The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-11
THE KEITHSBURG FIRE.

Last week we published the fact of dis
sstrous FIRE at heithsburg, in which two
boys were burned. The keithsburg Observer
gives the following particulars of the sad
affair
It was half al hour before midnight that
the alarm OF ire was gIveu. A ball was
progressing IN Apollo Hall, and 10 au III
credible snort u3e the whole company was
on the ground, while but a few minutes
more suthced to awaken the entire town and
BRING the people 10 the spot, where they
found ths large livery stable OF II. \. Ives
already ID sheet OF hame.
In small room on the second floor, in
the southeast cOeuer of the building, two
boys, one the son of MIR. Ives and the other
son OF Mr.. Demsier, were sleeping, and
al effort was made by those who first arrived
to reach the room aud save them, but the
flames, In their rapid progress through the
combustioie material, hai filled the house
and made 1t i'm possible to reach them
After the building fell in the burning rub
bish was cleared away, the charred remains
were found, young Demster lying just where
the bed had stood and Ives about five feet
from hun, everything indicating that they
had been SO sutfocated BY the smoke As to
become lnsensible before they awoke, or the
flames reached them.
ne boys were not in the habit of sleeping
10 the stable, but that night, as the regular
attendants we're to be absent young Ives
stayed so as to wait upon customers who
might want to get their horses out, his
young friend sleeping with him for company
No: half al hour before the alarm, they
were seen by Mr.. Pitts in bed and asleep.
Mr.. Ives loss is considerable. Four
teams and carriages were absent. having
gone to Aledo, but the rest of his stock
with considerable grain, was in the stable.
Seven of his most valuable horses were
burned. Five horses from the country. be
longing to Charles Prick, George Seaton,
VIM. Vance, Abisha Dodson, and William
Willis were also burned. The total loss on
the stable and contents will not fall short of
$4,000. There WAS no insurance The
Nelson House and furniture was worth about
$4,000, and was insured in the Rockford
company for 81, $50. Mrs. Wade lost about
$4,000, on which the insurance had expired
few days before, and had not been renew.
ed. Jos. Thompson's loss was about 81 200
His house was insured for $500 in the Iii
nois Mutual and his furniture for $500 in
the same company. o. Hollands corn
house was worth $500, no insurance. c. C.
Matlock lost goods TO the value Of $500.
which we're not covered by his policy. W.
Ii. fhares lost drugs in an clubhouse to the
amount OF $500, and MelIinger lost odds and
ends worth $3.50. J. X Hawkins lost about
$50, and $1,000 worth of reaper repairs.
belonging to G. II. Mccormick. in the
charge of his agent hero were dsstroved
The total loss foots up abon, SIS, 800. with
an insurance of 5000 or s. 500. Nothing
but the most determined courage. and das.
perate work prevented the entire business
part of the town from being destroyed and
a crushing loss inflicted upon the commun-
ity. May it be long before we behold the
like again.
The origin of the fire is not known.
When first discovered, the entire centre of
the building was in flames. The loss is a
severe one upon the town, and but for the
presence OF so many upon the ground, so
promptly, who worked to their utmost to
prevent the spread of the flames. the entire
business part of the place would have been
destroyed.