Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1887 — Reduced to Ashes. [ARTICLE]

Reduced to Ashes.

Ferguson’s Flouring Mill Destroyed this Morning. The flour mill near the depot was discovered to be on fire a little after four o’clock this morning, and although the fire had not made much headway when discovered, the inflamable material in which it had to work, and the total ibsense of any means for fighting

it, it was but a short time before the whole buildings and all its contents were totally destroyed. The fire originated in the engine room, and the direction of the wind was such as to quickly carry the flames through the whole building. The mill was the sole property of B. F. Ferguson, although Emmet Kannal held a mortgage upon it for SI,OOO. Mr. Ivannai’s loss is fully covered by insurance, but Mr. Ferguson’s loss is uninsured, The total value of the property destroyed is estimated at $5,000. The origin of the fire is unknown, but we understand Mr. Ferguson inclines to the belief that it was the Work of an incendiary. . There were severalhundreddollars-wolth

of grafu burned in the mill. A considerable crowd of people gathered at the fire, and through their exertions the fire was prevented from from communicating to the adjacent lumber sheds of 0.1). Nowels an& Isaac Colborn.