Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1912 — Fire Almost Destroyed A. L. Branch Residence in California. [ARTICLE]

Fire Almost Destroyed A. L. Branch Residence in California.

Mrs. Jacob Wilcox is in receipt of a letter from Beatrice, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Branch, of Stock-* ton., Cal., stating that their house was almost destroyed by fire one day last week. Mr. Branch recently completed a fine flat building. Himself and family lived on the ground floor. The upper floor was rented. The woman living above was using gasoline for washing clothes. The gasoline exploded. The woman ablaze rolled down the steps and into the yard. Beatrice saw her and screamed for help. Neighbors ran out and someone smothered the flames with a blanket, but the woman died a little later at a hospital. The house was set on fire and the upper part almost destroyed, while the finishing of the downstairs was badly damaged. The water damage below was also extensive. The property was insured for $6,000 and Mr. Branch’s household furnishings for SI,OOO and he will he saved from serious loss. Wanted -Young men to take tickets the Fourth. Apply to Don Wright. Miss Mattie Hatten came from Lowell today to visit with her grandfather, S. Hatten. Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Bowman, from southeast of town, went to Kirklin this morning to visit relatives. John Robinson, of Morocco, came today to visit over the 4th with his sister, Mrs. Harve J. Robinson. Miss Opal Sharp returned Monday from a visit of two weeks with Mrs. Mabel Strickfaden Stalker at Noblesville. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Smith and children, Marie and Floyd, went to Chicago this morning for a week’s visit with relatives. Misses Anna and Katharine Kistner, of Dunn, Ind., and Pete Sondergrath, of Fowler, can\e today to visit over the 4th with Mrs. Mary Eiselm^n, Mrs. R. A. Parkison and daughter, Miss Ruth, went to Chicago this morning, where the latter will be examined by a specialist. She is recovering from her throat trouble but has been suffering with a pleurisy pain in her side.

George V. Moss, of Frankfort, was here last evening with a party of eastern capitalists going aver the proposed .route of an interurban road which is being promoted by Frantfort and other capitalists. Mr. Moss is the attorney of the proposed road and is working to have it built through Rensselaer. The trip was being made over the route by automobile.

Charles Myers, the Wheatfield merchant, passed through Rensselaer today enroute to his home from Anderson, where he purchased a new Lambert automobile of the 1913 model. It is the first 1913 car released from the factory. Mr. Myers and family spend their winters in Florida, where he has investments that are proving very successful. He stated that be paid $125 per acre for land-that Is now worth SI,OOO per acre and 'tot which he could secure SSO per acre annual rent for trucking purposes, but he does not 'fvant the land cultirated.