Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-30
A FIRE PANIC.
n Serious Disaster Averted at Daven-
port Through the Paid Department
Efficiency.

a Serious Disaster Averted at DaVen-
port Through the Paid Department
Efficiency.
They would have had bad FIRE in a
hotel in Davenport last night but for the
paid department. The Tribune says of
it:
At about fifteen minutes before o'clock
this morning fire was discovered in tine
Germsnis house on Second street near
Harrison A general alarm was turned
in, calling the entire department. When
the firemen reached the place smoke was
issuing from all the windows of the hotel
and all the people were huddled together
in the halls in various stages dishabille
and frightened almost to death, being I'M
able to get down stairs on account of the
thick heavy smoke. As soon as the
ladders were raised people commenced
coming out through the windows, crowd
ing each other in their endeavor5 TO reach
a place of safety. 1t was some little time
before the firemen could locate the fire ex-
| actly, but as it appeared to be in the
kitchen of the hotel. they directed their eff
| forts in that direction and with good effect
| and in a short time all danger was passed.
After looking around to ascertain just
where the fire started. an old dumb
waiter, running from Bucks implement
store, to the kitchen OF the Germania
| house, was discovered and the indications
were that the fire broke out in or near
that in some mysterious way and the
draught carried it up into the kitchen.
There was but little fire for the amount
of smoke and the principal danger to
those in the hotel was from sufocation.
A Mr. and Mrs. Smith, of Washington.
ID. c., were stopping in the hotel, Mrs.
Smith being dangerously i'll. The smoke
was particularly sitting in the part of the
house where they were. and she had to be
taken out on a stretcher, placed in the
patrol wagon and taken to Turner hall,
where she was attended by DIR. Matthey.
1t is feared that the fright, exposure and
smoke will have very serious effect on
her.
Chief Gillooley certainly deserves
great credit for the GOODNESS which he ex,
hibited during the fire. He has perfect
control over his men.
AMIDNIGHT ALARM.
The racket kicked up by the bells anf
whistles in an effort to arouse the fire
men shortly before midnight last nigh
was caused by the discovery of the ole
stables and sheds on the premises of the
late Hon. Bailey Davenport. on Seven
teenth street.in flames. The firemen wert
10 the revels of their annual ball OF Turner
hall at the time, but they got ont in gooc
season. and the Hollys and franklin
reached the scene in good time. the Hol.
ly's breaking q wheel on Seventeenth
street, south of Seventh avenue. ow
ing to the neglected condition
of the street. The adjoining barn on thu
west of the lot was saved and the con
tents Of the burned buildings, the carriag
, driven by the late Mr.. Davenport,
/. phaeton and road cart and two horses
, one owned by Capt. Peetz and one b
} Mr.. Claus Lamp. were saved. The tota
> loss will not exceed $500. and the fire i
supposed to have had its origin in incen,
diarism. the motive being to get the fire
men out. The burning building illumi
mated the southern heavens Brilliant
, and led people who were aroused by tn
bells and whistles to believe that NOR
: valuable property was involved.