The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-07

F1RE.-About half past 80 clock last even
ing THE 6th1 the Rev. Mr.. Nc Allister of the
firm of Harper & Co, and Mr.. Noftsker, one
of his clerks, came out of their store to go
home They smelled fire, and soon traced
it to the Rock Island Honse, ran in, gave the
alarm, and found it to be in the little wooden
back part of Burgh Brothers, grocery store.
This little one story building is in the back
yard of the Rock Island House, and contain-
ed nothing but coal and BINDINGS. When
discovered the FIRE was burning up the wall
(outside and inside) of the back end, towards
the alley, and in the little open shed belong
ing to the Rock Island House, which was
attached to it. 1t had not then reached
above five feet from the ground and half
dozen buckets of water properly applied
would have extinguished it. But everybody
was alarmed, strangers ran for their baggage,
and the fire increased, against the efforts of
the few who tried hard to stop it. In the
meantime the alarm had been given and
our fire engines were promptly on the ground
and got to work in few minutes. A great
crowd of men suddenly assembled and set to
work helping the firemen, and clearing the
buildings of their contents. Mayor kimball,
City Marshal Cropper, Engineers Stoddard
and Ross, and other city officers, were on
hand promptly, organizing and directing the
labors of the people to stop the spread of the
fire. messenger was Immediately dis
patched to Major Edison, at the Arsenal,
requesting aid from the Island, and Lieat.
Shaler soon appeared on the ground with
the great United States steam fire engine
with steam up, drawn at rapid rate by four
horses, followed by the hose carts
drawn by the soldiers. When the
government machine arrived, our FIRE
men had got the fire under control, but
they were much exhausted and it was hard
find force enough to man the brakes
The arrival of the government machine was
hailed with JOY by all. 1t soon got to work
and put an end to the fire.
Too much credit cannot be awarded our
brave and noble firemen, who were promptly
on the ground, with machines and hose in
tip-top order, and who set to work with de-
termination to conquer the fire at the earli-
est possible moment. The fight was des-
perate one, with the terrible north west wind
blowing a gale, and the water freezing al
most as fast as thrown from the hose-but it
was done, and the efficient fire department
OF Rock Island deserve the credi. of it, aid
ed by the very valuable assistance from the
Arsenal. Words can hardly express the
gratitude of our citizens to our fire depart
ment and city officers, and to Lieut.. Shaler
and all under his command, for preventing
what, at one time, threatened to be most
destructive confagration.
The origin of the FIRE we cannot learn.
II may have been set by some incendiary
from the back yard, or it may have taken,
from some accidental cause, inside. The
preprietors and clerks IN the store had been
absent for about an hour.
1t will seem wonderful to any man who
looks at the ruins, TO find that the frame is
standing, a good deal of the outside unburnt,
and that no part of the Rock Island House
1.-THE kitchen of which is within few feet Of
this back building was scorched.
The next store west is that of J. 4 NJ
Guettel, the roof of which was burned out
and fell in, and the back part of which was
pretty well used up.
This is the extent of the fire, except a
triaing damage to the back part of the build
ing occupied by Mr.. Levi, as confection-
er, and overhead by Newberry & Solander,
photograhists.
The store of Burgh Brothers was the fin
est family and retail grocery in the city and
filled with large and valuable stock Of
goods. The stock was removed, in dam
aged state, to Herrick,s and other places OPP
posite, except what was stolen in moving.
| The firm has insurance TO the amount Of
$4,000, in Cops agency, which will proba
bly, more than cover the actual loss. But
the damage to the firm, not covered by in
! surance, will be very considerable, as they
had Just got started into good business
and tbs best part of the year for business
was just otening-the holidays and the win
ter. They has> moved the remains of their
stock into James : Gilmore's grain ware
house, on the levee, neat door east of the wool
en- factory, and will retulp to their store as
soon as it can be repaired.
The stock of Messrs. Guettel ~as hurried
ly moved, and in very bad conos;on. TT
Mr.. Henry Nolds saloon, opposite. ybe,
had $4,000 insurance at Cops agency
also ST. 800 in the Chicago Fireman's comp
any. Their damage is fully covered, bu
their trade is lost and they have no store
until the one they occupied can be repaired
The next store west is occupied by MI
Levi, confectioner, who had insurance a
Copp's agency for $500. Mr.. Copp refuse'
to let his stock be moved, knowing that
would be destroyed or stolen if moved, an