The Mill Was a Total Loss

Rowley's and Dernberger's crafting mill on Howard Street, adjoining the P. O. & N. railway tracks, was destroyed by fire at an early hour Saturday morning. The mill has been in operation here for about a year, and the principal output was crating for the local carriage factories. How the fire started is a mystery. The proprietors think that it started inside the mill, from the fact that a huge pile of sawdust along the west side of the structure as not even burned in places When the fire department arrived the whole building was one mass of flames and all they could do as to reduce it to a charred ruins. The machinery and shafting, excepting the boiler and engine, were entirely destroyed. The boiler and engine were badly damaged, but nit beyond repair. The loss is an especially severe one, just at this time to the owners of the mill. They had intended to begin the work of installing a sw mill in addition to their crafting machinery, Monday morning. Preparations were being made of the fall carriage trade and a considerable amount of stock stored in the yard was also burned. There is no insurance on either machinery or stock. The loss on the stock is upwards of $200 and on the building and machinery about $700. Before its coming to Pontiac, this same mill was owned by Frank Rowley and was operated at Leonard. about a year ago it was burned out at Leonard and instead of rebuilding there, Mr. Rowley decided to move the outfit to this city. It is not known whether or not the mill will be rebuilt here.