The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-19
THE FIRE FIEND.
The Davenport Wooden Mills in Flames
damages to the Extent Of
$4,000. Probable Work Of
an Ineendiary.

Some seditious person has at last sue
ceeded in along contemplated attempt to
fire the Davenport wooden mills. What
can be the reason or object of the incen-
diary is not known, but 1t is evident that
for some cause the mill has been purposes
ly burned. One week ago last Tuesday,
the ARGUS contained an item relating to a
fire in the wooden mills across the river,
in which damages were done to the prop
erty to the extent of $500. The fire oc-
CURED about noon, aud was discovered in
its incipiency and was speedily squelched
by the prompt arrival of the fire depart
ment. Suspicious were then entertained
that the building had been fired, but little
attention was paid to the matter, owing
to the small amount of the damages.
Several times previous to this, fire had
been discovered In the building. but was
always put out, without sounding an
| alarm.
1t was at fifteen minutes to this
morning that an alarm was sounded from
box SO across the river, and shortly after
two more alarms were sounded from the
same box in quick succession. 1t was
evident that there was a big fire some,
where. and people flocked to the corner
of College avenue and First street-many
going from this city-to see where the
fire was The flames were in the carding
room of the wooden mills, and were rag
ing furiously when discovered Hose No.
and Chief Strathnan, of the Davenport
department were on the ground and had
stream on the building in four minutes
| from the time of the sounding of the
alarm. Hose No. and Hook and Ladder
company No. 2 were on hand minute
later, but the flames were playing such
alarming havoc that the chief ordered a
second alarm, which brought out Hose
No: 8. and another alarm called out the
volunteer department In less than ten
minutes seven streams were on the
structure but the fremen were
FIGHTING THE FLAMES
: to no avail The floor was saturated with
oil from the machinery and it looked fol
time as if the fire would have every
thing its own way. The blaze spread
I through the machinery room and up intC
f the weaving room on the second floor
Destroying everything there, and entered
the third story where the spinning anG
' twisting machines were located. The fire
men now used their efforts to save the
{ wing of the building-not yet attacked by
the fire-and in this they succeeded, and
. in less than an hour the whole thing was
y under control.
4, The building is three story brick witt
dimensions of 140 by 60 feet, and located
near the river bank in East Da venport
f The fire was kindled in pile of Woo
in the carding room near window, which
was raised just high enough to allow suf
ficient draft to get the blaze well undel
way before discovered. The furna aces hat
not yet been started for the day, nor hat
there been a train passed for hours befort
Z the fire was discovered. There is no othe
D theory, but that it was the work of an in
cendiary. The mill was in good condi'
!, ton and apparently making money.
+ THE DAMAGES.
p The interior of the building with tn,
exception of the forty foot wing saved
d is ruined. the damage being estimated a
D. from 50, 800 10 $1,000 The damage t,
I the machinery is not less than $12, 900
making total loss of about SIS, 900
The building itself may be repaired, bu
new machinery VIII have to be furnished
: The property is largely insured, Their
q being $4,000 on the machinery an,
a about 49, 900 on the mill property.