Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1911 — THORNTON STORE AT SURREY BURNS [ARTICLE]

THORNTON STORE AT SURREY BURNS

Explosion of a Gasoline Stove Causes $3,000 Loss SOME EXPRESS DESTROYED And Entire Stock of Merchandise and Household Goods Went Up In Flames Early Yesterday •' Morning. The G. L. Thornton store at Surrey, four miles northwest of Rensselaer, on the Monon, was completely destroyed by fire at about 6:30 o’clock yesterday morning, the fire starting from a gasoline stove explosion in a room used for testing cream. There was absolutely no means of fighting the fire and soon the entire store building _ and residence combined was a mass of flames. Mel Thornton, Who lived over the store, lost all his household goods, only a rug and a couple of chairs being saved. The Thorntons are the Monon agents at Surrey, and also conduct the postoffice in their store. The depot is some little distance east from the store and what freight they had on hand was in the depot. The express matter, however, of which there was probably S2OO worth, mostly to be shipped out on the milk train, was in the store building, and it was wholly destroyed. The express books, their store books, postoffice supplies, mail, etc., was totally destroyed. The loss on stock of general merchandise is about $1,500 and the building, express matter and other contents is probably as much more, and we understand there was $750 insurance on the stock and a like amount on buildings. Ed Merath of north of town lost from SSO to S6O worth of express matter in the fire.