Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1915 — Rectory of Catholic Church Burned at Fowler. [ARTICLE]

Rectory of Catholic Church Burned at Fowler.

Fire at an early hour Monday destroyed the rectory of St. Francis Catholic church at Fowler and threatened the church building close by. The fire started in the kitchen, and when Father Dhe was awakened by the smoke, escape was cut off from the stairs, and rushing to the room of his niece, Miss Clara Dubois, Father Dhe aroused her and both made their escape in their night clothes by jumping from the roof of the front porch, a distance of about 20 feet. Both were slightly injured in the leap. The rectory was valued at about $6,000 and the furniture at SI,OOO. The loss was partly covered.by insurance. Several windows in the church were broken by the heat.