Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-20
Blackwell's Island Cor
 victs
SAVED MANY WOMEN
Fire Started in the Sewing House of the Women's Ward Nine- ty-Four Females Rescued
 by Male Prisoners.

New York, Dec 20.-Men forgot that they were conyicts and remembered only that they were men on Black wells Island early to-day, when the male prisoners, marshalled by their keepers into fire fighting and life saving corps, bore from the flaming floors of the women's wards 594 fran tic women and from the hospital beds fifty more.
 Starting in the sewing room of the workhouse and from. cause Which has not yet been definitely decided, the fire reached a fierce blaze at ? o'clock, when it was discovered. The fire en- zine on the island proved inadequate and call for help was sent to the clty department
 Seven engines were sent over, but were not sufficient to save the womens workhouse from destruction.
 On the top floor of this building were cells for the women, aud every one held one or two prisoners when the fre occurred. These women became iran tic with fright and were soon choking with the dense smoke that filled all the halls and their cells.
 That many of them did not perish is due to the recent installation of q system by which in emergencies every cell in tier can be opened simultane- ously with all the others.
 When the extent and danger of the blaze became apparent the warden marshalled his regular fighting force of employees and soon all were at work.
 The flames spread so fast, however, that this force proved hopelessly made quate Then it was decided to trust to the male prisoners sense of manhood, and they bore the test well.
 Released from their cells and mar shalled into small bodies, they entered the burning building and went at the work of fire fighting and rescue with utter disregard of the danger to them- selves.
 The flames were cracking all about them and they plunged through the dense smoke when they brought out in their arms the last of the women pris' oners.
 The fire bells and the shouts of the men at work could be heard all owe, tue island and In the hospitals and buildings of the other institutions there was a panic which was quieted i. with difficulty by the nurses, physi. cians and keepers. The fire was con fined to the women's workhOuse.
 Although only part or the conviets were used in rescuing the women. those who remained locked in their cells made frantic appeals to be al lowed to help As the screams of the women penetrated to their cells some of the convicts fell upon their knees, beating the bars with their fists, and implorlng the guards to let them out to fight the fire. When this was refused they begged that at least the guards go to the rescue promising that they would be their own jailers.
 The fire lasting over two hours and consuming all the women's prisop the hospital and half of the workhovse lighted up the shores of Long Island and the shipping for miles up and down the East river. The wOodworS in the workhouse being fifty years old burned almost like paper. For the first two hours only one fire engine and fireboat fought the flames, because there was no ferry boat available tc carry engines from Manhattan across the river to Blackwell's Island. The ferry boat Brennan, which Is used by the city for such emergencies, was al her dock all this time without an en gineer. He had left the boat and could not be found.
 The laundry was requisitiOned to day as quarters for the fifty invalids The 594 women prisoners whose cells were burned were divided, part of them going to the almshouse and the others to the penitentiary building. All order was sent to the city police court: not to send prisoners to BlackwelPs Island until notified that arrangement had been made to receive them.