Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-12-20

j. D. Wilson, jeweller, re.aoved his en-
tire sto~k With but little loss-fully insur
ed.
Cone-,he merchant tailor. No. 2, LeClaire
Row, sustained . loss - above stated and
also packed nis goods for removal. but did
not take them from the store. E. Roths
chilli L Co, dealers in clothing, No. 4. L.
Clare Row, removed his stock. Loss about
81 ,5O0-insured.
Z. s. BalIord Druggist, No. 6, pref ared
his goods for removal, and removed por-
tion.-losl about t3OO-insured.
G. S. Whistler, dealer in Dry Goods, suit
cred severely in removing his goods and
g.ttinng his stock vet by water from the
engines leaking down-Loss abon, &4COO-
fully insured.
10 the second story Of the Row-Messrs.
Orherndorfcr & Berneis, wholesale dry
good-sv9ered in removing and by the va
er TO TIM extent Of $4,000.
/ III LcSIuuC AI0ti outt oStot
ton 4 Merrills Business College, in the third
story Of the Row. considerably damage
was done in the way Of having the rear
windows smashed out bv the falling wall
Of the burnt block, and by being footed
with water.
The Fire Companies we're IS promptly
on the ground as could have been expected,
on such an extremely cold night, and did
/ that men could do under the circumstan.
ces, to save the building. Scarcity Of help
and rapidly freezing hose, were serious o'.>
stacles to their success. The perfect still
ness Of the night was favorable to combining
the II .mcs to the building where the fire
commenced. The falling wells smashed
the out buildings in the rear Of the block,
and tn. outside stars on War, iner's store,
and come near killing several fireman who
we're IN Mr.. Els stable in the rear Of the
building. The falling walls struck one
side Of the roof. which threw up the other
side, throwing the tiremen some ten feet in
to the Air. Nothing serious resulted from
that very narrow escape. The strenuous
efforts made to save the buildings north Of
the burning block we're etfsetual. No
goods were removed.
One Of the members Of Fire King Engine
Company, Ernest kab'sius, pipenan on the
Hope hose, while carrying his hose into
the room IN the 4th story in which the f re
originated. got lost in the dense smoke
could not find his way out, aud snffocated.
He stuck to his hose and was drawn from
the room by his comrades. He was taken
home, aud Or. Tomson Was called at one
time his life was despaired Of. lie may re
cover.
The sudden and complete destruction Of
one Of the finest blocks in the city should not
be allowed to.pass without the moral q 'ched
hereto being placed before the public. Our
city needs Steam FireEngine. Had one been
in the city last night. there cannot be the
least doubt but that the entire block could
have been sav ed At least SO think our
most experienced fremen. Enough pro-
perty was Destroyed last night, to have
paid for over half dozen Of the very best
steam Engines, and We hope our citizens
will take warning 4 ON the present disaster,
and prepare for future ones. The fact Was
dem ,nstrated to certainty, last night, that
our Engines are utterly powerless to ex-
tingnlsh fire in = building Of any great
heigth Even the experiment resulted in
= number Of accidents, and a loss Of life.
Is it then polite part to sit quietly down
and await further calam,ties, merely to fol
low the dictates Of an economy IS short
sighted as it is foolish: We have no assur-
ance that last night scene will not be re-
peated constantly during the winter. II
our Engines are inadequate. will our peo-
pie quietly sabmit to see their wealth con
sumed, merely to prevent small outlay ?
Every property holder, and businesss man
OF the city should Immediately come for
ward and aid in the purchase Of = steam
fire Engine.
Capt Henry Bat,crton. who unfortunate
ly lost his life, was formerly sergeant in
the Seventh Iowa iutantry, and afterwards
capt~in in the 49th infantry. He Was an
unnarr d man. about thirty two years Of
age, and had only heen in this city about a
month. lie vas printer by trade, and
worked first in the Gdzette office, and then
in the Office Of Luse Il Grisgs. His friends
reside in Oskaloosa, and Information has
been sent to them Of the fatality. His
body Is nov at the LeClaire House awaiting
their orders. In the fall his skull was frac.
tured, his chin and throat badly gashed,
and his right arm broken. A member Of
Rescue Company No. vas also badly in
jured by falling bricks. but We have been
unable to learn his name.
At about twelve o'clock, to day, tn .
Hook and Ladder Company pulled down
the walls, VIII h threatened danger to all
passers by,
| Ger IxsuRED. wait another hours
nut QUIT runring any more RISKS ana 60
straight and get insured. There is in this
city = reli.ble Home Company-the Nation
al Insurance Company that is prepared to
take your risks and pay your losses prompt
" a. thev accur. Patronize Heme Institu
tions all the while, and keep the money at
home. Let the fire Of last night serve a. .
warning to all who have perishab:e proper
ty. Several of our citizens lost heavily last
night, BY nsslect,ng their duty in this re-
spcct. Don't wait for another warning but
make application to the Davenport National
without delay. 1t IS responsible-the men
interested in it are welI kno~n to be relia-
bic and in every wsv worthy Of confidence.
Now is the time to insure. Let itnot pass
BY.