The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-12
Three Hundred Prisoners in
Yard Were Peaceful.
KEPT 700 men BELOW GROUND
Fearing Mutiny, Officers Left
COnvicts i'm Mines.
Fire Caused by an Explosion
Under Motors.
Twine Plant, Tailor Shop
Among Buildings Burned.


Lansing, Kan, April 12.-Fire that
started in the state penitentiary mere
at 1850 o'clock today from an eX-
plosion under a dynamo in the eXten-
sive binding twine plant, destroyed
that building with three other struc-
lures, and was not placed under con-
troll until 1:45 o'clock The loss is
placed at 100000. For a time the
entire institution was threatened.
Although much excitement pre-
vailed among the one thousand prls-
oners, good order prevailed None Of
the prisoners escaped and none was
injured. The main cell houses were
untouched. A separate building con-
tanning the womens department
caught fire. The women were re-
moved in safety, however, and that
structure was not badly damaged.
The twine plant and warehouses,
containing costly machinery and a big
stock of twine, was the largest of it's
kind in the country Hemp soaked in
linseed, and the fact that the prison
water plant was defective, gave the
flames a good start before the fire
worth could be put into commission.
Chief Bahler of that city was placed
in charge as BON as he reached the
scene. Trusty prisoners aided ma
terially in fighting the fire.
Lansing, Kan, April 12.-Fire broke
out in the twine plant of the Kansas
state prison at noon and burned fierce
ly. The plant is the largest prison
twine mandatory in the country
There are more than 1000 prisoners in
the penitentiary At 1 o'clock the
twine plant, tailor shop and engine
room had been destroyed. At that hour
the fire was within two hundred feet
of the cell house.
The fire thocgh still burning fiercely
was placed under control at 1:30 o'clock.
At that time five buildings had been
destroyed. The warden then estimated
the loss at 100000. The prisoners made
no attempt to escape although 300
were in the prison yards at the time.
The fire was due to an explosion under
a motor
First Started in Twine Plant.
The fire broke out in the twine plant.
Famed by a high wind. it swept that
structure away and attacked the tailor
shop. A hurry call for aid was sent
to LeavenWOrth and the LeaVenworth
fire department responded with all its
apparatus Aided by prison guards
and every available citizen of the town
of Lansing the department made head
way against the flames. Most of the
prison buildings are of brick and sand
stone. The prison was built in 1854. /
Numerous additions since have brought
the total cost up to 1000 900, there
are three large cell houses containing |
in all 1,0S4 cells.
Dread That Nutiny Would Result.
Scores of women and children, |
wives and other connections of guards |
and prison employees who live in cot /
tages in Lansing flocked about the |
gates from the time the first alarm
was sounded, eager to learn news
These persons live in constant dread
that harm may come to their dear
ones from murderous or mutinous
prisoners. Many women in tears beg
ged to be admitted but were turned
back by guards.
The prison is burning" was the ,
first cry that rang through the quiet !
Lansing streets. Business in the small /
town was practically neglected as |
everybody, clerks and customers alike |
rushed up the hill to the stone walled |
fortress which ordinarily is to the
townspeople considered harmless
enough, but which in times of pros
pective rnutiny becomes a shuddering
menace.
None of those who fIocked to the
prison, save able bodied men and
members of the volunteer fire depart- /
ment were allowed to enter the gates /
News of the fire soon spread to
Leavenworth, three miles distanr and
hundreds of persons began streaming :
out to the prison anticipating an out-
break
In fear of a mutiny prisoners work
ing in the mines We're kent haIoT,,
ground and others who We're at ONT
side tasks were rushed to the ce11
house.
Codding Reassured Men.
The destroyed buildings cor+sir,,z
these departments: twine warehonse
hemp warehouse, twine factory nronar
tinker shop, gymnasium. carpen+eri
shop. shoe shop and machine shor
About one-third of the convicts of tho
prison who work in these shops had
just quit work for dinner, when the
fire was discovered W
The authorities at first saar,o5 -
think little of the blaze in tba +I-;ro
plant when it began A few g1,or5e
threw buckets of water unon Ar
flames When it was seen tha+ ~
fire was making headwav an A.
guards were pressed into service o,,5 -
call sent to Leavenworth for aid
Warden ]. K. Codding. hinnsa1f 1,-;4,.
his son beside him took up a pIaca a.
the door of the cell house c6InSaI;,.o
the prisoners to remain o11ie+ and +nII
ing them they would be taken go
the flames got too close to them
Excitement in Insane War5
The greatest excitement prevai1aa -
the insane ward of the prison 1Vb;otl
was but one hundred and fiftv feat
from the destroyed twine plant Eiet'