Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-27
FIRE TUG IS NEEDED
Suggested That Rock Island and
Davenport Maintain One
Jointly.
THURSDAY DISASTER AN INSTANCE
Relief for the Victins--$5, 900
Subscribed May Not
Rebuild Mill.

Since the disastrous hre OF THURS
day night in Davenport several citi-
zens have been heard to suggest the
advisability of Rock Island and her
neighbor across the river. maintain
ing fire tug-a boat equipped to
fight fires along the river front, such as
other large ske and river towns have.
"a tug with 6-inch stream would
have mastered that Davenport blaze"
said an old fire fighter yesterday.
1.-The wonder to me is that these two
cities, having so much valuable prop
erty adjacent to the river shore, have
not before now seen the wisdom of
having a fire tug. Not alone is it in
| dispensable in cases where the burn
ing property is located close to shore,
where in many instances the city de-
partment is unable TO get at the root
of the trouble, but likewise where
steam boats take fi'e and in wrecks,
etc, on the water"
| Aid for Fire Victims
Davenport has come forward with q
generous hand to aid the victims of
the fire, many families having lost not
only their little homes, but everything
that was in them, and not having a
cent of insurance. There was a meet
ing Yesterday afternoon at thu Daven-
port Business Mems association, and
though it was announced but few
hours before. there was a large at
tendance of citizens, all anxious to do
their part in relieving the distressed.
towards of s.. 600 has already been
| haf
many times that amount will be
forthcoming as rapidly as it is needed.
The Davenport press is taking part
in the relief work. The ARGUS today
rendered its assistance here, If desired.
The matter was taken before the gem
eral committee, from which issued a
reply that the response had been so
much more than anticipated that
there would be enough raised in Dav-
export to meet all needs, and an
EXPIRE ssion of appreciation was ten
dered The ARGUS for the offer. Know
ing the people of Rock Island, The
ARGUS had no hesitaucy in offering to
raise fund here had one been de-
sired.
| The IIIiuoIs FIremen.
The Davenport Repu blican says to-
day: "Au day yesterday where there
was talk of the fire the bravery OF the
firemen from Rock Island aud Moline
was freely commented upon and COM
mended. The visitors could not pos
sibly have worked more faithfully
or more desperately to save their
own homes than they did to
save the homes of Daveup ri
citizens. The manner in which they
fearlessly went into the flames until
many Of them dropped was au indica'
ton of their desire TO help Davenport
in the time of need. But even this
does not tell the Willingness with
which they answered the appeal fol
aid. The appeal was made by Capt
Fred Hitchcock, of the police force
by telephone to Chief Hastings, oil
Rock Island, aud Chief Kittleson, Of
Moline Each chief answered: We
will come at once Capt. Hitchcock
| who was here aud there and every
where. and who did the work OF sew
eral ordinary men, had other calls to
; make, but in a very few minutes
called again TO Rock Island and re-
: ceived word that the promised aid
was already on the way. The Moline
: department came through the arsenal
at break-neck speed, making the rur
in about twenty minutes.
May Not he Rebuilt.
The Weyerhauser Il Denkmann mil
gave employment to 230 men and al
. of these are out of employment as
result of the fire.
1t is doubtful il the mill will eve
be rebuilt owing to the fact that tn
? lum Der interests in this part of tn
Mississippi river are on the wsne.
Not sew mill in Davenport is run
ming, the Weyerhauser & Denkmanl
mill and the Chris Mueller u Sons
e mill closing down Wednesday evening
D for a breathing SPELL" as it i
= termed. Tuesday the Lindsay 1
: Phelps mill closed also on account o
: the hot weather. In all of the mill
t the men were willing to coutinu
Q work There had been no complain
? ing in words, though the managers o
the mill could see that many of theiI
men were well nigh exhausted.
4 ut is inhuman to continue worl
f until this hot wave is gone, said th'
= manager of one of the mills. We ad
g vised our men to 90 home and res
S and with few exceptions they wer'
: willing to do so. IL takes almost iiv'
men to do the work Of three on no
] dav as Wednesday"
' The Weyerhaus & Denkmann mil
in Rock Island also closed dow
). Wednesday until the cooler days come
T There IS. general thankfulness tina
q the shutdown is on account OF tn
G weather and not on account of tn
q lack of logs.
L. u nnsinr 70 knnn well than ore