The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-14
THE FIRE FIEND.
of an Atlanta Hotel by
an Tncendiary Blaze---The Vine
yard Haven Disaster.


house, the largest and finest hotel in the
south, was destroyed about ldaybreak As
soon as the flames were seen Mr. Seville, the
proprietor, ordered the porters and clerks to
awaken the guests. The men went through
the Railways, breaking open doors where
necessary to insure the safety of the guests
The fire, having originated in the rear build
ing was favorable to the escape OF all the
guests, and within twenty minutes the hotel
was emptied Within an hour the structure
was burned to the ground.
The tire broke out about 4;30 O'clock Opin-
ions as to the origin are conflicting Charles
Slider aud Phil Green, two of the Constitu-
ton boys, connected with the mailing de-
pertinent, saw the fire breaking out, and re-
alizing the danger the guests were in, rushed
into the huilding and made their way along
the corridors, waking up the sleeping occu
pants. In some places they certainly saved
lives, us there were people in the house who
had not been brought out by the first alarm.
The boys went to the top story of the house
and did much good work in waking peo-
pie They express the opinion that when the
debris was removed it would be found that
there are persons who persisted in the flames
The fire had enveloped the building On the
west side before the officers of the Gate City
bank arrived. L. j. Hill, the president, was
absent from the city. Welborn Hill and Ed
McCandless were on hand as soon as notified,
and with the assistance of citizens took the
valuable books and papers from the vault to
Il place of safety The safe, containing $500,
900 ia Valuabltss, cannot be removed As
soon as possible steady steam of water WAS
Ia . H. L. al
papers and money are all right.
The hotel was built by H. l. Kimball and
Is now owned by Robert Toombs, J ohm Rice,
Joseph B. Thompson, and Others 1t cost
5000, 900, while the furniture was valued at
Sl25, 900, The insurance was only $4,000
The Gate City national bank, Harrison &
Bro, tobacco store, John b Danniel drug
store, and other occupants of the stores be-
meath, are among the losers The total loss
is fully 81, 900, 600; the Insurance not over
500, Coz The fire is claimed by Mr. Culber
son, the agent of the. company, to he in
cendiary In the vaults of the Gate CITY
hank were $500, 900 concerning the fate OF
which there is yet much doubt
The loss by the kimball house fire is $780,
900 on the building and $125 900 on the fur
insure. On the whole amount there is only
$50, 900 insurance One reason why the own
| ers carried SO little insurance was because of
the high rate of charge The Kimball house
was considered the worst risk in the city and
the rate of 2114 per cent was charged, while on
ordinary central property only per cent was
charged The Republic block just opposite was
insured at 4 per cent, and additional of Il
being made because of the proximity of the
block to the hotel Mr. Scoville, proprietor
OF the hotel, spent $29, 900 on improvements
and furniture when he was preparing for the
exposition. He carried policy of $40, 900 on
this up TO year ago, when he declined to re-
new it. At the time Of the fire he had only
$l2, 900 insurance,
An investigation shows that no lives were
| lost in the fire, which was undoubtedly in
cendiary All personal baggage was saved.
The house viii be rebuilt 1t is impossible
yet to tell the condition of the $500, 900 in the
| hank safe.
! WHOLE TOWN BURNED.
Boston, Mass, Aug 13.-The town of Vine
| yard Haven, Marthas Vineyard has been
almost entirely destroyed by fire A large
number of cottages belonging to summer res
| idents were destroyed, as well as many stores
including the postoffice The fire originated
| in Baptist church from some unknown
cause, and communicated to a wooden build
ing in close proximity In few minutes the
large row of cottages was in flames Over fifty
acres in the heart of town were buried Hun
dreds of persons are homeless, many absolute
ly deprived of everything. The loss will prob
ably be not less than 500, 900
The wife of James Davis, an aged citizen
died from excitement consequent upon tbs
first The heaviest losers are: r. w. Cracker
harness lnanufactory, $23, 100; J. H Lambert
store and dwelling, s24, zoo, the Baptis
church, 5000; Luce Bros, dry goods, sl2, 00a
The mayor received the following telegram
To THE MAYOR-VinyardH Haven is burned
to the ground, Sixty-hve houses and store
are burned Families destitute and suffering
Boston and New York are helping Ca,
your city assist j. II. LAMBERT
Sec'y Relief COMMITTEES
COTTAGE CITY, Mass, Aug 1S-Thou
sands of people have visited the scene of tn
fire in VINEYARD Haven. The inhabitants O
the place are not broken and many are al
ready arranging to rebuild. Scores of home
less ones who are unprovided for will be care'
for temporarily by the relief committee
Sixteen hundred dollars have been subscribe
by citizens on the island for the relief of SUI
feTerS.