The San Francisco call., 1909-03-04
San QUENTIN JUTE
WAREHOUSE BURNS
Stubborn Blaze Destroys Build
ing and Loss Is Esti-
mated at 100000


starting from unknown causes. broke
out in the warehouse at the prison and
destroyed 100000 worth of jute this
forenoon.
The warehouse is outside the walls.
and though only 20 guards stood be-
tween them and liberty the striped
garbed firemen made no attempt TO
csc pc. but battled with the blaze, risk
ing their lives in determined efforts
to quell the roaring fire.
I'VE are fighting like this because
John Hoyle is warden here" said
Frank Donlan. whose sentence is life.
Just after he and Charles Sharkey. an
other ''lifer," had risked their lives by
going into the interior of the heated
building and rescuing fellow pris-
oner overcome by the smoke.
From the moment when the convicts
began to battle with the blaze the fell
ons performed heroic acts and played
with death Willingly obeying any or
ders from the officers of the guard the
men in the dirty white and black ribbed
garments dashed into the fiery interior
or choked in the binding smoke on the
roof OF the doomed structure At no
time was there danger OF a break, and
so sure were the prison officials that
the felons would take no overt steps
that they declined the assistance of the
policemen and 15 crack rifemen Of
arrived at San Quentin later in the
afternoon from San Francisco.
PRISONER MAY LOSE LEG
During the loosing fight against the
fire the leg of James Frowman, a pris-
oner from San Joaquin county. was
broken so badly that it will probably
have to be amputated. according to
Prison Physician Stone
Frowman. in company with several
other convicts, captained by Guard
Jason White. was attempting to save
the gatling gun in the post on top Of
the warehouse Frowman was descend
ing the ladder to the ground when he
was overcome by the thick smoke and
fell. A moment later the heavy gun
crashed down and struck him on the
leg, breaking ii in two places. The
gun was being lowered and got beyond
the control of the convicts-
The flames had eaten through the
roof by this time and the post was
tottering and ready to fall. White or
dered the prisoners TO the ground All
Were out and scampering down the
ladder when the fire eaten timbers
gave way and were precipitated into
the burning jute. For a moment IL
looked as though White would drop
to his death, but by an almost super
human effort he jumped TO the last
remaining portion of. the roof yet in
tact and from there hurried to the
later 1000 rounds of ammunition that
fell with the post exploded, but no one
was hurt.
In the meantime four lines Of hose
had been stretched from the inside
walls and thousands Off gallons Of
water We're being thrown on the blaze.
Charles Sontag, member of the prison
board. had been communicated with
and he took immediate steps to pro-
cure fire fighting assistance from San
francisco. A hurry call was sent to
San Rafael for aid and the fire depart
ment of Larkspur was notified. All
responded promptly. With Fire Chief
Dan Schneider at their head the fire.
men from San Rafael arrived shortly
before noon with 500 feet of hose.
SCHNEIDER took charge and with five
lines playing on the building the fire
was soon under partial control.
FIRE TUG ARRIVES
An hour later the fire tug Governor
Markham from San Francisco steamed
around the point. The water in San
Quentin bay was too shallow for pas
sage, so the tug was compelled to tie
up at San Quentin point, half q mile
away. At 4 o'clock the launch Gov
ernor j. N. Gillett, with 10 fremen from
Company II and headed by Fire Cap
tain Cook. reached the fire and rendered
much assistance.
BY o'clock the flames had been sub
dued to a stubborn shoulder and the
prisoners, whose splendid work called
for nothing but encomiums were
marched back to TIE prison. where they
changed their wet clothes and were
given an extra Rc0d meal
The exact origin of the fire is un~
known, and a rigid inquiry will be
made to ascertain the cause. Captain
of the Yard Randolph and E. V. Ellis
captain of the guard. who were in
charge during the absence Of Warden
that the destructive blaze was started
by spontaneous combustion in the raw
jute which was packed tightly t0 the
roof of the warehouse.
DOUBTS INCENDIARY THEORY
Warden Hoyle stated that he ascribed
the fire TO the same cause. 1.-The ware
house was filed with jute. and there
was not much ventilation, and for that
treason / am sure that the fire started
OF ,ts own accord and there was no in
cendiary," said Hoyle- There is about
100000 worth OF 1ute sacks and raw
jute in the warehouses. and the entire
quantity is uninsured 1 figure the loss
in the warehouses will total $50, 000 as
the flames were confined to the COM
partment where only the raw jute was
stored. At present there is a bill pend
ing before the legislature to insure the
jute. I have nothing but praise for
Captain Ellis and Randolph. the guards
and prisoners for their magnificent
showing today"
The fire was discovered shortly be-
fore II o'clock by Guard John Maron
who was stationed in the warehouse
There were nine convicts working in
side. Maron declares that none were
smoking.
The east wall of the warehouse fell
at late hour tonight. When the mass
of brick crashed to the ground Warden
Hoyle. Fire Chief Cook. eight firemen
and 20 convicts We're fighting the
smouldering flames and narrowly es-
capped being cushed under the brick
The south wall will fall before morn
ing, as the water soaked jute is swell
ing and exerting tremendous pressure
against the masonry. Hoyie had Just
returned from Sacramento and had ar
rived at the fire but a few minutes be-
fore the crash.
CALL BOND ELECTION