Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-20
THEIR FIRST FIRE FIGHT.
Rock Islands Paid Firemen Have
an Experience.
A II OF Blaze Last Night Well Man.
a.ed-Three Hundrsd Barrels
OF Oil and Number OF cars
Observation-Disclosures OF
the Dsmage.

nignt called the department to the c., R.
I. & P. and c., NJ. & st. P. switch yards
opposite the foot of Twenty-frst street,
where the shed used by Henry Darts
Sons for storing oil, and an adjoining coal
she'd belonging 10 E. G. Frazer were in
flames.
Tie fire is supposed 10 have originated
in box car standing on track within
few feet Of the oil shed, from which it
spread to Frszer's coal shed, the oil house
and he adjoining cars. The new paid
department made exceedingly good time
in getting out, being on the way to the
fire when the waterworks blew the alarm.
The first stream was thrown on the oil
ard coal sheds in order to prevent the
fire from following down the sheds to
the Port Byron Lime associations build
ings, and the other streams as fast as
they were put on were played upon the
adjoining cars.
Tie exact origin of the fire is unknown.
George Allsbrow. c., NJ. s. ST. P.
brak eman, who was asleep in his caboose
was aroused by the cracking of the flames
above his head. and escaped in his night
cloth s. being unable to save scarcely any
of his wearing apparel. There was
noticeable delay in the railroad men gets
ting The cars out of the way of the fire
which the ysrdmeu claim was caused by
the lower c., R. I. & P. yards being
blocked with c., B, & @ cars, which the
latter company had neglected to take out
of the way. Just what the loss to rolling
stock will be is difficult to state. Two
c.. f l. & P. cars loaded with grain for
Milwaukee besides c., NJ s. St P. Cas-
boose No, 0,25S and G. & O. and
a c., St. P. & K. c. box Car were CONS
pletely destroyed. Several others were
badly damaged and will possibly have to
be re built, making total of 16 cars dam
aged and destroyed. A car load of hay
belor ging to r. c. Benson is almost
totally destroyed. A part of car of
cement belonging to the Port Byron Lime
association and part of Car of plaster
beloi gipg TO E. G.. Frazer are also dam
aged so as TO be unfit for use.
Henry Darts Sons are by far the heav-
lest losers, their oil house contsinir G be-
tween $50 and 800 barrels of Standard
and Elaine kerosene OF, amounting to
about 81 600 being destroyed. ard with
no insurance. E. G Frazer places the
loss to his coal house part OF which wss
destroyed. and lime and plaster in cars at
about $500. with no insurance.
The total loss is in the neighborhood
OF SO, 600.
1t vas the first fire of any importance
in which Rock Islands paid department
has participated. and words of commen-
dstion, praise and satisfaction at the eff
cient manner in which the fire was han>
died we're heard on every hand. Instead
of the noise, confusion and profanity too
often characteristic of fire fighting, and
unavoidable under q volunteer system,
the fire WIS quietly. cooily and systemst-
ically fought by Chief Rsmskill and his
men. the effort being not so much to sup
press the burning oil which would have
been impossible and only adding fuel to
the fl lme, as to prevent its spreading
In this they were successful. The Frank.
Inns and Gilpins. the only two of the
volunteer companies still in the service.
responded promptly and fought like
Trojans.
The immense column of interviewer
FIRE and smoke presented a gorgeous sight.
being 80 terrific in the intensity of the
heat that only the chief and the fremen
ventured near, and many Of the men were
obliged to screen themselves behind old
doors, etc. The flames cast q rosy glow
upon The heavens which must have been
seen for miles around.
Rock Islands paid fire department is
all right.
A small crowbar was lost from the hose
wagon while going TO the fire last night.
The q oder will receive the thanks OF
Chief Ramskil by returning it to the
central engine house.
During the FIRE q number OF cars were
hauled over some Of the hose OF the GEN.
trail co mpany. but the wheels made no
i,npregsion on the hose, showing the ex-
cellent material it is made OF.
Up at Ottawa last night they had
FIRE similar to the one here. only on
much larger scale. Two elevators and a
large number OF cars belonging to the
Rock Island road we're devoured by the
fiery tongued monster.
The various representatives OF the
pump manufacturers. now in the city,
were N at the fire. and it is said that
some Of them did not 60 home till IT was
all out and that some Of the aldermen
STAYED out to keep them company.
By strange coincidence fire occur
A. \. IN