Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-14
A SEVERE LOSS.
Sunday Mornings Fire in Balley's
Commission Store.
The Paid Dcparrm, mt Makes SpIen.
did Time. But There 10 Yet
Few Things Wantfug-Mis-
lake in Blowing the Box.

which with the use of water entaied a
loss, placed by Mr.. Bailey at 5000, on
which there was insurance of 81 900 in
Hurst & Donaldson's agency and the
Williamsburg City company.
The fire was discovered by Louis
Glockhof who occupies suite OF rooms
in the building adjoining that in which
Mr.. Bsiley's store is situate d, and who
was on his way home from his store.
Mr.. Glockhoff rushed up stairs and
quickly aroused his family and then sent
in telephone message to the Central
engine house. Almost at the same time
an alarm was sent in from box AZ corner
of Third avenue and Twentieth street.
There was something wrong in the cleo
trio alarm system, however. as 33 showed
up in the waterworks building, and it
was the box blown from the waterw orks.
The two companies Quartered in the Gen.
trail engine house made a splendid record
for time and responding TO the telephone
message were on their way to the fire be-
fore the whistle was through blowing the
box.
The store room wherein the
fire was located was filled with dense.
suffocating smoke. and while the firemen
promptly attacked the fire fore and aft
with streams and soon hadthe entire store
flooded, they did not know whether
they were hitting the fire or not. II was
therefore long hard fight. but the men
got there in the end, and the promptness
of the paid system undou btedly saved
the adjoining buildings. the largest being
Henry Darts Sons wholesale house on
the north.
The fire served TO demonstrate one fact,
and that is the one heretofore advanced
in THE ARGUS, that the chief engineer
should reside near the Central Engine
house AID be in readiness to respond with
that company. The idea suggested by
The ARGUS wss that the city build a cot
tage for the chief on the south triangle
where be should receive the alarm stimuli
taneously with the fremen, ard until
such time as the city see the advantage
of making such Improvement the chief
should be required to have quarters in
the engine house building.
While, as said before, the fremen re-
sponded in most creditatle time Sunday
| morning, and neglected no duty, had the
chief been on hand as promptly, and had
the proper means Of exactly locating the
fire, which originated under counter in
the rear of the store, it could have been
combatted right there and most likely
subdued before it spread to all parts of
store. As it was the promiscrous use of
water was not likely TO strike the spot of
the fire until all the stock in the store was
drenched, and in the meantime the fire
| spread 10 other parts of the store. In a
word. the fire was not fought on such a
plan as one would expect from a paid
department.
TIE ARGUS has always commended IN
its plea for paid department that in the
majority of fires there was more damage
done by water than by fire. The paid
system is expected TO avoid this as far as
possible, and unless the fire is well under
Roadway when the f1remen arrive there
| should be no water thrown until the chief
orders it. 1t is therefore essential that
the chief should be among the first at a
fire. He should quickly familisrize him
self with the surroundings, locate the fire
and attack it there and not permit the in
| discriminate use OF water. There are
cases, of course, and they appear every
| dsv in cities having the best regulated
| departments, where the best of
| skill in management and the most pro-
! ficient service that science can provide
proves unable to cope with the fiery ele-
| meut That is to be expected once in a
while. but the paid department is ex-
pected to make such instances the excep-
tian rather thsn the rule, and that it is
| able to do in other cities, and can be
made so in Rock Island. The chief
| should make study of his business. He
should not only be prompt 10 getting 10
q fire, but he should famiiiarize himself
with all the buildings in town, going
through them all at regular intervals
He should also acquaint himself with the
working of the electric alarm system and
satisfy himself that it is at all times in
| good order and if necessary, call out his
department from different boxes when the
firemen least expect it. He should drill
his men in climbing ladders, attaching
hose, etc. Briefly, in time Of peace be
should be in constant preparation fol
war. Such is THE ARGUS idea of paid
department which it has so long cham.