The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-01
Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth
Destroyed by Fire Last Night
EntaiIing Loss Of
over 100000.
PRISONERS GUARDED
The $50 Prisoners, Many Of Them Des-
perate Ones, Were Marched
ou. Under Strong Guard
Of Soldiers.

LEAyENWORTH, Kan. April L.
The military prison at Fort Leaven-
worth was destroyed by fire late last
night. The prisoners were removed
from the cell house under heavy
guard of the United States troops and
confined in the stockade.
None of the prisoners escaped, as
far as a hasty resume of the situation
after midnight showed, but this may
ncl be definitely known until daylight.
owing to the low water pressure
the fire department of the fort was
almost useless. The fire was fought
by 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 we're injured in any way.
Much excitement attended the re-
moyal of the prisoners, many OF
whom are desperate characters, and 1t
was feared they would make an or
ganized break for safety.
The fire broke out about 10 o'clock
IN the tailor shop and soon 1t was
seen that the main building was
doomed. A great outcry at once
broke out in lie prison, the convlcts
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 al
thorities fora moment refused to re-
move them
Soon. however, several companies
Of the soldiers were under arms.
strong Gordon of troops were
thrown about the prison and
every precaution taken to pre-
vent escapes. All soldiers that
could be spared from the ranks OF the
FIRE fighters were detailed as guards
and then the delivery of the prisoners
fegan.
When the bolts of the cell house
doors were shot back the flames had
reached the main building. The sol
diers, with leveled weapons. greeted
the convicts as they marched out.
They had been previously warned the
slightest move would mean death.
Rife barrels and swords glittering IN
the fire light effectually awed the
prisoners and they meekly followed
tLeir heavily armed guards to the
stockade. The strict military rule Ell
fectn ly stopped the panic that had
broken out among the convict5.
he priscl building was alued at
100000 and it was totally destroyed.
The '.eavenworth fire department was
rr7hed to the fort, four miles away
but the lack of water pressure render
ed their efforts almost usele :.
I ,e blacksmith shop tailor shops
machine shops and other buildings
went first All this while the whole
con had been surrounded by the
troops Then when the main building
actually had begun to burn the stern
military rescue was carried out with
precision. A heavy guard was thrown
around the stockade where the pris'
oners were confined to prevent escape
and panic. At daybreak they will be
likely taken to the government prison
halt mile away.
There are 750 prisoners and it took
the whole Thirteenth infantry to re-
move them SAFELY. Soon after the last
convict and attendant had left the
building and the Gordon of soldiers
had withdrawn safe distance the
walls of the prison fell with crash