One Convict. a Wife Murderer.
Out Of 300, Lost His
Life.
Perfect Discipline Maintained
and Not One Escaped..Loss
100000.

l1lncoln, Neb., March 1.-The Nebras-s
ka state pen:tentiary is in ruins. The
flre which started at midnight last
might destroyed the cell house and the
entire main building and the loss Will
probably exceed $500 900 The building
was practically new. The only building
tsaved was the east wing, occupied by
4 the warden. The chapel and small
reserve cell room were also saved. Pre-
cautiors have been taken to guard the
prisonArs, who We're removed under ex-
ira guard without difficulty. Iieuten-
ant Governor Savage. in the absence of
| Governor Dietrich. arranged TO have az
sufficient number of the National Guard
sent 70 the renitentiary to prevent any
escapes being made. So far as known
There have been none injured and the
prisoners will be provided for in tie re-
serve cell room and in the east wing.
The fire was discovered by Warden
Davis himself Shortly before midnight.
ne being aroused by the cracking of
thames and the smell of smoke.
| The alarm was Immediately given, the
| convicts. guards and employees aroused
and an appeal telephoned to the Lincoln
fire department for help. The coavicts
were ordered to clothe themselves and
IN their prison garb were r1arshaled
into the huge court yard, where two
| hours later they We're still standing In
I long double lii.es to the number of near
isty sos, under the espionage spf a score of
armed guards patrolling on the top of
5he wall surrounding the yard
4 The main building and the west cells
house, both of which are three story
ssone structures, are not q total loss.l
NJ warden and aides made quick worka
I OF removing the books. records ana pa
4 pers q the institution to a place OF sal =
4 ETY. NstNi,ss else of value was saved.i
....-~ ,.4S>s--s.. ~. a8rlr -rsrs.eri .s.-E
nls.rlts 1t Was located in the upper
fry pf ;isa aaln building almost d.
5secsls cver tie o4iee
FreIn the litchen the flames spread in
all directions, gradually eating their
way Westward thru the new cell house
and eastward thru the main building
4 4 The Lincoln fire department responded
! with two steamers and from the pond
Z
the effect of temporarily, checking their
spread.
After 1t was seen that the major por-
l'tion of the building was doomed 10 de-
1 strucsion. all efforts were concentrated
on the east end of the building. occupied
| by the deputy warden, and the cnapel.
IScontaining n reserve cell room. The
woodwork in this portion oe the nuild-
Ing was thoroughly soaked and the fire.
l.mes succeeded in saving it,
All bedding and extra clothing were
! destroyed and it is probable that until
permanent quarters can be provided the
| cenyicts VIII have TO sleep in tents
| Company f. Nebraska National
IsGuard. left for the scene at $50 this
| morning under orders from Lieutenant
i5c;overnor Savage.
None of the properly was insured.
II have nothing TO offer regarding the
l.orisin of the fiames. said Warden
Davis. Several trusty convlcts who
served under former Warden Hopkins.
prepared supper for my family IN the
| room at 6 O'clock. but all of :hem retired
10 their cells early in the evening How
lthe fire started is more than / can tell.'
u Is now believed the east wing. built
| arlgiraiiy as an emergency cell house.
can be used for a temporary housing
lspaee Cor the 2SS convicts. The stockade
walls remain intact and with a dozen
lsarined men patrolling the top, dispels
all fear of attempts TO escape. During
the fire the prisoners seemed the least
concerned of all the excited men. Never
was q hois ot supposed lawless men
more sfac, able ard orderly. When the
eXciternsnt was AT its height perfect
ld!scipl'ns WAS maintained al all times
When search was made of the ruins
lof the Nest cell house this morning the
body Of George Pheuser, under sentence
/ for wifs murder, was discovered in his
cell He was released with the other
eonvicts bus returned to his cell to get
some personal effects.
Is. s. Ogden sentenced.