Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1909 — FIREMAN DEAD IN $650.000 BLAZE [ARTICLE]

FIREMAN DEAD IN $650.000 BLAZE

80,000 Bushels of Coro and Plant Destroyed. DECATUR CONFLAGRATION Wall Falla In Factory of Cereal Company Crushing Out a Life—Main Building and Adjoining Elevator Prey of Flames—Defective Electric Wiring Held Responsible—Establishment Employed a Large Number of Hands. Decatur, 111., June B.—ln a fire which started shortly after 1 o’clock this morning, from electric wiring on the sixth floor of the mill of the Decatur Cereal company, the entire plant was destroyed with a loss of $650,000 with $165,000 insurance. In addition 80,000 bushels of corn in an adjacent elevator, also owned -by the Decatur Cereal company were destroyed. The elevator had a capacity of 100,000 bushels of com. In an effort to rescue some of the office effects of the firm, John Sheehy, a fireman, was struck on the head by a falling timber and instantly killed. The company manufactured starch, but one of Its main products was corn grits, used largely by brewers. It employed a large number of men.