Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1911 — SIXTEEN HORSES BURNED [ARTICLE]

SIXTEEN HORSES BURNED

And 5,000 Bushels of Oats Lost In Barn Destroyed by Fire Friday Night. The big barn on the old Kight ranch miles west of Fair Oaks was destroyed by fire at about 7 o’clock 'Friday evening, together with sixteen head of horses and mules, 5,000 bushels of oats and other property entailing £ loss of between SB,OOO and $9,000 with $5,000 insurance in C. B. Steward’s agency of this city. The ranch is owned by J. J. Lawler of Chicago, who was in Rensselaer at the time and hurried to the fire via automobile as soqp as appraised of it, but when he reached there it was only a mass of ruins. How the fire originated is un* known. The tenant, Mr. Williams, was milking in the barn lot when he saw the smoke pouring from the building. He ran in and attempted to drive rhe horses out after cutting their halters, but all but’three of the 19 head therein refused to be driven out and were burned up.