Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-05
FREAK OF THE LIGHTNING.
Efheiepcy OF Davenport's Paid Fire
Department Prevents a Great Dis-

department prevents GREAT Dls-
aster.
The Davenport Democrat tells of Pc
culisr freak of toe lightning during Wei.
nesdsy nights storm:
About IL O'Clock Wednesday night
Watchmsn Van DJne at the Diamond 80
line warehouse discovered evidences of
fire in the rear OF the wholesale grocery
store of Van Patten & Marks, on East
Second street between Brady and Perry
| streets. He gave the alarm to Hose I,
and the gougs on the circuit quickly sum.
moned the other companies. An en-
trance was effected in the rear, a line Of
hose was carried in and little water was
thrown, but only little. The chemical
was on the ground in a hurry, and with
its aid the fire was ex,inguished in a
moment without that most serious fea.
ture of the modern fire, a tremendous
water damage.
The fire was on the second floor, on
the west side of the building. and pretty
well toward the center of the store, which
| occupies three fronts. It had evidentl ?
been smoldering for some time, as the
entire interior of the building was heated
to high degree. The fire was confined
to double row of counters and bus in
the center of the room. A section OF
this about 10 feet long was burning, with
It's contents of nuts. barley and sage
There was beginning 10 be little fire in
the ceiling overhead, and some of the
brushes and lighter stock near at hand
were catching.
Thursday morning smell of fire and
| smoke pervaded the entire building, and
II is probable that there is greater dam
age from this cause than from the fire
itself Tess and cigars that were stand
Ing about IN open cases, are tainted so as
10 be almost unfit for sale If not entirely
so. The damage to the building is small,
but 1t is likely that the adjustment of the
loss will carry it up 10 several huSdrsd
6ollsrs.
The origin CT the fire is a mystery. as
far as actual knowledge goes. but the
theory that it was caused by a lightning
stroke Is accepted by most people who
view the spot. There had been no fire or
| light about the place for long time
| three months it is ststed-there were no
electric lights or electric wires of any
kind in the building. and there is no foun
dation for that old suggestion that some
one must have been polishing the furni-
ture and forgotten to burn the rags so as
to prevent spontaneous combustion.
| The ceiling over the room vas some
what dingy with smoke Wednesday,
but it was intact There was not q
crack in it, the proprietors say. TIE,
day there are several long irregular
cracks to be seen. The ramble about
here and there, and along their edges
| the plaster shows white and fresh as
though it had just been broken. They
run IN al directions, some of them being
20 feet long. 1t is assumed, with great
| show of probability, that they were pat
there By an electric discharge. That the
same bolt set slow match to the stock
below is also assumed without doing vio-
lence to the facts in the case. The fire
was not found out till about an hour aud
half after the storm had passed over
here, but the great amount OF heat in the
building could not be produced by such a
small fire as this unless il had been burn
ing long time.
Mr.. Van Patten spoke II the most un,
measured terms of praise of the msnsge.
ment of the job BIZ Chief G illoley and his
men. 1t is indeed seldom that centrally
situated fire, as this one was. surrounded
/ by such dense clouds of smoke as euvel,
oped it, is extinguished without the food
| ing CT the whole building and the running
of the whole stock. The cool head and
clear judgment that was displayed in this
case is only another and still stronger
| proof Of the fact that Davenport has the
right man in the position of fire chief
One minutes careless work with the hose
would have made loss of many thous-
and dollir5.