Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-28

SCENE OF THE FIRE.
and gave the alarm. The waterworks
was communicated with and the alarm
sounded. The bells rang and the volun-
teer service responded in remarkably
good time, the Franklins coming up with
horse and beating many of the other
nearer companies. who toiled bravely
along with the aid of the small boy. Mr.
Rasmussen returned before the fire had
gained much Roadway, and at once loca,
ted the fire, though the smoke in the
room was by this time suffocatipgly
dense, and had he had the prompt assis>
lance that paid service would have
rendered him, could have confined the
flames TO the spot where they were disN
cOved, but they spread to the parti-
tions, and when the firemen arrived they
saturated every available part of the sec
| ond floor running the elegant Brussels
| carpets in the reception and dressing
| rooms, and destroying with water 50. 900
worth of negatives. The water leaked
through into Hopes tailoring establish
ment and Robinson & Taliaferro's fur
nishing goods house on the first floor, but
the stock in both establishments was res
moved before any great amount of dam
age was done. The loss to the build
ing is $500 to $500. and there is no in
surance. In giving these figures as his
estimate of the damage this morning,
Mr.. Skinner said You may say that
there was a very little fire and u very
good deal of water. Fifty dollars will |
cover all the loss that the fire caused"
Mr.. Rasmussen saved his camera but |
all his scenic effects and paraphernalia |
and the bulk of his negatives are an ire
parable loss, together with stock, impor
ted cards and instantaneous plates, to say |
nothing of chemicals, tools and complete
photographs. He figures his loss at
SO, 500, on which there is only $3.50 in
surance, and that Mr.. E. w. Hurst's
agency and the Springfield (Mass) Fire
and Marine company.
~ lui
and hatters, as soon as they found de-
struciion inevitable, commenced removing
their stock, carrying it across the street
and piling it up close to the First Ma
tonal bank building. Most of the firms
goods were saved, though some were
ruined with water and one show case was
smashed. Marshal Brennan deputized a
squad of police to guard the stock tem-
porarily stored on the sidewalk, and
while one or two attempts were made to
get away with hats and socks, the
police prevented it, and one small
boy who was making off with q
straw hat was locked up by Officer Wich-
man, but afterwards released. Upon in
vestigation today, Mr. Robinson finds
that the firms loss is not 80 serious as
was. anticipated last night and probably
81 900 worth of the $1,000 stock is in
jured. The goods were last night re
moved to the recently vacated store in
Star block opposite the harper house.
The insurance is $4,000 of which 81 900 /
s in the Williamsburg City of E. W.
Hurst's agency; $1,000 in the Htna, of
J. W. Buford's agency, and 81, 900 in the
American Central, A. M. Drury, agent. {
Through the diligence and promptness
Of Mr.. F. G. Hopes clerk, A. III.
Berkson, most of that gentleman's
stock was removed to vacant {
store room in the Harper house
block without being damaged. Some =.
cloths were soaked, however, but the !
stock is heavily insured, the amount of !
the policies being $4,000, of which ST.
800 is in the United Sta ties, and $500 in
he Pacific of Helpenstells agency, and
$500 in the 1Ftna of ]. M. Butord's
agency and the rest being carried by Ed
Ii
The origin of the fire is not exactly a
known. 1t was at first thought to have i
started in the chemical room, but the in t
iications are that it originated in a de- t
'ective fiue. a
While the firemen made the best use c
possible of the means and oppor> |
.unities at their command, the | a
opinion was very generally pre- T
7alent that a paid department with the a
advantages of reaching the scene in much
ess time than any volunteer fremen
could, would have subdued the flames be-
'ore it became necessary to throw so
much water This is one reason that the
ARGUS, while praising our volunteer fire.
men for their gratLitous services, urges
he necessity of disciplined and paid /
department.. and the ARGUS is not alone
n this desire.
The woman question-What are you s
~; V 70 trim, II Yu;th9