Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-02
ACLOSE CALL.
Fire intentionally Near the Syn-
dictate Power Station.
Fuei sheds and Other property Dam
aged Last Evenin Narrow
Escape For the Plant

Az o:2O last evening ire broke out in |
the sheds used for fuel sno storage pur.
poses in the rear of the sy Indicate street
railway power station on Second avenue
and Twenty-third street. The flames |
had gained considerable Roadway when
they were discovered and were shooting
out under the roof at the west and north |
corners ret DO feet away from the power
station building. and separated
from it only by narrow alley
way for teams. Wstchman Mark
Thomas Immediately seized the hose,
which is kept in the buildin 9, and making
the necessary attachments, soon had a
vigorous stream of water playing on the
burning building.e and with this he held
the fire in check until the arrival of the
fire department. though ne was almost
smothered in his-endesvors. Meanwhile
I. b. Davis who was in the building at
the time, telephoned the waterworks and
Central engine house, and almost before
the great whistle had finished sounding
'uS "oiu' VIC NUNS anu muse wagon were
on their way to the building. The com
psnies arrived in splendid time, but
woeful deficiency was displayed after
they reached the sSene-the hose wagon
dsshiug aimlesslY about in search of a
hydrsnt, which was finally found on the
corner of Second avenue, aud then q line
of hose was stretched to the burning
structure. The flames were then beaten
back in short order and soon subdued,
although the building was damaged con
siderably, as was the little cottage. loca>
ted on the alley Immediately adjoining it,
and occupied by fam IL named Garri-
| son. The property on which this is sit.
usted is also owned by the syndicate by
reason of recent purchase, and the COM
psny intends taking possession of it for
uses in connection with its power plant
early in the spring.
The loss to the Davenport & Rock Isl
and Railway company will be in the
neigbborhocd of $500 and 81 000 The
building, portion o. which was
| destroyed, was new, and the west end was
used as stable and for the storage OF
wire and other line materials, all of which
was destroyed. while the most of it was
for saw dust used for fuel The Garrison
family lest considerable furniture, and
while the house they occupied belonged
to the syndicate. the family is in such Cir
cumstsnces that being turned out of home
at this time of year will be keenly felt,
as will what personal loss they have suf-
fered in the way Of furniture.
The fire, which probably caught from
hot cinders from the furnaces of the
power plant, was unco mfortably close to
the syndicate power station and it brought
to the minds of many the calamity that
would befall these three cities had the
destroying element reached it, while many
were surprised that frame building to
be filed with ccmhustible material should
have been erected in such close proxim-
ity to so valuable plant.
The fire should serve sc veral purposes.
one in particular, that the chief himself
and his lieutenant, at leas. should be bet-
ter posted on the location Of MIGRANTS than
they appear to be-they should fsmil>
iarize themselves thoroughly with
every hydrant in town so that
while en- route to fire they may consider
the neighborhood and know exactly
where 10 drive to strike tie hydrsnt.
The fire should also impress upon the
syndicate the importance of covering all
its adjoining buildings with sheet iron
such as is the west end OF the power sta
ton, and it should serve to cause more
precsution to be used in the disposition
of ashes, Every wheelbarrow full
should be saturated with water by the
application of hose before it is dumped
outside. The syndicate's plant is too val
liable TO the company whose pride it
ought to be, and its maintenance of too
great Importance to the il ter urban traffic
of this community to have it in jeopardy
of destruction.
In going to the fire the Franklin hose
company collided with two vehicles, but
neither occssioned serious damage and
neither was due TO carelessness on the
partl Of the drivers, but Iboth will no
doubt serve as warning TO teamsters to
keep the road clear when the fire departs
! mpnt is out