Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1894 — FINE HORSES PERISH. [ARTICLE]

FINE HORSES PERISH.

OVER ONE HUNDRED BLOODED EQUINES CREMATED. Fire, Started Presumably by Tramps, bs the Klwood Stable*. Near DeKalb, Coasumee Valuable Stock—Awful Sight of Brutes Burning to Death. Loss About 0.000. A bout 4 o’clock in the morning th® large barn on what is called the Lyons Farm, belonging to W. L. Elwood, the millionaire horse importer of De Kalb, 111., were burned, with their entire contents. One hundred and forty-seven pure-bred and high-grade Pereheron horses and three standard-bred trotters perished in the flames. The barn was located just outside the city limits, and, therefore, beyond the reach of tho fire department. When discovered the upper part of the building was a mass of flames, and, although every effort was made to free the imprisoned horses, not one escaped. Tho scene was a frightful one. The frenzied brutes dashed madly about their fire-ridden prison, and their snorts of agony drowned all else. Heroic efforts wore made by the attaches of the place and those who had gathered around to rescue even a few of the noble animals, but to no avail. Theexcitemont was intense, and hundreds of men and boys came to witness the conflagration. Bucket brigades were organized, sovoral leads of hose dragged out and attached to a near-by pump, and in this way tho uneven battle was waged. The cries of the dying horses reaohod the ears of those being led to safety, and that added to the pandemonium. Sovoral horses- broke their halters and da-ihed wildly through the throngs of spectators, but fortunately they were recaptured before anyone was very soriousxy injured. The damage to the barn Is estimated at $15,000. The horses, which wore of tho finest stock in the country, are valued at about the same figure. One hundred t ins of hay which was storod in tho gutted barn'was also fuel for the (lames. The origin of the fire can not b.i ascertained positively just now, but there is bald to have been discovered good ovidence to show that the blaze was an incendiary one, started by trumps who had lieon but a few hours before routed from an adjacent haymow. Tho loss is partially covered by insurance.