The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-01

from the ranks of flrc fighters werc
detailed as guards and then the de-
livery of the prisoners began.
When the bolts OF the cell house
doors were shot back the flames had
reached the main building. III every
thing had not been done In perfect
order lives would have been lost As
1t was, strict military discipline pre-
vailed
Soldiers. with leveled weapons. greet.
ed the convicts as they were marched
out. They had been previously warned
that the slightest belligercnt move
would mean death.
Shoot them down in their tracks"
commanded the officers. 'If they don't
keep in line. The first man that tries
TO escape dies"
The rifle barrels OF the soldiers and
the swords OF the officers glinting In
the trelight effcctually awed the pris-
oners and they meekly followed their
heavily armed guards TO the stockade
Not only did the strict military rule
prevent any escapes. but It effectually
stopped the panic that had broken out
among the convicts
The prison building was valued at
100000
The Lcayenworth fire department
was rushed out to the fort on a hurry
call for help. 1t combined forces with
the forts Are fighters. The lack Of
water pressure. however. rendered
their efforts almost useless. About all
they could do was to play feeble
streams of water on the front OF the
building from which the convicts and
soldiers were Issuing and prevent the
leaping flames from burning them.
The blaze was spectacular. Hun.
dreds of people rushed out TO see the
unusual sight. The fort is four miles
from the city and first reports were
that the prison was destroyed and that
many convicts had been burned to
death.
The spectators hurried around the
blazing building but were pressed
sternly back when they met fixed bay.
onets In the hands OF soldiers
The city police rushed out in patrol
wagons and relieved the soldiers from
the work Of caring for the crowd so
they could devote their whole atten-
ton TO the saving of those locked be.
hind prison bars.
burning flercely but was under control.
The blacksmith shop, tailor shop.
machine shops and other buildings
went first All this while the whole
prison hnd been surrounded by 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 about the
stockade where the prisoners are con.
fined to prevent escapes and panics.
At daybreak they will be taken to
the government prison, half mile
away.
There are 500 prisoners in the lot
1t took tho whole Thirteenth infantry,
under command of Colonel r. H. r.
Longborough, to remove them safely
The colonel rushed to the prison
when the fire got dangerous and took
in the situation at glance. He in
stantly issued orders placing the regi
ment under arms A company of sol
diers were placed on each side of the
sallyports to be ready to take charge
of the convicts as they were hurried
out
The sick were removed first. placed
In ambufances and taken TO the Fort
Leayenworth hospital under guard of
cavalry, The records were removed
from the administration building Then
the general order was given for taking
out all In the building
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 a crash.
The fire started in some rubbish left
in careless manner In the paint and
carpenter shop