Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-07-13
Destructive FIRH.-On Sunda

evening, at about o quarter before eight.
the large and beautiful brick building, on
Perry street, between second aud Third sts,
known as Griggs' Block, was discovered to
be on fire. Those who first reached the spot
found that the fire commen in the third
story, in a small back stairway which leads
to the scuttle in the roof On investigation
it was ascertained beyond doubt, that the
fire was the work of an incendiary The
perpetrator of this outrage procured sack
of paper shavings from a temporary shed
in rear of the Printing house of Luse, Lane
Il Co. and in open day, carried it up aad
deposited the same in the hall of the
second story, where they were seen in the
afternoon by DR.. Worley. In the evening
these shavings were taken into the upper
hall, and thrust into the stairway before
mentioned, when the shavings were fired;
the door closed AMI fastened, and the build
ing left to its fate. The roof being of tin,
the progress OF the fire was necessarily slow,
but spread along between the ceiling and
roof, in every direction, so that before the
flames bust through the roof the rafters IL
many parts, We're burned away. The en-
gines Of this city and those of Rock Island
were promptly upon the spot, and as soon
as possible, put stop to the progress of the
flames. The building was occupied by
Francis Jacoby jr., Drug Store J. B. Sut-
ton & Co., Dry Goods Philbrooks Il Ham
llton. Boots and Shoes: and adjoining was
the Publishing House Of Luse, Lane 4 Co.
On the second floor was the Chess Club
rooms, the office of DR.. Worley, office of W.
l.. Carroll Architect, the shop of c. Buck
one unoccupied room. On the third
floor was the rooms of the Davenport Com
mercial College, Lopez 4 Pratt, and the
sleeping room of Mr.. Griggs proprietor of
the block, also several other unoccupied
rooms. The following is a statement of loss
DC
Francis Jacoby jr., in Jacoby's building,
druggist, moved out the most of his
stock, but did not sustain great damage.
The fire will not materially damage his
business-his customers will find him pre-
pared to fill orders as usual
J. Il. Sutton d Co., Dry Goods. moved
their entire stock. Nr. S. being absent at
the time the store was entered, many of his
goods were lost in moving. His loss Is
quite heavy. Goods were fully insured in
the Hartford, .Etna, and Home, and the
fixtures in the Phoenix.
Philbrooks & Hamilton, Boots and Shoes,
did not remove the stock, and suffered no
damage of Importance.
Luse, Lane d Co.'S building did not suffer
any material damage.
c. Buckmuller & Co., did not suffer great
loss. Insured.
Lopez d Pratt, Commercial College suf-
fered loss of about 5000. Not insured.
The damage to the block, the property Of
F. II. Griggs, is about $4,000. The entire
roof will have to be removed. a new one
put on the rooms of third story will re-
quire much repairing; also the first and
second. Asyet it is almost impossible to
fix the exact amount of damage Mr. Griggs
is insured in the Home, 4Etna and North
Western Companies for $4,000.
That this fire was the work Of an incen-
diary, there is no room for doubt left, and
we trust that some steps will be taken i'm
mediately for the apprehension and convic-
tion OF such person or persons - are con-
nected in this work of destruction. 1t was
only through good fortune that this fire did
not result more disastrousIy, aud deprive
our city of one of its best ornaments. This
good fortu ne Is to be attributed only to the
exertions of the fire companies, which went
to work with will, and accomplished thei
object.
REMOVALS..
, Messra J. B. Sutton d Co., were engaged
yesterday in removing their stock to tn,
store on Second street, formerly occupied b!
! J.C. washburn, where they will soon b
ready to zee old and new customers.
Il Messrs. Lopez 4 Pratt, of the CONNER.
t cial College, have removed their fixtures I
, another room on the second floor of th
e same building, and are ready to receiv
. students and transact business in their lin
q as usual.
ACCIDENT.
Mr. Luse, while engaged in subduing th
\ fire, fell through a scuttle hole to til
floor below, bruising him pretty severely
4 He was about y esterday, however. and u
, tending to his business as usual.
a SUGGESTION.
II The want of longer ladders with whie
to scale the walls with hose pipes. VI
!, severely felt on the above occasion. W
: would suggest that the Hook + 4AAd'
'e Company bs provided with one q =
= longer ladders sufReiently strong * -
an em0rQencv