Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-17
HEROISM AT FIRE
j. c. Weaver Jumps Out of a 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. a 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 1880
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 in 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
a ladder and ran around the building
and placed the ladder at the window
Of the sleeping apartment of Miss
Pearl McQuay. a clerk in 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.
Dos: 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 7.
| 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 by 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 to
about $1,000. The buildings were in.
surcd. \ 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
Whitemore, who lives near the gro
Gerry, was lying in a box on the bach
porch of the store. and although that
part of the building was nnvelopCd il
flames, the animal made no attempt tC
escape. Suddenly a timber fell over
the top of the box and made the dos
a prisoner. Flames soon cnvelopcd the
box and inCineTatcd the dog
Enemies Are Under Suspicion.
II is suspected that the fire was tbs
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 wa.
being conducted by Miss McQuay il
the absence of Mrs. Weaver, who is il
AyOca. Iowa. visiting relatives.