Rock Island Argus., 1913-06-02

disastrous fire that gained its
origin unquestionably from bolt of
lightning during the electric storm
which swept Rock Island about $3.50
yesterday morning. completely destroy
ed the street car sheds of the Tri-City
Railway company at Fifth avenue and
Thirty-fifth street and the contents con-
sisting of "a cars and the Office fix
lures and supplies. The loss is esti-
mated at S25O.O0O, on which there is
insurance Of S355,S5O.
Besides the barn the residence of
Albert F. Mordhorst, 3170 Fifth avenue,
located directly west of the sheds, was
practically destroyed with loss of
$4,000, and it was only through
the splendid work of the fire
men that the blaze did not cause
greater damage by wiping out the en-
tire block.
Several other buildings within a radi-
us OF 100 yards from the barn we're
scenes of incipient blaSes that required
constant watching.
SPREADS RAPIDLY.
Owing 10 the rapid manner in which
the fire spread il was impossible to
get the cars out Of the burning struc-
ture. The intense heat soon severed
the power wires and within five min
utes after the first alarm was turned
in. II was seen that the building with
fits contents was doomed. All the cars
that were saved were four pay-as-you-
enters. one single truck closed car,
one open double truck summer car and
one single truck summer car One
pay-as-you-enter car vas left standing
on the tracks in front Of the barn,
but II caught fire from the intense
heat and was also destroyed
The blaze was q spectacular one. The
flames leaped into the air for at least
100 feet and the sky was painted with
a red glow that could be seen for
many miles. Great clouds of blaCI
smoked rolled from the roaring fur
mace and intermittent flashes of light
ming followed by deafening dotonations
OF thunder added TO the horror OF
the spectacle. The fremen were
forced back repeatedly by the intense
heat and when it was feared that the
blaze would get beyond the control
OF the local firemen a call was sent
to the Moline department. Telephone
and electric light connections we're cut
Off In the vicinity at o'clock and Il
was necessary 10 dispatch a taxi &c
the Moline department in order to Sc
cure their help. When the fremer
arrived however. their services wpr,
not needed as the blaze was practi
cally under control.
DUB TO FLASH.
The men who we're at the barn a.
the time the fire started say thai
after the fash Of lightning the who'll,
building burst into flame. Some O
the first arrivals at the scene of tn,
fire report that when they reached the
sheds the heat was so intense tha
they were unable to get within hal
a block Of the burning building Ow
ing TO the fact that there was not
high wind blowing. the flames leapet
straight in the air and the adjoining
buildings caught FIRE from the heat
When the Mordhorst home burst int,
flames the other residents of the neigh
borhood started gathering their vaius
bles together and in several instance
the furniture was removed from tn
houses.
The pavilion at Huber's garden Il
the rear was also ablaae several times
but no material damage was done.
The big frame structure on the eas
OF the car barn was saved and tn
temporary Offices of the company ar
now located there. The lumber she
east OF the barn was also saved. Tn
street sprinkler and one of the autC
mobiles used by the company wer
in the old building directly east c
the barn and were saved. One autC
mobile. a Ford. was in the barn an
was destroyed.
MASS OF RUINS.
At daybreak all that was left {
the barn and its contents was a mas
OF twisted steel and iron, presentin