The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-20
FIRE
Four Dwelling Houses Burned.

policemen Curtis and Wright we're pacing
east on their beat, on Orleans street, they
discovered fs mes bursting from the empty
building east of, and adjoining Valentine
Ohlweiler's saloon, on the south side of
Orleans street and west of the U. 2. Church.
One of the men FASTENED to the Western
Engine house to sound the alarm, and the
other man reused the inmates of the sdioin-
ing houses. So sound asleep were Mr..
| Ohlweiler's folks, and Mr.. Rettig's ION the
east and Mr.. Mueller's. on the west side,
that 1t was necessary to burst open their
several doors Before they could be reused
The Eggleston and Rescue Engines were
soon on the ground and st wo.k k, but owing |
to the high wind aud the bursting of the
rotten hose, they were unable to extinguish
the flames, and confined themselves TO pro-
tecting the surrounding property, and keep
| ing the fire within bounds. The cistern at
the Western Engine house was fortunately
we'll filed with water, else would the
corner buildings and those on the opposite
corner, have been destroyed. As it was, the
wind being almost sou,herly at the time, it
required the utmost exertions of the hremen
to keep the brick block on the opposite
side of the street from being fred.
The fire worked both ways, and after
burning down Mr.. Ohlweilers property
consisting of his saloon and residence, and
store room and residence on the west side,
and an unoccupied store on the east aide
lit attacked Mr.. Rettig's house, and finally
left it total skeleton. q ruin.
Mr.. Mueller saved ell his goods and
stock, and escaped with the loss of his
sleep and place of residence.
Mr.. Ohlweiler lost oil three Of his build
Ings and a greater portion of his house
hold goods sand saloon stock and FIX
lures. His total loss will foot up nearly
$4,000. He was insured for $2,450 in the
following companies, on his buildings, wear
ing apparel, household goods, saloon stock
and fixtures: Underwriters Agency, n,
Y, $500; North American Insurance
, | oIPhnyI X. : TtoV3 WESTERN IusaIouce
Co, Buffalo. N Y. $500; Messrs Hayes &
Cleveland, Agents.
MIR. Rsttig loses about $3.50 to $400. He
owned the building and lot; considerable OF
his household goods were saved. We un-
derstand that a subscription paper hss been
{ started for the relief of Mr.. Restig, as lie is
in dast;tuta circur1stannas and NC bona IN
citizens will donate cheerfully, for be is now,
in measure dependent upon public charity.
The origin Of the FIRE, in q roou that had
been unoccupied and not entered for week
is pretty strong proof of incendiarism, and
the fact of its breaking out at that late hour
:. of the night, proves that whoever did tbs
deed was possessed of some strong desire
for revenge; at any rate, there can be nj
doubt, for an instant, bnt what the building
! was fred by some person intent on spoil OIL
worse.
Mr.. OhlEeiler and his family took refrug,
:, with Mr.. Jacob Ohlweiler, at the corner o
Illinois and Elk streets. Mr.. Mueller re-
moved his goods into the old frame build
e ing, west Of Eggleston's Row, on Orlean
street; we were unable to learn where Mr.
Rettig removed his family and the remnap
- of his goods.
Considering the disadvantages unde
which the FIRE companies were forced 4
labor, they worked veil. and are deserving
of the highest praise. It is q fact, and vel
worth consideration, that the oity is no. q
r. the present time, in possession of more thai
$50 feet Of servicea5le hose. What If tn
:. demon of destruction and desolation shout
visit our city tonight. How are we pre-
pared to receive him ? What could GU
FIRE department accomplish with FIVE length
of hose Nothing. Absolutely nothing
Our city fathers voted, on last evening, t
:. purchase hose. The sooner it is purchased
the better for the interests of the city. An
as we have had an extended experience
with poor hose, and it has been demonstra
g ed that poor hose is worse than none. Il
s. the next lot be FIRST class, even if "privat
n enterprise" has to be called in. La.
Id nights work proved the truth of the chic
ut engineers statement, which was ''placed o
BY file." Had action been taken on his sugge,
it tons when they we're made, last evening
" conhagration might not have been SO e,
10 tensive. if not entirely sverted.