Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-17
HEROISM AT FIRE
j. C. Weaver Jumps Out of Second
Story Window in the Dead of
Night to Rescue Woman.
FAMILY AWAKENED BY DOG
Jumps in Bed of D. T. Travis, and Lat
ter Carries Cripple Through
the Flames.

The barking of a dog, the presence
Of mind of J. c. Weaver. carpenter
at the Kahlke boat yard, who conducts
a grocery at 1880 Seventh street. and
the heroism of D. 7. Travis CcoloreO,
probably saved three persons from
burning TO death this morning at 1890
O'Clock
Mr.. Weaver, whose family reside in
the grocery building. was awakened by
a sitting smoke arising from a fire,
thought to have been of incendiary
origin, which was started i'll a pile of
shutters in the cellar under the store.
Jumping from bed and quickly
dressing, Mr.. Weaver leaped from the
second story window. hastily procured
ladder and ran around the building
and placed the ladder at the window
Of the sleeping apartment of Miss
Pearl McQuay. a clerk i'll the store,
who lay in bed asleep, unaware of the
fire. Mr.. Weaver awOke her in the
nick of time, as the smoke and flames
were swiftly filling the room. Without
time to save any of her clothing she
ran TO the ladder and reached the
ground uninjured.
Dog WnkcnS Sleeping Couple.
Located about fifteen feet from the
store is a dwelling. also owned by Mr..
Weaver and occupied by Travis, his
wife and brother-in-law, George T.
Rice The latter is paralyzed in the
lower limbs and unable to care for
himself The occupants of the latter
house all were asleep. Mr.. and Mrs.
Travis were in the front room, while
Rice was in an apartment up stairs.
| The little dog owned by Travis was in
the house and was aroused by the
sight Of the flames. The animal began
bowling as though in distress and ran
! to where Mr.. and Mrs. Travis were
and awOke them - jumping on the
| bed. Travis fastened up stairs and
carried his brother-in-law to safety
through the flames and smoke which
| had filled the house.
The grocery and residence owned
| by Weaver were Quilted and the entire
stock of groceries and most of the fur
niturc and clothing damaged. The
| Travis home was damaged consider
ably.
Companies Put Up Hard Fight.
Hose companies Nos. l and re,
spondCd to the alarm and hard fight
| ing saved both buildings from total
destruction. The loss on the stock of
groceries and the buildings amounts tC
about $1,000. The buildings were in
sured. \ wardrobe containing cloth
| ing and SIS in money, located in the
/ living room of the first floor of Mr.
! Viewers residence. was destroyed
\ small dog belonging to George
! Whitcmorc. who lives near the gro
Gerry, was lying in box on the bach
porch of the store. and although that
part of the building was cnvelopcd il
| flames. the animal made no attempt tC
escape. Suddenly a timber fell over
/ the top of the box and made the dog
la prisoner. Flames soon cnveloped the
box and incineratcd the dog.
! Enemies Arc Under Suspicion.
II is suspected that the fire was the
work of parties harboring spite
against Mr.. Weaver. No lights were
| burning in the house at the time anC
no fire of any kind had been used il
the store or the house. The store was
! being conducted by Miss MCQuay il
the absence of Mrs. Weaver. who is il
! kVOC: Iowa visiting relatives