Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1889 — SERIOUS CHURCH SQUABBLE. [ARTICLE]

SERIOUS CHURCH SQUABBLE.

Two Factions Accuse Each Other of Setting Fire to the Church Building. At Red Lake Falls, Minn., St. Joseph’s Catholic church was discovered to be on fire last night at midnight, and before the flames were gotten under control the church and its contents were totally destroyed. The fire is the sequel to an intensely bitter fight which has been raging between the French and German Catholics of Polk county lor six months. The fire was incendiary, as the men first on the scene claim they saw a three gallon can of oil underneath the altar. Catholics here are much affected over the occurrence. Each faction claims the other is guilty of the crime. Rev. Father Mareil, who was at first suspected by his enemies, was at the West Side for three hours previous to and at the time of the fire, and so could not have taken any personal part in the affair. A feeling of depression pervades the whole Catholic community on account of it. Bishop Ireland is severely censured for not giving prompt attention to the troubles here.