Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-03-24
BRAND THROWN INTO BIG
BALE OF PAPER
STARTS BLAZE
FELONS IN PANIC
SMOkE.FlLLED CORRIDORS CAUSE
PRISONERS TO CRY OUT IN
PANIC - BASTILE BASEMENT
AFLAME--SEE FIRE FlEND'S
HAND.

Resorting TO arson in a daring at
tempt to force their liberation TWEEN
ty-fye prisoners at the La Sall
County Jail Saturday night we're pre-
vented from completing wholesale
Jail delivery by the timely and en'ec.
tive interference of Sheriff Curt 5.
Ayers, Jailer r. j. Armstrong. At
torney A. T.. Buffers ana members of
the fire department
blaze detected beneath a vcnU
ator pipe in the basement filled the
Jail proper with dense clouds o.
smoke, and whom discovered threat
ened for a while to precipitatc pris
oners not in the plot into uncontrOl-
able panic, Their cries and screams
could be heard across the street from
the Jail, some Of the men broachiug
the point Of hysteria before the flames
we're conquered and the corridors ria
of the fumes.
The fire was discovered bg sheriff
Ayers and Jailcr Armslrrng at 10
o'clock, and was 50 far ad dyJnced tha
a chemical kept on hand for just some
such emergency failed to make an
impression upon it, When it was
seen the fire cou'd not he eytin
guished without the aid Of the fire
men they were called and soon had /,
out.
Baled paper left beneath the ven
tilator pipe gave the prisoners their
chance 10 try and burn their way 10
freedom. A tip that the paner was
at the bottom OF he shaft is sup
posed to have come from one of the
TRUSTEES" All that remained to com
pete the plot was to throw matcl
or bundle Of paper previously ig-
nited into the ventiator ana then wait
for the smoke to force the keepers
to let them out The brand slid down
the shaft onto the balcd paper and
soon had the waole basement enyeI-
0ped in smoke. There were a dozen
bales in the stack and al were pIac
ltShllS utotIOgtu DFIbIt ne utpIt
ment had the fire unde rcontrol
Alarm Spread by Prisoners.
Sheriff Ayers and Mr. Buffers were
in the Jail Office at the time prisoners
began rattling coffee cups and calling
to spead an alarm of fire. Jailer Arm
strang ran into the tiers Of cells anl
threw open the windows to let in air
and, running back into the office. tod
his superior there was fire.
A hurried investigation was made
of the basement, and in the rG9m
where the paper is stored the search
ers found practically ali the bales
were aflame. Fortunately the blaze
could moi do any damage, as that sec
ton OF the bastile is absolutely irc-
proof. without a stick OF wood in It.
But the smoke and fumes were almost
suffocating An eXtinguishcr was
rushed into the basement. bet was
soon emptied in futile attempt t.
conquer the blaze When it was seen
that the three men were ughtlNS q
losing battle a call was sent into tn
department
While this was going on the pris
oners from their cells began calling
for rescue. Save me-" "Holp!
Get me out Of here!" were some Of
the cries that penetrated into the
street. Because the men were Gagged
in the fireproof structure, beyond Civ
ing them plenty OF ventilation. no at
tempt was made TO let the men out OF
their cells. In case the fire became
uncomfortable AMI tho unforeseen
might happen Sheriff Ayers was get
ting ready to summon the police to
help him guard the prisoners in case
it became necessary to take them out
into the open This emergency, how
ever, did not arise and the plans for a
general delivery were frustrated
Suspect TRUSTEES.
TRUSTEES as well as other prisoners
at the jail are being he'd under sus-
picion tor the arson. One man who