Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-02-13
A TRAGEDY
At Mitchellville-A man Burned
to Death.
Great Excitement Among the People
Up There.


The State Register says that on
Monday night saloon between
Mitchellville and Colfax was burned.
Rumor had it that it was an incendi-
airy fire, kindled by women, and that
a man and a dog were burned to
death. A Register reporter was sent
to Mitchellville to hunt up the facts.
We give below part of his report
Our reporter was informed that
the building was fired so suddenly,
aud burned so rapidly, that man
and dog that were in the building
at the time had
Persisted IN THE FLAMES.
Fastening to the scene of the fire,
our reporter found large number
of people congregated. Small knots
OF men were gathered here and there
discussing the all-absorb!ng topic of
the hour. Approaching venerable
looking gentleman, the newspaper
fiend opened out upon him in this
wise:
"Good day, sir. Can you give me
any definite information in regard to
this fire, which seems to create such
an excitement here ?"
"Well," replied the old gentleman,
~ don't think there is anything def
mite known about the affair yet.
There were many conflicting rumors,
and for my part 1 hardly know which
to credit?'
(Which of the reports now current
seems to be the most probable p ask
ed the reporter.
GAS near as 1 can learn" replied
the old gentlemen, ''they all have
some shadow of truth. That is, the
substance of them all, so for as they
do not conflict, seems to be true"
"Will you please state to me in as
few words as possible, the facts as
you understand them ?" asked the re-
porter.
eyes, sir. The fire is undoubtedly
the work of an incendiary. 1t is re-
ported on pretty good authority that
q band Of women from Colfax were
ljoined by number of women from
Mitchel!ville, and together set the ga.
loon on fire. A man and dog were
supposed to be sleeping in the build.
ing at the time, and as they have mo-
yet been found, the belief is that they
have perished in the flames"
"Have any remains been found il
the de6risW
"Yes, sir; some bones have bee,
picked up, but it is not yet fully de
: termined whether or not they are tn,
remains Of q human being"
evil you give me your opinion OF
!, this point ?" asked the reporter.
eyes, sir; think it very probable
! that a man was burned with tn
building"
elbow is the affair regarded gener
ally at Mitchelville ?"
at creates the widest excitemen,
and until the matter becomes NOR
, quiet, nothing can be made known.
, The reporter had not long to re
9 main, and fastened back to MitcheI
, vile. While waiting for the train h
> entered into conversation with rel
= ident of the place, whom he found 8
! the depot.
= "Why does this matter cause sue
q an excitement? Is there any trut
t in the report that man persisted i
: the fire, last night?" asked the RI
I porter.
II think there is."
r "Do you think the building ws
: fired by women?"
Eyes, sir, do. There has been
|, strong feeling existing for some tim
!. against that Infamous den over ther
and since the men would not max
d any efforts to close it up the wome
have evidently taken the matter
q their hands. Everybody is glad
o has been burned. 1t has long bee
;. a source of much trouble to both OF
q town and Colfax. Men would col
gregate there from both places an,
after getting beastly drunk go hon
+ to abuse their families. 1 am glad
n is gone and we will see that its pla,
: is not filled very soon. AS regard
r the burning of man with the built
b ing, offer no positive opinion.
: far as can be learned at present, Il
r report has some truth in it."