Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1908 — Fire in the Laundry Building. [ARTICLE]

Fire in the Laundry Building.

Fire broke out in the Horton cemen building Tuesday evening and did considerable damage before it was got under control. The lower floor of the building is occupied by Hemphill's blacksmith shop and the upper floor by Haas' laundry. In one corner of the laundry is the drying room, in which a fire is kept going In a stove to dry the clothes. The room was closed and the fire was not discovered until it had gained considerable headway. The fire was caused by defective construction of the building, the wood work being built against the chimney, which was not thick enough to retain the heat. The woodwork being full of rosin, caught fire from the heat of the chimney and had burned some time before being discovered. The ceiling and roof were burned through and the roof was also badly damaged by the axes of the firemen. Owing to the stifling smoke the firemen had difficulty in fighting the blaze and a number of them were nearly prostrated by the fumes. The loss to Mr. Horton is about SIOO, with no insurance. Beyond the inconvenience caused by the fire, Mr. Haas’ loss will not exceed $25. The blacksmith shop below was floodwi with water but the damage was slight