Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-12-26
CONWCTS PROVE
HEROES AT FIRE
WOrkhOuSe on BlaCkwell'S island Is
Burned to Ground and the HAUL
Women From Flames.

New York &c. 20.-Men forgot that
they We're convicts and remembered
only that they were men, on Blackwell
island early this morning. when the
male prisoners. marshaled by their
keepers in to a fire. e-f1ghting and life
saving corps, bore from the flaming
floors OF the women's ward 594 frantic
| women, and from the hospital beds 50
more.
Starting in the sewing room of the
| work house. and from a 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 made
guate and a call for help was sent to
the city department. Seven engines
| were sent over, but were not su$cient
to save the womens work room from
| destruction.
| on the top floor of this building
| were cells for the women. and every
| one held one or two prisoners when
|
came frantic with fright, and were
soon choking with the dense smoke
that filled all the halls and the cells.
That most Of them did not perish is
tenn which Ia emergencies evvery cell
In "a tier can be opened Simultaneous
ly with all the others.
When the extent ana danger of the
blaze became apparent, the warden
marshaled his regular fre-fighting
force of employees ana soon all were at
work.
The fams spread SO fast however.
that this force proved hopelessly in
adequate. Then it was decided to
trust to the male prisoners sense OF
manhood and they bore the test we'll.
Released from their cells and mar
shaled into small bodies, the entered
the burning building and went at the
work of fire. fighting and rescue with
utter disregard for the danger to
themselves. The flames We're cracki-
|
through the densest smoke and
brought out on 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 panic which was Quilted
with difficulty by the nurses, physicl-
: ans and keepers. The fire was confined
to the women's workhouse.
= Although only part of the convicts
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
imploring the guards to let them out
TO fight the fire. When refeused they
4 begged that at least the guards go to
/, the rescue, promising that they would
be their own jaiers.
The fire lasted over two hours, and
, consumed all of the Women's prison.
y the hospital and half of the work.
s house. The woodwork i'm the house.
!, being 50 years old, burned almost like
q paper The loss is estimated at $50, 900.
: 1t is thought that one of the lamps
used by painter exploded The ferry
| \ t,J,- IaI ,s,it
t smoke and the painters had great diff
It fculty in reaching the floor above. A
e ferry boat with more than 500 passen-
gers aboard was just coming into the
+ slip when the fire started. Volumes OF
smoke rolled up through the stairway
!. leading to the street. Passengers were
o panic stricken but they We're told to
: run for the street through the smoke.
3 This they did amid great confusion.
e The ferry boat then backed into the
e river.
e The flames made rapid headway and
all the fire boats We're pressed into
;. service in addition to several railroad
'f tugs which volunteered. The big fer
I ry house, built mostly of wood, burned
+ fercely Many boats on the way to
If the Jersey side were held up in mid
y stream There was great excitement.
?, Crowds of commuters who were land
n ing when the fire started, crowded
& about the blazing building and extra
n policemen were called to give the fire.
e men a chance to work. The loss is es-
t;r,o+ad of $3.50 600