The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-16
DAYENP0RT'S BIG BLAZE.
Correct Statements of the Losses and
Insurance on Mueiler's Lumber
Mill...Narrow Escapes.


at Davenport vcsterday-of which only a
mcagrc account was given in last even-
ing's ARGUS, owing to the lateness of the
hour-was one of the heaviest and most
this vicinity for several years. The ORR
gin Of the fire is very much IN doubt; in
fact the entire matter is one of SUPPOSE
ton. MIR. Mueller, the proprietor of the
mill, has an idea that seems most plaus>
ible. According to his theory the fire
originated in the shaft between the plan
ing mill and the engine room. The shay
ngs of the planning room were consumed
as fuel for the engine, and in their cons
vcyanCe 10 that room considerable
quantity had been dropped, forming a
sort of layer of shavings This layer
caught fire from the fire under the boilers
and like a flash advanced To the planning
mill, as well MS entering the man mill,
and soon scattering over the entire struc.
turc AT one time during the afternoon
and n few minutes after the discovery of
the fire, it seemed apparent that nothing
could prevent a disastrous conilagraton
There was some delay in sending i'll the
alarm and as the streets were crowded
with teams the fire department eX-
perienced considerable difficulty in reach.
| inL the scene of the fire. The mill was in
flames W hen the hose carriages arrived,
and the chief, after ordering in general
Alarm directed his efforts nj saving the
immense lumber piles containing oven
foundry on the west. In this he succeed
ed, bat for the speedy and systematic
work of II paid department, the loss aside
from the mill would have bren great.
The loss to mill and machinery is abou
go, 900.
The main mill contained a large 4nan
tity Of costly machinery, of which thu
following are the principal machines One
muIlay, two rotarics, one cdger, one trim
mer, three slab saws, one cross cat saw
one latin mill and one shinglc mill. In tie
| IitdHlhg hltt tliItt llihh'lH anu 'uS III
saw were stationed la the engine room
were five boilers and two upright en-
giues. The working capacity of the mil
was 1000 feet of lumber day ant
this would give employment to 800 men
The mill was shut dow II about two week
The size of the main mill was l2jXiO ant
was erected by Strong Bururll in 1919
In 1891 Mr. Burnell sold it to 5 q Gil
lette and J. fl. Lambrite. IN IS Tho las
named firm failed, and the mill laid idl'
for two Years In 1860 1t was started "
10y G. X. Bruce, who sold it to Dcssain
Il Schricker in 1865. Afterwards Schtick
er bought ont Dcssaint, und took in!t
partnership Christ Mueller, who is tht
present owner. Mir SChrclier died abon
two years ago. and Mr. Mueller pnr
chased the entire plant and has been rum
ming ii ever since. Daring the past season
II 200, 600 feet of lumber. 4 ,4OO, OOi
lathcs, and 4 500, 900 shingles have beer
manufactured.
The insurance on the saw mill is 81, :
100, on machinery $4,000, on planning
of $50 325. The companies interested
are: Hartford, Globe, of Dcs Mones
Liverpool, London Il Globe, Continental
Traders, Hanover, British America, Wash.
ington, Germania Hawkeye, Amazon,
Home Mutual. Norwich Union. Insurance
Association, and Washington.
SEVERELY BURNED.
The fire was first discovered by Jacob
Guldner, the engineer. who upon return
ing to the engine room found it issuing
thcrcirom in almost untold quantities.
He enteied the door, rushed up to the en-
CINE and threw open the safety valve and
commenced returning the way he came
in He had no more than cssayed the
risk than the room was entirely abaze
He worked his way through the flames
and grasped the latch of the door and to
his horror found he could not open it.
While he was endcavorlngto pry open the
door, the fireman, Herman Meier came
up, horribly burned, and assisted as much
as was in his power to open the door
which he finally did. All the while both
were trying to open the door the flames
were leaping about burning their hands
heads and faces in manner quite indies
cribablc. When the men got out in the
open air, Mr. Guldncr started for II drug
store where his wounds were dressed. The
fireman, whose burns were very severe
foolishly rolled himself in the cold snow
but the pain was increased almost doubl,
by the act He Immediately started fol
, his home and it was with difficulty tina
he managed TO reach therc-two block:
away from the mill. His hands wert
burned so badly that they were bleeding
profusely But a few hairs of his Ions
eye brows were entirely gone. His face
about the ears, under the eyes and chin
especially, were burned to blister The
sufferer was hardly able to speak, and j
was with considerable agony that he tolG
his experiences in the engine room to hi:
wife The doctor was called, but he wa
unable to state what the effects of til.
. burn would be Mr.. Guldners iniurie
are less severe, and he will probably re-
cover from them in the course of few
, weeks