The Hartford republican., 1913-04-18
CONVICTS APPLY
TORCH TO Pen
Spread Burning Paper When
Flames Start In Prison.
Number Of Prisoners Aid ID
Fighting Blaze And Six
Are Burned.

Lansing, Kan, April 14.-Fire that
destroyed four large business build
ings and caused loss estimated at
100000, in the Kansas penitentiary
Saturday,was spread by convicts who
scattered burning papers in buildings
mot in the path of the flames, ac-
cording to statement by Fire Chief
Michael Rahler, of Leavenworth.
His opinion was confirmed by some
Of the prison officers.
The fire started when the arma-
ture of motor in the twine plant
suddenly burst into flames which
communicated to walls and floors.
Half an inch of oily paint over the
floors made the building burn like
paper. The burned buildings re aa
total loss, as the State carries no
insurance on it's structures.
Several prisoners told me of see
ing other convicts lighting punches
of papers in the old building known
as the furniture factory" said Chief
Bahler. "When | reached the prison,
the fire was confined to the twine
factory.
81 inspected other buildings, In
cluding the furniture factory. Later,
we saw flames bursting from the sec
ond story windows of the old factory.
We found that fires started inside
the building on the first floor. one
tiof them in room at least 900 feet
from the burning twine plant. These
could have been started only from
the inside"
Warden j. X. Codding said he be-
lieved it probable that convicts had
fed the flames.
Prison officers made every prep.
aration for mutiny, and Lansing and
Leavenworth were thrown into ex-
citement, fearing an outbreak; but
the convicts preserved the best of
order, hundreds of them assisting
in fighting the flames. sss
Their efforts were responsible for
saving the building occupied by wo-
men prisoners and the criminally in
sane. Believing this building doomed,
the women were taken out and the
insane convicts transferred to the
cellhouse. The building was only
slightly damaged.
The scene of the greatest excite
ment was in the insane ward, which
is $50 feet from the twine plant. The
flames seemed to cause panic to
every inmate. There were fifty in
sane convicts.
Excited by the sight Of the flames,
the prisoners screamed, and with
clenched hands beat on the iron bars
of their rooms.
The maniacs set up such commo-
tion that Warden Codding was forced
to move them to another part of the
prison. This removal was accomplish
ed with the greatest difficulty. many
of the prisoners having to be dragged
out by their guards. A number OF
patients fought their rescuers.
Six prisoners and one guard were
burned slightly during the fire. Frank
Riley. twenty-five years old. serving
fifteen years for burglary. was carry
ing q hose into the twine plant when
driven back by the flames. His face
was scorched. r.f s+
4 Six hundred convicts. who we're at
their duties about the prison yard
when the fire started, were not lock-
ed up. but called to aid in fighting
flames. A. dozen prisoners In the
boiler rooms of the power house. stay
cd at their tasks. keeping up steam
for the pumps to aid the fire fight
ers.
The prisons one ancient fire en-
gine was out OF commission and the
pressure pumps of the water system
had to be relied upon.