Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-02
MORE FIRES TODAY,
Mysterious lncendiary contin.
ues Destructive
Work.
TINE FUSE MAY BE USED.
Case That Is Puzzling the Pc.
Iice..The Latest
Blazes.

DNAA ~ 800 49, $500
the mania developed. occurred late
this afternoon. 1t was started in a
stable owned by Henry Carse at
the rear Of his block on Second
avenue. The flames were carried
by strong wind and threatened
Rarper's theatre, Clemann IL Salz-
mann's furniture store, and the Carse
building. which is occupied by the or
der of Fraternal Tribunes, the Rock
Island Regalia company, Frank Cam
pania's fruit store and the lodge
rooms of several societies.
A horse persisted in the barn rented
by Campania. who lost buggy in the
flames The stable was destroye d
and the barn adjoining occu-
pied by the Henning Brewing
company was damaged. The flames
had reached the Carse building. but
by excellent work on the part of the
fire department were prevented from
doing any damage beyond the burn
ing of the window sashes on the sec
ond story. Nearly all OF the effects
had been gotten out of the building.
The stock of the Rock Island Regalia
company was considerably damaged
by smoke.
The second barn fire of the after
noon broke out about the moment
that the one on Second avenue was
under control at 800 Third avenue.
The barn was destroyed.
The fre-bugs completed their days
work yesterday at = O'Clock in the
evening, when they succeeded in just
about wiping out a barn owned by
Valentine Dau Der. at 1910 Third ave-
nue-a locality that had been especial
ly we'll guarded throughout the after
noon by the police. The structure
was a 2-story frame. Ii was valued
at 800. 1t was insured for $3.50. 1t
was so badly damaged it will have to
be rebuilt. The barn was rented by
Expressman Johnson. Two horses
and a wagon belonging to johnson
were in the barn when the blaze broke
out. The horses and wagon were res
cued. The blaze was started in the
loft, which contained q quantity of
hay. 1t was making a hot blaze,
which was shooting in large flames
through the sides and roof of the
building when the fire companies ar
rived on the scene. The companies
made usual good time, not showing
any fatigue from the hard work they
have been subjected to during the last
week. They soon had the fire under
control, saving Volk & Co.. : mill from
damage and possible destruction, for
the flames were rapidly working their
way toward the planning mill proper
ty when they were che ;ked by the
firemen.
How Are They Started?
There has been considerable specu-
lation as to the means that have been
employed in starting the 16 barn fires
that have occurred up to date in Rock
Island since Tuesday of last week.
One theory that has suggested it
self is that of the time-fuse.
which could be placed during the
early morning, and would ig-
mite at certain hour. probably y
hours after it had been located. and
at time when the fire-bug would
be out of suspicious way. An
ARGUS reporter went through both
barns that were set on fire yesterday
afternoon and failed to detect any
evidences of matches or oil having
been used. There is such a thing,
too, that infiammable cotton is the in
strument of destruction employed.
Chief of Police Miller is d despair.
He is at his wits end. 1t is GER
tainly q puzzling case-one that has
set citizens as well as the police au-
thorities to thinking. Many have aban-
doned the suspicion at first given
credence that boys were the incen-
diaries. yet some of the police hold to
that belief.
The mem ers of Chief Miller's force
have been losing plenty of sleep over
this matter, and what mystifies and
exasperates them most is that one of
the barns destroyed yesterday was in
one of the most closely scrutinized
neigh borhoods in town, and the barn
in particular had been carefully
watched by Mr.. Dauber himself and
the police. In fact. Mr.. Dau Der had
just been speaking ofthe consequences
that would befall anyone he caught
with a torch about that building,
when his attention was called to the
fact that it was on fire. People gen.
orally have become so amazed and in |
at the repeated outrages that
il would take little more than the |
pointing of the finger of suspicion TO
get somebody into serious trouble.
The mem bers of the police depart
ment are out again this afternoon in
citizens clothes patroling the bust
ness section of the city in hopes of
experimenting the tire-bugs.
Three suspicious strangers were !
arrested last night, but were later re-
leased.
Other Fires.
The residence of AID NJ. V Con- |
cannon, 702 Second avenue. was dam
aged about $75 by fire that broke
out in the. attic at II O'Clock last |
night Clothing was stored in the |