TERRIBLE SCENE IN A JAIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 346, 23 June 1869, Page 3

TERRIBLE SCENE IN A JAIL.

The Chicago Tribune gives the particulars of a terrible scene which occurred on the 26th ult., in the Cook County jail. In one cell there were five young coloured men, named George "Washington (No. 1), George Washington, (No. 2), Benjamin Wilson, John Williams, and Charles Pile. They were accused of various crimes, ranging from burglary to petty larceny. In accordance with the rules, or in the absence of any rules, the prisoners were allowed to smoke amongst the straw, bedding, and other combustible material that make up the contents of the cells. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon Pile lighted his pipe and threw the burning paper upon the bed, and the straw caught fire. His companions remonstrated with him, but he coolly remarked, " Let it alone — let the damned jail burn up." He had no sooner given utterance to the expression when the bed presented a sheet of flame. The prisoners confined in what the reporter calls " the little five by six holes," generally deprive themselves of all clothing but their pantaloons, and in this state were the inmates of Cell No. 8. "When the flames leaped into the air, one of the George Washingtons made an effort to extinguish them, but of no avail, and soon joined with the rest in crying for help. Everything combustible in the cell was on fire and the inmates literally stood in the flame. The heavy wooden door had been thrown back, and only the iron-grated door was between them and safety. But while this door gave them a view of the outside, and gave those outside a view of the burning furnace with the roasting men within, it was, nevertheless, an effectual barrier against escape. As-sistant-turnkey W. F. Rice was in the office at the time, and the moment the cries of the unfortunate prisoners reached his ears he hurried to their rescue. When he reached the door, the flame 3 were rushing out between the bars, and it was with the utmost difficulty, not unaccompanied with danger, that the lock could be reached. While Mr Rice, all excitement and nervous, of course, worked about the lock, the prisoners set up fearful yells of agony and pain, and with might and main threw themselves against the bars in the vain endeavour to force them from their fastenings. Finally the door flew open, and out rushed the prisoners, wild, blistered, and with hair on fire. Nearly frantic with pain, they rushed up and down the corridors howling piteously, and it was many minutes before they could be calmed sufficiently to accept such aid and succour as their keepers could offer them. The tall George Washington was most severely burned. His entire body was one mass of open wounds, and in many places the flesh was fairly roasted. Wilson was badly burned abont the back, shoulders, and face. Washington No. 2 the same. Charles Pile, the author of the catastrophe, fared a trifle better ; and John Williams, who had taken refuge under the bed, escaped with some comparatively slight burns about his hands and face. It was, however, feared that one, and perhaps three, of these unfortunates might lose their lives.