The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-25
DIR. NEAL is DEAD
VERY PROMINENT OKLAHOMAN HAS
PASSED AWAY.

One of the Founders of the Oklahoma
Agricultural and Mechanical College at
stiIlwater-Duriug a Fit OF Coughing
He Bursts Blood vessel-oklshoma
City Experiences Severe Loss in the
Burning of the Mill Of C. &. Jones
Thirty Thousand Dollars is Lost, There
Heing About eI3, 900 Insurance.
Guthrie, o. T, Dec. PA telephone
message from saltwater yesterday an
nounced the death ON Sunday night Of
Dr.. ]. c. Neal. He was attacked with
congestion of the stomach and during
a fit Of coughing, burst a blood vessel.
producing death. The deceased was 81
years old, and was one Of the founders
of the Agricultural and Mechanical col
lege, having been appointed by Gov
ernor Steele. DR.. Neal was a man of
great mental endowments and was
very popular. For several years he was
director of the experimental station,
but this year was holding the chair OF
mathematics and physics. Deceased
was a cousin of J. W. Neal Of this city.
The funeral took place yesterday after
noon at o'clock.
MILL IS BURNED.
The Oklahoma City Times-Journal
has the following on the burning Of
"Grist Mill Jones establishment yes
terday morning:
Fire started in Jones mill at 6 o'clock
this morning, and in one hour the mill
property was almost totally destroyed.
The engine house and all its belong
nigs, the -four house, elevator, office
and scales and a little machinery in
the basement were saved.
The loss is $1,000, and the insurance
$4,000 on the mill and $3.50 on the stock.
Mr. Jones had Cancelled $4,000 Of insur
ance on the stock 2 few days ago in or
der to make some changes in the rate.
Fire alarms were turned almost SIM
ultaneously from DR.. Bloomfeld'S
home and from the electric light plant.
A man dashed into the electric light
plant and called to the engineer that
Jones mill was on fire, and the engin-
eer Immediately turned in the alarm.
About the same time Mr.. Wolf ran to
Mr. Jones' residence and called him
out. He jumped from bed and slipping
on his shoes rushed out to save his mill,
oblivious to rain or cold wind. The vol
unteer firemen were first on the ground
with hose cart No. 2, which is located
on the mill grounds, the streets being
in such condition that the Central Fire
company'S team could go scarcely fast
er than a walk. Splendid work was
done after the company got to the fire,
and many neighbors who reached the
scene of the fire early, did splendid
work in saving stock.
The main efforts of the fire company
were directed toward saving the engine
house, -four house and electric light
plant. The engine house is of brick
and touches the mill proper on the
southwest corner, the flour house is on
the west side, and is connected by a
porch; and the electric light plant is
thirty feet east. None of them were
seriously DANA ged. The ground floor
of the mill burned through only in one
place, so that most of the machinery
in the basement is saved. The fire prob
ably originated in the bran bin in the
southwest corner of the mill. The roof
had become leaky and Mr.. Jones had
made arrangements some time ago for
a new roof. 1t is believed that the rains
had moistened the bran, causing COM
bustion. No fire had been built in the
Hllli IOT THREE udyS, anu lHcIc - LNslii-
ing to suggest incendiaryism.
The big mill was the first one built in
the territory and was the biggest mill
in the territory when 1T burned. having
a capacity of 440 barrels. 1t was built
in 1890. and was run at a good profit
from the time of starting up.
The loss is about $4,000 and about
$4,000 is saved in grounds. buildings.
stock and machinery. The s13,750 of
insurance Is all in good companies. The
Indebtedness on the plant is all held
Nordyke & Mormon of Indianapolis,
manufactures of milling machinery.
Mr.. Jones was seen a $50 this mrn-
ing. and while feeling the loss keenly,
had not given up but declared his in
tention to rebuild and he was confident
that a new mill would be ready for op-
Grafton by the time the new wheat is
ready to manufacture into flour.
He desired the Times-Journal to say
that he fully appreciated the good work
done by the fire department and the
citizens.
Mrs. Jones is almost Frustrated over
the loss, and it was her grief more than
his loss that unnerved Mr.. Jones.
The loss is a serious one to Oklahoma
City. as we'll as TO Mr.. Jones. and ev-
erybody hopes that he can restore his
mill in time to begin on the new wheat
crop.