Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1918 — BARN DESTROYED BY FIRE [ARTICLE]

BARN DESTROYED BY FIRE

The barn on the Wilson Shafer property on the corner of Cullen and Vine streets was practically destroyed by fire shortly after 1 o’clock Monday. The property is occupied by Frank Miller, the section boss. The family had some coal oil in the barn and Mrs. Miller sent her son, about 12 years of age to the barn to bring up some of the oil. He was accompanied by a young son of John Ward, the blacksmith. In pouring out the oil they spilled some on the cement floor and decided to set it on fire, which they did with disastrous results. The barn was insured for $l5O in the A. D. Babcock agency at Goodland.