The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-10-22
DESTRUCTIVE FINE.
BURNING or xHH xoDn6AM
HOUSE. T&


the Rodman House. For the most part,
the guests had not made their appearance.
Mr. Hutchins ascertained that the cry very
singularly came from one Of the upper
stories. He ran up stairs and found thai "a
conaagration was in progress in 'ne ne"
Mansard roof and fourth story As the
partitions were upholstered, the
flames caught aloDs. the dry lath'
ion Az uuou so much finder, and spread
in every direction with lightning like rapid
ity. The exac. spot where the FIRE original
ed could not be determined on, but 1t was
supposed to be in the new roof somewhere
near the southeast corner of the main build.
ing. On discovering the cause Of the alarm,
Mr. Hutchins, with great presence Of mind,
dispatched his full force of employees to
rouse up the large number Of people who
were sleeping unconscious Of the danger.
Men were also rent to ring the FIRE bella. In
few moments the whole city was made
aware tina, an unusual FIRE was in progress.
The alarm was also raised in Davenport and
Moline.
The scene in the hotel at this time was
) most exciting one. The flames extended so
rapidly tina, most Of the people in the third
story we're glad to escape with their hves, as
the stairway to the street was mensnced by
: the Kissing sheets of fire, while the cracking
> over head, and the falling of cinders, tim
, bers, and brick, united to form picture
: sufficient to quicken the pace of the coolest
y and most deliberate person. A great many
were satisfied to make their way to the par
4 lors on the first floor, in the most primitive
- costumes. Among these we're quite mum.
- Der of ladies'. Some few Of the gentlemen
ID rushed back to their rooms for valuables,
but about all the baggage, furniture, loose
70 clothing, and personal property on the third
story was totally destroyed. All who at
D, tempted to get anything out were driven
d back by the binding smoke and fire.
The first impression was that the con
naRration could be brought under subJec
- ton in a short time, and that it would be
unnecessary to remove the furniture on TN
Al. first floor, but as the FIRE was continual.
,e, dropping through upon the lower floors
~ fresh outbreak occurred, and in short tim
I'd the whole four stories we're burning. Som
nd ,rsttrasses and other articles Of the kint
he were flung out the windows Of the secon'
story, but before anything Of importance
could be saved, the falling timber
drove everybody from the house
The furniture Of tho first floor WAS chlei
all saved, and some on the second floor, but
are ia calculated that three fourths OF all tn
&c. baggage, furniture, and property in the n
AXE tel was destroyed. This fact will serve
her illustrate how speedily the destruction wi
contaminated. Immediately after the bel
rang, the Fire Department began to arriV
T. The Western engine, the Eggleston and Il
the Rescue were promptly on hand, aud oFen'
lis. upon the fire. Shortly afterwards,
AR. splepdid engine on the Island arrived, t
ting "Uncle Sam then the Mississippi, ire
lint Moline, and the Fire King, from Davenpo
con. hurried to the scene. 1t seemed AS thou
D re. nothing could save the main building, no
=. o -er, and while the hremen were BtrugRli
there, o huge mass Of the eastern wall I
ANS tered and fell below. The heavy chime
'He of the roof soon followed, while the cont
nal dropping Of the cornice-work render
near the task Of the department extremely p
rom ilous. Attention was accordingly turned
save the work of preserving tse adjoining bui
ings. Vests saloon, and the stores
Swanson and Sargent 4 Co., were so
az cleared of all the stock contained in the
10 by the exertions Of the people. /
near streams of water we're turned on that p
ton of the hotel above these stores, and
To, flames were checked although it is doubt
c,;.a whether the walls are still substantial
oror not as the roof has all been burned avn
A stream was also played upon the re
of the building; upon the root of the bui
to ing above Mrs. Johnsons restaurant, a
the upop the hove, lA,,ereu MUD >4,,a,.s~ ~I;e
'rng ing, in order to prevent the flames IT
spreading. The danger was not fully pr
thar ed, and the fire brought under subject
y, until after nine o'clock.
tbo During the fire vast populaee gather
ord 10 view the exciting soene, and msteria
aided in saving property. Vests, Sargen
and Swansous goods were all piled alo
the the sidewalk opposite, and placed unc
and the surveillance Of the police force. T
'ries little furniture saved from the hotel v
ndl. scattered about the streets aud alleys,
,ket. the first convenient spot reached by
rect reseuers
In regard to the origin Of the FIRE, it
49,, generally presumed that it started in
= q, new Mansard story from del
tive hue. When first discovered,
@ of had Just broken out there. tt
A whole story was subdvided into unplaste
and partitions and was filed with lumber, CT
ness pings, shavings, and other combustbles
OF course the flames spread rapidly hi
while the ciuders fell in showers below,
T. hitting the lower stories, and spreading {
III truction on every hand with the most "
% it, ao.e,, .o,;a;,r I, ia s.t;sfactorv To K,
'AAes that no lives were lost as must inevita
'ou'u have occurred had the disaster taken pl
largo during the night 1t is the general opin
con of those acquainted with the upper 81,
soiu that some of the fues we're imperfect,