Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 112, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1904 — STATE PRISON HAS BIG FIRE. [ARTICLE]

STATE PRISON HAS BIG FIRE.

The state prison at Michigan City was vibitvd by a serious fire aE an early hour Saturday morning and from estimates made the loss will foot $150,000. The flames were discovered about 3;30 o’clock and though the prison fire department was immediately summoned and a call sent in for the city department, the fire spread until four factory buildings were completely de« stroyed. The firemen by hard work, succeeded in preventing the spread of the fire to the other buildings. The cell' houses, dining hall and chapel were net touched by the flames. Although considerable commotion was caused among the prisoners they were in their cells and so were not concerned. The origin is unknown, but from all accounts it started in the chair factory of the J 8 Ford, Johnson & Co. factory. The burnel buildings consisted of one 50x300, two stories high; another 40x150, two stories high; one 150x45, three stories. Two of the uildings were occupied by J. S. Ford,* Johnson & Co., who employ convict labor in the manufacture of chairs, and another by the Reliance Manufacturing company. The prison odd storage building, containing the food supplies, was also destroyed with the contents, the loss on that alone beinj ten thousand dollars. The loss to the state on the buildings is estimate! at swo,ooo$ w O,OOO with no insurance.