Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1918 — DWELLING DESTROYED BY FIRE [ARTICLE]

DWELLING DESTROYED BY FIRE

Oil Stove Explodes and House and Contents Burned. The former Clift property on College avenue, now owned by Charles Battleday and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bowen and family of four small children, was totally destroyed by fire starting from an oil stove at about 7 o'clock Thursday morning. Mr. Bowen, who is employed at the Main garage, had got his breakfast and gone to work.' Mrs. 'Bowen had put over some water on an oil stove for a washing which she was doing for other parties and had gone over to Guy Hudson's, a neighbor’s, for a moment, when one of the two small children which were up mn over and told her the stove was on fire. She hurried home but just before, reaching the house the stove exploded, throwing burning oil all about the kitchen. She called to two of the children who were upstairs in bed. One of them came r <l«jwn but the other became confused, •and she rushed up the stairs, bringing the child down through the flames, receiving a number of burns in doing so. Before the fire company could reach the scene and get a stream of water playing on the fire the house and all its coi«~ tents were almost totally consumed. The family had nothing left but the clothes on their lack, and subscription papers were circulated during the day and a goodly sum raised for their benefit. The dwelling was insured but the contents were not covered, the family moving her j a few from Winaipac and having failed to have the policy on their effects transferred.