Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-07
BURNS At
Fl. LEAVENWORTH.
PRISONERS REMOVED SAFELY
WITHOUT EScAPE-PANlC
AMONG INMATES.
FIRE BREAKS OUT IN TAILOR
ShoPS-soLDlERS CONTROL
CENTRAL SITUATION.

Leavenworth, Kas.. April 1.-The
military prison at Fort Leavenworth
w;ss destroyed by fire late last night.
Tie prisoners were removed from
the cell houses under a heavy guard
of United States troops aad confined
in a stockade.
None OF the prisoners escaped, as
far as a hasty resume of the situation
after midnight shows. but this may
not be definitely known until daylight,
Owing to the low water pressure
the fire department of the fort was al
most useless. The fire was fought
bv the soldiers OF the fort who were
ordered out of their quarters and
those who were on leave in the city
were at once called back TO the post.
Two soldiers were injured while
fighting the flames, but none Of the
prisoners were hurt in any way. Much
excitement attended the removal or
the prisoners, many of whom are
desperate characters. 1t was feared
they would make an organized break
for safety.
The fire broke out obout 10 o'clock
in the tailor shops and it soon was
seen that the main room building
was doomed. A great cutlery at once
broke out in the prison the conviets
fearing they would be burned to
death. They battered on the doors
of their cells as the light of the fire
streamed in through the windows.
MANY screamed in terror as the auth
critics. for the moment, refused to
remove them.
soon, however, with several com
NAMES of soldiers under arms.
strong Gordon of troops was thrown
about the prison and every precau-
ton taken to prevent escapes. All
the soldiers that could be spared from
the ranks of the fire fighters were
detailed as guards and then the de-
livery of prisoners began.
When the bolts OF the cell house
doors were shot back, the flames
had reached the main building Sol
diers with leyeled weapons greeted
the convicts as they marched out.
They he'd been previously warned
that the slightest beligerent move
would mean death.
Rifle barrels and swords gIinting IN
the freight effectually awed the prts-
oners. and they meekly followed
their heavily armed guards TO the
stockade. Strict military rule effect
ually stopped the panic that had
broken out among the eonvlcts.
The prison building was valued at
100000. 1t was totally destroyed
The Ileayenworth fire department
was rushed to the fort four miles
away but lack Of water pressure rem
dered their efforts almost useless.
The blacksmith shop. tailor shops
machine shops and other buildings
went first. All this while the whole
prison had been surrounded by
troops. Then when the main building
actually had begun to burn, the stern
military rescue was 81 FRIED oct A
heavy guard was thrvNn around the
stockade where the prisoners were
confined to prevent escape and panic.
At daybreak they viii likely be taken
to the government prison half mile
away. There are $50 prisoners and
il took the whole of the thirteenth
infantry to remove them safeiy.
Soon after the last convict and at
tendant had left the building and the
Gordon of soldiers had withdrawn to
safe distance, the walls Of the
prison fell with crash. The fire
started in some rubbish in the paint
and carpenter shops.