Name not reported
A Black woman held at the jail in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, died in June 1898 after her clothing caught fire in her cell. The night watchman reportedly saw the flames and reached her too late to save her, and she died about an hour later. The accounts describe her as despondent and attribute the fire to her own act, the watchman's account being the only official version; the record gives no name, age, or details of her family or life beyond that, and no account of how the fire started has been independently confirmed.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide. The night watchman reported that she set her clothing on fire in her cell and died about an hour later, and he reached her too late to save her.
Reported by: night watchman. The only account of how this person died comes from the agency that held her.