Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 228, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1917 — BIRD BURNS FARMER’S BARN [ARTICLE]

BIRD BURNS FARMER’S BARN

Flies With Blazing Twig Into the Hay Loft and Blaze Causes Considerable Damage.

Middle River, Minn. Fire destroyed the barn of William Huff, a farmer living nine miles south of here. Mr. Huff declared that the fire was caused by a bird which carried a twig, one end of which was aglow, Into the hay loft. Not far from the barn a brush fire was burning. The nesting bird carried a twig which had been burning in the brush fife, but which was thought to have blown away from the immediate vicinity of the fire, tq the barn. Mr. Huff, who was working in the barnyard, said he thought he saw a slight trail of smoke as the bird flew past him, but did not investigate. In a few moments the barn was afire. Two valuable horses were burned and_ the building destroyed.