Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-02-15
F0ILED THE FIRE.
Prompt Work Prevents a Seri-
Gus Conflagration.
A CHEMICAL ENGINE NEEDED.

The Union White House on Twentieth
Street Threatened With Dire Destruc-
ton at an Early Hour This Morning
Efficient Service of the Fire Department
| The Damages and the Insurance
40 alarm of fire turned in from box AZ
at Third avenue aud Twentieth street
shortly after 8 o'clock this morning
brought he department to the Union
White house on Twentieth street, where
fire had been discovered in the second
story OF the building By the time the
de apartment arrived the fire had good
hold among the raf;ers in the roof and
was rapidly spreading. Chief Rsmskill
directed the use OF the Miller extin-
guishers in the hopes Of quenching it
without damaging the rooms below. I:
was found, however, that the flames had
too good a start and line of hose was
run up and in a short time the fire was
entirely extinguished. The fremen we're
very careful in the use of water and con
sequently the damages were lighter than
they would otherwise have been.
Probably Defective Flue.
The fire wss,in all probability caused
by defective fiue originating in chim-
ney that runs through the rear of tie
building. The most OF the damage was
done to the furniture in tier of bed rooms
on the second floor and by water
running down into the parlor and dining
loom below. Landlord Sheridan has an
insurance Of about $1,000 on the house
hold furniture and the damages will
probably be less than $500. The poli-
cies are in Hresing's agency. one in
the German Insurance company of Peoria
and the other in the Westchester Insur-
apce company of New York, for $500
and $500 respectively, and one 10 Hayes
q Cleavesnd's agency and the Oak and
Home company for $500
| Damage to the Building.
The building belongs to the estate of
the late ] g. Mueller and is consider
ably damaged. the amount of which it
will be hard to estimate until 1t eau be
seen how much plsstering, ETC., will
have to be replaced. 1t will be FULLY
covered By insurance, however, as poll
cies are held that will be sufficient for the
amount. One is in Hayes & Cleavelands
agency in the Western Insurance com,
pany of Toronto, 81, 800, and the other
in the German Insuranc; company of
Freeport; Bahnsens agency. also. for
$1,000 Had it not been for the fire
having been discovered in it's Incl piency
and the prompt work of the departn ent.
il would have been the worst blaze Rock
| island has seen in many DAYS.
Need of a Chemical Engine.
The blaze last night was forcible
demonstration of how badly chemical
apparatus is needed in connection with
our paid department. If chemical had
been on hand the fire could have been
extinguished with half the damage which
necessarily results from the use OF COM
mon house no matter how careful the
fremen may be- If a fire breaks ous in
one Of the hotels in an upstairs room or
in dwelling the department can do
nothing but use hose or resort to buck
cts and always with damages that could
be avoided by the use OF q chem cal
apparatus As was the case last
ght, the department is always
on hand in time to prevent any serious
loss if it had the proper apparatus. with
out which it is hsmpered in the more eff
fective work that it might do. As the
city no doubt intends to put in another
company or two in the spring, it would
be good idea as a matter OF economy to
pat q new chemical engine and hose reel
combined in the Central house and use
the present hose wegon with two horses
in the east end. The plan would keep
the chemical in the central portion of the
city where it is most apt to be needed and
give the other ends of town the protec-
zion that is so much needed. II is &c be
hoped that the council will see its way
clearly to provide it with the opening Of
spring.
-.---- Amusements.