Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-02
$175,OO0 in Lumber is
Destroyed in Mo-
line Yards.
WATER insufficient
With Pressure, Blaze
Could Have Been
Checked Early.

Seven million feet of lumber went
up in smoke in the yards of DimOck.
Gould d Co., between Twentieth and
| Twenty-fourth streets, in Moline, last
night. causing money loss of $175.-
| 600. There was insurance of 100000.
Insuliiciency Of the water supply
was responsible for the magnitude of
the loss inflicted. as the fire handily
could have been checked in its incip-
iency by the Moline department.
Rock Island and Davenport were
called upon for assistance. and Col. :.
L. Blunt. of Rock Island arsenal, ac
| companiCd his fire engine to the scene.
| remaining there until sparks carried
| across the water ignited the grass on
the island and necesSitated the return
of his brigade to prevent disaster
there. Chief Charles Hastings went
from here with the hose wagon from
the Central company. and there was
one wagon from Davenport.
Probably Started by Tramps
The fire broke out $50 feet west OF
the east limits of the yards, and pre-
SumablN was started from Il lighted
match dropped by tramps or other
loiterers. Two tramps, who were
found in another part of the yards
from where the blaze had its begin
ming. were ordered away by the
Waterman some time before the fire.
They stated they were waiting for Il
Milwaukee train. which they intended
boarding To get out of the city. The
Waterman 10 minutes before the
L..
pile i'm which the flames were diScov-
cred. lie did not see a spark then.
The flames swept the entire yards
from the eastern limits. Twenty
fourth street, to Twentieth street,
with the exception Of a few piles at
Twentieth. The west and north yards
were saved. Two-thirds OF the lumber
stock was destroyed.
Hemmed In by Brick Buildings
The fire was discovered at o'clock.
The wind was from the southeast.
Three brick buildings, those Of the
Moline Incandescent Lamp company
and the planning and engine rooms of
DimOck. Gould Il Co. materially aid
ed in checking Il spread beyond the
limits of the lumber yards.
When the flames reached the west
end Of the yards the lumber piles
were not so close together as in other
sections of the yards. This, together
with vcering of the wind, which
changed a number of times during the
night. blew the sparks toward the
river. where a raft of lumber contain
ing 3.GOO.OOO feet was set ON fire. but
was eNtinguished before it was dam
aged to any great extent.
Railroad Depots In Danger.
The drying shed and mill were also
totally destroyed. The passenger and
| freight depnts Of the Davenport, Rock
Island q Northwestern railroad. which
were just south of the path of the
confIagration. were in danger. but
were guarded by the hose companies,
which kept streams playing On their
walls as long as the fire ragged near to
them. Six empty freight cars belong
| ing to the Milwaukee road were burn
ed.
The Rock Island department did
good work at the point where the fire
was checked and did not return home
until ; o'clock this morning. The fire
was under control shortly before mid
night. y long stretch of cmbankment
that the lumber company had spent
years in building with ratings was
| burned.
Dimock. Gould 4 Co. in whose mill
Rock Island capitalists are interested,
had not been saving for four years,
receiving their lumber. already cut,
from up-riyer points.
Fully 5000 people went from this
city to watch the fire. The street
ears were crowded from : to II
O'Clock.