The daily Republican., 1902-12-01
0RIGIN0F FW0RKHOUSE
FIRE YET A MYSTERY
TRUSTEES OF THE INSTITUTION AT THE BURNED
BUILDING THIS AFTERNOON. TO
REBUILD THE STRUCTURE
ACTUAL LOSS TO COUNTY NOT YET FIXED

Chief of Police Black aud fifty
patrolman in ehlrge Of Captain
Charles e Evans were on the
ground by this time and as the fire
was eating its way to the western
section tile prisoners were removed
through the tunnel to tn. post and
pillorv yard under the charge of
the police aud we're kept there un-
der guard. While they were being
taken through the tunnel, David,
alias "Blck" Cunningham made
an attempt to escape. Knocking
down one of The "trusties,' he
passed the guard and was going
out the front door when Osfic.r Hat
ton stopped him. AS Cunningham
turned he was knocked down by
Officer Pierce. lie then walked
toward the other prisoners and 60
ing into one Of War den Meserve's
rooms plunged headIoremost through
Il window and escaped.
The prisoners spent their time in
the plllory yard, dancing and singing
songs. Two barrels OF apples that
were carried through the tunnel by
the flood of water caused a SC rambe
among the prisoners When the fire
caught the section occupied by the
women prisoners, Assistant Matron
Smith removed them to the WarJen's
quarters and later they were taken
to the plllory yard.
During the course Of the FIRE the
flames leaped into the air distance
OF fifty feet. The fire was visible fer
a distance Of TWENTY-FIVE m es.
Teams kept pouring in during the
evening aud with those who went
from this citv there were about 5000
persons present. Thousands Of Will
mingtonians viewed the ruin again
yesterday.
WARDEN MESERvE TALKS
Warden Mes,rve in an interview
related the incidents surrounding the
out break of fire lie told Of its being
discovered by Mrs. Smith shortly
before :lock, and Of his baking
ln immediate Investigation. The
prisoners do not use The workrooms
on Saturday afternoon because OF
cleaning them. The fire, he sal d,
was discovered near the pressing
tables. Guard Campbell. wls in the
room where the fire Started, about
1. 80 o clock in the afternoon, and
everything was apparently in good
shape at that time. Warden Messrve
was greatly agitated at the destruc-
ton Of the institution in which he
had taken such great pride. Mrs.
Meserve was almost prostrated by
the shock and on Saturday night
went to the home Of John McElwee
nearby for rest.
Trustee J. Frank Ball to report
er of THE DAILY REPUBLICAN said
Saturday night This is a terrible
loss. 1t affects me as if il were ap
individual one. Here is this model
Institution burning down just at the
time it was beginnlug to demon.
strate its usefulness. We cannot tell
what caused the fire. As soon as il
started | received q message and
arrived here on the first car. The
eastern wing was then burning
tiercely. We took the twenty prls-
ouers from the eastern section to the |
main cell department. Walking In
among the prisoners who were agi-
tated Warden Meserve and |
gave the men assurance that we
would keep them out CT danger. I
can never forget that volume of fire
that swept from the eastern wing
through the central section. Seeing
that the fire was eating away the
ceiling and that the tongues of fire
were coming our way, We decided TO
remove the prisoners to the stock
ade. Chief Black and his fifty Of
hcers are deserving of the highest
praise for the assistance rendered.
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