Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1914 — Auto Burns While Owner Fishes. [ARTICLE]

Auto Burns While Owner Fishes.

Albert Jones, the grocer out at Wolcott, and George Doctor of this city had a queer experience yesterday while fishing on the Tippecanoe down at the mouth of Big Creek. They had gone there in Albert s big touring car and left it in a convenient place not far from the river bank. After fishing awhile Jones concluded he wanted a smoke and went up to the car for a cigar and i.latch. After lighting up he dropped the match thinking the fire iwas out and went back to the sport on the river. Hearing an explosion soon after he and Doctor who were on the opposite side of the river looked up only to find the auto enveloped in flames. There happened to be a couple of buckets of water standing by the car and by hard work and the use of the water the interior of the car was saved. Three tires were ruined and the paint and varnish was badly scorched. The lubricating oil on the machine and the dead grass under it had made a hot blkze.

George says he does not know whether he waded or swam the river or just naturally jumped over it. He so excited he couldn’t tell, but he knows the water was mighty deep. | An emergency man was called iropr Lafpyette to take the car into that city for repair and a Wolcott man was called to carry them home. Jhe boys then kept on fishing and caught a string of seventeen nice ones. This was some consolation for their bad luck.—-Friday’s Monticello Journal.