Fort Madison, The Evening Democrat
STATE PRISON EARLY TODAY
Two compaines of the city fire department were aided by prison authorities and prisoners. All prisoners except those entrusted to aid the firemen were kept locked in their cells. There was no disorder, but many cried out in jest and some announced their fear. There were yells that the fire was hot and they wanted out of their cells. Streams of water were sprayed on the stone walls of the old cell house to help keep it cool.
The fire started in the paint shop leaped across a wooden overhead bridge to the main factory building of the chair industry then spread rapidly to the laundry, tailor shop, hose station and the solitary cells, and then to the big building, center of prison activity, which housed the main dining hall, the chapel, the barber shop and the deputy warden's office.
Two individuals sustained injury - Fire Chief John Schomaker and Pipeman Fred Williams from the central fire station.
North West corner inside the prison walls.