Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1903 — Two Big Barns Burned In Jordan. [ARTICLE]

Two Big Barns Burned In Jordan.

Two large farptt bares were struck by lightning daring tbe storm Wednesday night, in Jordan Tp., and set fire to and destroyed. One was a large barn, 40 by 60 in size, on the farm of Wm. Washburn, who lives in Rensselaer. Tbe barn was strnok about 8 o’clock and was in a blaze at onoe. It had just been filled with bay, clear to the top. There being from 90 to 100 tons in tbe barn. Tuere were some horses in the barn, but all were got oot safely, from tbe fire, though one horse was very badly injured by the lightning, and may not recover. Bome of the harness kept iu the barn was also burned.

The loss is pretty well covered by insurance, there being SOOO on the barn, and S9OO on the oontente, berth in the Connecticut of Hartford, in C. B. Steward’s agenoy. A barn on the same site was burned 10 or 12 years ago. but not from lightning, bat supposedly from children playing with matohea. The heavy rain whioh fell while the barn was horning last night, was of great assistance in helping save a large oats bin full of oats whioh stood dose by. As was also the work ot a number of neighbors who saw the fire and harried to the spot. The other barn burned was that of Howard Barr, about a mile west of Mr. Washburn’s plaoe. His was struck and fired about 1C minutes before Mr. Washburn’s. This was a good sized barn, 30 by 40 in size and well filled with hay. He also lost a large part of his farming implements, bnt no live stock. His loss is also pretty well covered by insurance, we understand. Daring this same storm Mr. Kennel, of the same region, bnt nearer Foresman, had three oows killed by the lightning.