Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1919 — H. B. TUTEUR GAR BURNED UP [ARTICLE]

H. B. TUTEUR GAR BURNED UP

Completely Destroyed by Fire of Unknown Origin Sunday. H. B. Tuteur had the misfortune to haye his Chevrolet roadster destroyed by fire - about 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Mr. Tuteur, with a couple of other young men, had driven out south of town to the grove Just east of Mt. Calvary cemetery and the car was Left at the roadside while the boys went over 'uto the grove. They had been there for * some little time when one of them noticed that the car was on fire. A hurryup trip iwas made to St. Joseph college and a fire extinguisher' secured, bqt the extinguisher failed to work and they then came to Rensselaer and secured an extinguisher. But when they got back with it the car was practical!/ destroyed, the entire iody and three wheels being burned' up. Had it not been for the fact that the boys were afraid the gasoline tank would explode they might possibly have put but the Are when first discovered. But they did not care, to take any chances and kept at a safe distance. The tank did finally blow out at the end and the escaping gasoline added to the ferocity of the flames. While the car had seen several years service, it was still in good running order and the tires were nearly all practically new, therefore the loss was a few hundred dollars at least. There was no insurance on the car. It is • not known how the Are originated, but Mr. Tuteur thinks that possibly some one passing along the road had' thrown a cigarette stub in the dry grass near the car or a cigarette stub may have been dropped In -the car when the boys left It, although the latter theory Is hardly' probable.