The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-14
EXTENT OF THE DESTRUCTION,

The burned district covers fifty-two
blocks seven of which are not swept en-
tirely clean. 1t is sixteen blocks in DEPTH
and averages a width Of three blocks. From
the housetop the smoking burned district re-
semblss huge black half opened
fan lying acrois the island, from the
bay. noarly to the gull The island
at that point is nineteen blocks. or
one mile and a quarter wide. The fire
started on the north side Of Avenue A, bet.
ter known as the Strand, which is one block
from the bay, and it stopped within two
blocks Of the gulf. Sixteenth street is nine
blocks west OF the extreme inha abitablo ends
of the island, the first residence street being
Sixth street From Avenue A to
Avenue d the fire was confined to
the strip bounded on the cast by Six
teenth street and on the west by Seven
teenth street. The business part of the city
begins at Twentieth street and runs west
ton blocks. This outline locates tho fire,
which began to spread rapidly after it had
passed Avenue d. BY the time it had
sweeping nearly three blocks in width from
the west side OF Seventeenth street to the
east side of Fourteenth street.
About 100 houses were burned, which
were occupied by fully 500 families. From
Avenue A to Avenue E. for four squares
the burned dwellings we're occupied almost
entirely by the poorer class, and several
families we're crowded. into single house
in this strip. From Avenue L, however,
the burned district includes the wsalthiest
and most fashionable portion Of the city
One hundred elegantly furnished man
sions are in ruins Many OF these residences
had beautiful gardens attached, and the
money losses do not half represent their
II. . h.,
heard at this time The city assessor says
the taxable value Of the dwellings burned is
$3.50, 900. This makes the actual value of
tho property $500, 900, which perhaps
represents the loss IN money.
The insurance is estimated at 5000, 900,
although some insurance men who have
walked over the district place the insur-
ancs at $500. 900.
The Gene during the progress of the fire
was simply frghtful The wind rose to u
screaming gale in the vicinity Of the fire
and swept through the burning belt in
terrific whirls, carrying millions of live
cinders high up in the air and raining them
down a mile distant over the wooden city
and its panic-stricken inhabitants. The en-
tire east end of the city scarcely contains
. doxsn brick dwellings All is wood
Texas pine-and it burned with
an indescribable fury Five minutes
after house had caught it would DO
wrapped in one mighty flame. The alley.
ways and street squares on either side of
the burning belt were filed with the
blanched faces OF helpless men, women, and
children, who could do nothing in such a
gale but watch the flames lick up the fruits
of a lifetime.
The hotels ara filed with homeless people,
and citizens committee is now at work
apportioning families to rooms and prem
ises vacated for their use. Every vehicle
in the city is at work carrying
the strewn furniture. bedding
and pictures to secure places
Thousands of people haunt the burnt dis
trict, looking among the smoking ruins for
valuable ksepsakes or jewelry, hoping to
find something left, but all is as bleak and
as barren a desert Even the
huge wooden water tanks aud fences
and sidewalks and telephons poles
ale burned to white ashes
Business is entirely suspended. The calamity
Is so great that men choke with tears in
speaking of it. Some scores of sick people
were hurrie1ly removed during the confa-
graft IN, AMI many women reported as
prostrated by the terrible excitement 4
meeting of citizens is now in progress at the
cotton exchange to provide immediate
shelter for the poor.
Already the rich and the well-to-do of
those who nave lost their elegant mansions
have deter minsl to look after and provide
for the poor people, and Galveston will
probably make no appeal to the outside
world. Following close on the heels of the
great strike, which inflicted loss on the
business men of Galveston of fully $500, 001,
this calamity is the climax to the woes and
soreatiiictions OF this city.