The Tunnel Mill, ancient landmark which has stood on Fourteen Mile Creek, four miles from Charlestown, Indiana more than a century, was razed by fire at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.  Origin of the blaze is undetermined.

The Tunnel Mill was the last over-shot wheel to operate in Clark County.  Until the World War it was used as a flour mill.  It was built and operated originally in 1812 by John Work, Clark County pioneer, on a bend in Fourteen Mile Creek.  About 1820 Work blasted out a tunnel through a hill which separated the sides of the creek curve, ninety feet below the summit and 100 yards long.  This gave the mill the power of a ten foot drop of water, using the tunnel for a sluice.  Work engineered the tunnel himself, manufacturing his blasting powder on the ground as he needed it, it is said.

The old mill for the last few years has been used as a dressing room by bathers, and it is believed one of them might have left a lighted cigarette or match and caused the fire.  It has for years been one of the show places of the county.  It was recently purchased by Henry Murphy of Charlestown.