The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-03-01
P[NIENI|ARY DESTROYED.

Nebraska State Prison the Prey
of Flames.
LOSS TO TIE STATE $500, 900.
ConNicts Are Hustled From Their Celia
and the lincoln National Guard SUN
m"ned to Corral Them In the Prison
Yard--Aid From Lincoln Arrives
Lincoln, March 1.--Fire which start.
ed i'll the living rooms of the warden
OF the, state penitentiary at midnight
last night destroyed the entire main
building, together with the cell house
and other buildings. Before the flames
had gained u great Roadway Warden
Davis gave orders to release the con.
victs from the cells and march them
under guard to. the prison yard
and there place them under
double guard. The removal was ac.
complished safely and without disor.
der. Extra guards We're also posted
shotguns, with orders to permit no es-
capes. The origin of the fire is I'm.
known. When first discovered the
officers of the institution immediately
set to work all the small fire fighting
apparatus of the prison. Water was
used i'll abundance, but assistance
from the city fire department was
called for and steamer and hose cart
We're dispatched in response to a tele.
phone message. AT 1:40 a. m. the city
fire department arrived and began
throwing water OH the walls The
flames had gained too great Roadway,
however, and the firemen directed
their efforts to saving some of the re.
mote shop buildings. By request OF
the warden, Chief of Police Hoagland
sent all available policemen to aid in
preserving order. Later, as an addi-
tional measure of safety, Lieutenant
Governor Savage, acting in the an
sence of Governor Dietrich, in response
to the suggestion of the warden. cor
dered out the local company of state
militia.
The loss to the state is>over $500, 600
The penitentiary cost S312.OOO orig.
inally, and there have been additions
and improvements since. The number
of inmates averaged 400.
Progress of the Flames.
The fire started from an unknown
cause in the kitchen of the upper story
III the main building near the cell
house at the west end.
The fire was discovered by Warden
Davis himself shortly before midnight,
he being aroused by the cracking of
flames and smell of smoke
The alarm was Immediately given,
convicts, guards, and employees
aroused. The convicts were ordered
to clothe themselves, and, in their pris-
on Sarb, marshaled into the huge court
yard, to the number of nearly 300.
under the espionage of score of
armed guards patrollng on the top of
the wall surrounding the court yard
The emergency guard of the peniten-
flary system was quickly at work With
lines OF hose, but these proved iner-
ficient and a telephone message sum
moned the Lincoln fire department.
All efforts to save the great stone
building were unavailng The con
victs were hustled out into the yard.
armed extra guards stood sentinel on
the walls and the Lincoln National
Guard was ordered out A company
left on a special Burlington train to
guard the convicts.
The warden and his immediate aids
made quick work of removing the
books. records and papers of the insti-
tuition to place of safety. Nothing
else of value was saved from the burn
ing structures.
The main building contained the
chapel. office, library and living apart
ments of the warden and officers.
: 1t is rumOred that several ESCAPES
have been made and that the convicts.
are getting in an ugly mood. but this
report was denied, both by the warden
and several o. re guards
The entire cell house at the west end
is destroyed. The main center build
ing is gone This practically destroys
all the buildings used for the purpose
of a prison.