Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1897 — Fire at the Court House. [ARTICLE]

Fire at the Court House.

Monday morning by the prompt action of the fire department with the assistance of the employees about the buildiiig jlfire,. which_ might have proven very damaging, wak extinguished in the basement of the court house. While Charley Platt was attempting to fill a lamp with gasoline the oil became ignited and caused an explosion. The flames soon, spread to the flamable packing around the furniture, which is stored in the basement, but were soon undercontrol after the arrival of the department. The damage is confined mostly to tho furniture, Which amounts to S7OO. The building was filled with smpke, but not to the extent that any damage was done.

The furniture Burned was for the court room arid was to have been placed in position this week and be in readiness for the opening of court next Monday, but this will be impossible now as the pieces that were not charred will be shipped back to' Toledo and rebuilt, which will take several weeks. The loss will fall on the furniture manufacturers as there was no insurance. 1 This is the furniture Heinzmann Bros., the court house contractors, would not allow to bo unpacked until the building was accepted from them by the board of commissioners.