The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-03-18

office, one following fast after another,
about the time the Burlington train
pulled out. The inebriate had at
tempted to board the outgoing train
and was turned down" by the con-
ductor. Only with difficulty was the
fellow prevented from being cut to
pieces beneath the wheels as the train
left the station. He then started back
east on High avenue toward town.
navigated the street successfully as
far as the Hawkeye Lumber Company
office. where he sought anchorage. He
took possession of a chair and here
the police found him little later
Moreover he was inclined to be OBJ
streperous, refused to get into the pa
troll and upon arrival at the jail gave
resistance, but he was finally landed
in a cell by Chief Stoler and Ofticer
Ginkins
No other prisoner was in the jail at
the time. The officers did not think
it necessary to lock the fellow in a
cell to himself, supposing that he
would be unconscious within a little
while, and they gave no further
thought to the victim, after he was
properly booked. 80
Along about half past five o'clock,
the drunk began making a loud dis
turbance. He yelled and pended,
screamed for help, yelled fire and
murder, but this was no new stunt
and officers nor others within hearing
of the fellows voice paid any atten-
ton. They had been witness to this
sort of performance before.
Fire, fire, fire., oh some one please
get me out. I'm burning up" scream
ed the voice as one of the firemen
went into the alley north Of the build
ing. He glanced UP and saw red
glare showing throwing the Jail win
dows and looking thrugh the window
he saw what appeared to be the en-
tire room in 2 blaze. s,...r-
Now the Jail room is fire proof.
Nothing there to burn. Everything
metal and concrete. The officers in
the building had heard the cry of fire,
but they were so cock sure that moth!
ing in the room could burn that they
let this man rave, just as other fell
lows have raved when their quarters
did not suit them. They had over
looked the fact, however, that the
mattresses In the cell hunks were in
fiamable.
Strong robbed all of the hunks OF
thir mattresses, eight he secured, and
piled together on the floor in the space
between the cell doors and set fire to
them. In few minutes he had a roar
ing bonfire in the room that reached
TO the ceiling and spread along the
walls. No smoke or fumes could get
tense because none could escape. The
walls and ceiling were absolutely air
tight except little ventilating |
shaft. The author of all the trouble
was in a sorry plight. He was suffocat-
ing and he was liable to become fuel
for the flames. The room was so hot |
he was almost blistered and he must
have persisted within c. little time.
The fireman who recognized the ser
iousness of the situation grabbed a
chemical tank from the fire truck, call
ed for assistance and dashed for the !
entrance to the Jail. He applied the
chemical but that was not enough and
water had to be thrown. A hose was
attached to a nearby plug and in
this way the fire was stopped. Strong
when pulled out was almost done for.
A few minutes more of the heat and
fumes and he would have been be-
yond all help.
After this experience the prisoner
was tanned and dropped into drunk !
en- slumher Brought before Mayor
Sewers Sunday he pleaded guilty to
He said he had taken
three drinks of what he thought was
whisky and remembered nothing more. |
He had emptied two-thirds of a pint
flask. He said he had no recollections
of the train episode, his arrest, patrol
ride nor the incident of the fire in
the Jail. For the spree so fine was
collected and the now penitent man
made arrangements to replace the
and to repair any damages
done to the room, to repaint and pay
for cleaning, etc.