The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-12-27
PRISONERS SAVE
OVER 900 WOMEN
Blackwell Island Conyicts in Night
Panic.
THE BLAZE LIT UP NEW YORK.
Institution Ablsze While Hundreds Of Men
and Women Slept In cells-Male Prisoners
Released aud Succeed In Getting Out Five
Hundred and Ninety.iour Women In Cells
and Fifty Women In Hospital

New York, (Special) Men forgot
that they were convicts on Blackwell
Island when the male prisoners, mas
shaled by their keepers into a freight
ing and lfe-saving corps, bore from the
flaming floors of the women's wards
5o4 frantic women, and from the hospi-
tai beds so more. Starting in the sew
ingroom of the workhouse, and from
cause which has not yet been definitely
decided, the fire had reached a fierce
blaze at o'clock when it was discovered
The fire engine on the island proved in
adequate, and call for help was sent TO
the city department. Seven engines were
sent over, but were not sufficient to save
the womens workhouse from destruc-
ton.
On the top floor Of the building were
cells for the women, and every one held
one or two prisoners when the fire oc
Cured. These women became frantic
with fright, and were soon choking with
the dense smoke that filled all the halls
and their calls.
That most of them did not perish is
due to the recent installation of a system
by which in emergencies every cell in a
tier can be opened simultaneously with
all the others When the extent and
danger OF the blaze became apparent the
warden marshaled his regular freight
ing force Of employees and soon were all
at work.
The flames spread so fast, however,
that this force proved hopelessly mad
equate. The 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 10 them
selves. The flames were cracking all
about them, and they plunged through
the densest smoke when they brought
out in their arms the last OF the women
prisoners.
The fire bells and the shouts Of the
men at work could be heard all over the
island, and in the hospitals and buildings
OF the other institutions there was a
| panic, which was Quilted with difficulty
| by the nurses, physicians and keepers.
Although only part OF the convicts
were used in rescuing the women, those
who remained locked in their cells made
frantic appeals to be allowed to help As
the srceams Of the women penetrated to
their cells some of the convicts fell upon
their knees, beating the bars with their
fists and imploring the guards 10 let them
out TO fight the FIRE When this was re-
| fused 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 consum-
ing all OF the woman's prison, the hos
pital and half OF the workhouse, lighted
up the shores Of Long Island and the
shipping in East River, and gilded the
tall buildings on the New York side OF
the river The woodwork in the work
house, being so years old, burned al
most ike paper, The fire was confined
to the women's workhouse