Davenport Daily Leader

1894

Loss of Life

Des Moines, Jan.24 - The building of the Boone county poor farm burned this morning. Only one inmate escaped. Those burned were:

Mary Tucker

Johanna Sniggs

Anna Soderberg

Christine Anderson

Christine Petersen

Mrs. Scott

Tom Leaser

Joseph Craig

The shocking affair has caused a great sensation. The lack of fire protection and the age and infirmity of the inmates are responsible for the loss of life.

The building burned was one in which the incurable insane were confined, and the fire occurred at 10 a.m.* Mrs. Hubbard, the only one who escaped, gave the alarm too late to save the other inmates.

*The fire was believed to have started at night.