Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-04-02
LEAVENWORTH
PRISON BURNS
PRISONERS, AT FIRST GLEEFUL, IN
TERROR WHEN SMOKE REACH
ES CELL HOUSES.
SOLDIERS PREVENT ESCAPES.
Eight Hundred Convicts Marched Before
Guards and Huddle in Corner
While Fire Lasts.
THREE FAINT FROM TERROR.

LEANENWORTH, Kan, April l.
1t took 1900 United States soldiers to
maintain order and to prevent prisoners
from escaping during a fire which de-
Stroyed four buildings of the federal
military prison here early today.
All the 800 prisoners We're marched
out OF their cell houses when it seemed
that the whole prison certainly would be
destroyed and were held under heavy
military guard until the fire was under
control. Then, after some of the cell
houses had cooled sufficiently, they We're
marched back again.
Inc lire was discovered before mid
night by sentry, who fired his pistol.
The hre call was sounded and the entire
garrison at Fort LeayenwOrth turned
out. The Thirteenth infantry was
thrown around the prison.
Starts in Tailorshop
The fire, which probably started in
the prison tailorshop, gained rapid head
way against the prison guard working
with buckets and small hose. The fire
department of LeayenwOrth answered az
emergency call and Joined forces with
the soldiers in battle against the
flames. The fire was confined to the
central row of buildings and consumed
the industrial departments, including the
paint, tailor and carpenter shops and
the laundry. The buildings contained
many cOmbustibles. The cell house rap
idly became filled with smoke and got
sutfocaringly hot
When the fire was started there was
glee among the prisoners. Let it burn. .
they yelled. The water pressure was
poor and as the water sputtered useless
ly from the hose, the prisoners laughed
and cheered The flames leaped higher
and gust of wind whipped smoke into
the nearest of the three cell houses.
Prisoners in Terror.
The tone of the prisoners changed
then. For Gods sake, take us out. .
they screamed, battering against the
steel bars in terror. Col. Loughborough
saw the danger when the flames got very
near the cell houses and ordered the
prison provost guard to unlock the doors
The 800 prisoners fell in, each convict
with his hands on the shoulders of the
man in front of him. At double quick
they marched to the farthest corner
of the prison enclosure where they hud-
died while 100 prison guards covered
them with leveled rifles. Two of the
terror stricken convicts tainted. The
Leavenworth fremen devoted their at
tentlon to saving the main structure.
All the sick prisoners were removed
ords were taken from the administration
building also and preparations made to
blow it up if necessary. A new mill
tary prison is under process of construc-
ton and it is not probable that the
burned buildings will re rebuilt.
Damage Is $4,000.
A few men were overcome by the heat
during the fire. Lieut.. w c. Jones,
Thirteenth infantry, was painfully scald-
ed by steam and hot water from a burn
ing roof. He was taken to his quarters.
Maj. Thomas H. Slavens, commandment
Of the prison, said the fire probably was
caused by defective wiring. He placed
the damage at $4,000.
The buildings burned were among the
oldest at Fort Leavenworth. They were
erected in 1857 and 1858 under the su-
pervision of Gen. L. c. Easton and were
first used for army commissary store
houses.