Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-25
HEAVY DAMAGES
RESULTFROMT TWO
DAVENPORT FIRES
Early Morning Blaze Endangers
Many Lives and Four Build
ings Suffer.
MEN STRUCK BY LIVE WIRE
Burning Leaves the Origin of Confia.
grafton Destroying Barn and
Damaging House Nearby.

Two fires, causing considerable dam
age and endangering many lives, &C.
CURED in Davenport, the first shortly
after 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon
and the second at 3:45 o'clock this
morning.
The latter, the more serious, caused
damages amounting to about $4,000.
The Earmore ice cream plant al 3lS
West Third street was damaged to the
extent of $1,000, partially covered by
! insurance; the Model Laundry COM
pany, $50 West Third street, sustained
damages of 1890, covered by insur-
ance; Plath's grocery store, 316 West
Third street, was damaged to the ex
tent of $500, covered by insurance, and
the loss to John Rymers tin shop is
estimated at $500, covered by insur-
ance.
The fire yesterday afternoon caused
the total destruction of barn owned
by Henry Sudbrooke, Lombard street,
between Ripley and Scott streets. The
loss is estimated at 5000, and a house
! near the barn, owned by John Holtom,
sustained 800 damages, both being
covered by insurance.
LIVES ENDANGERED.
| The lives of many people, occupants
of the upper portion of the buildings
at which the fire occurred this morn
| ing, were endangered. All of the resi-
dents of the fats were notified in
time, however, and no one was in
| jured.
The fire originated in a barrel of
rubbish in the rear of the Larmore ice
cream plant. A pan of burning Gin
ders had been thrown in the barrel,
| igniting the rubbish and barrel and
catching the sides of the building
night waiter ~ the Commercial
cafe on Harrison street discovered the
blaze, turned in the alarm and rushed
to the burning buildings, where he
warned the occupants of the fire.
When the department arrived the
/ fire had made considerable Roadway,
having spread to adjoining buildings.
| Seven fire companies were called and
the firemen were kept busy for about
! four hours.
The rear Of the structures were
wood and burned easily, and with the
exception of the ice cream plant. the
larger part of the damage to the ad-
joining stores was by water.
Three firemen while fighting the fire
in the Larmore ice cream plant were
knocked down and had narrow es-
capes from electrocution, when wires
| carrying a heavy voltage struck them.
None of the men were seriously injur-
! ed, however. The three struck by the
wire were Walter st. Onge. No. ! hook
and ladder company: Don Johnson. No.
l hook aud ladder company, and Frank
! Daley, No 2 hose company
BONFIRE IGNITEs BARN.
! A bonfire caused the fire which de-
stroyed the barn of Henry Sudbrooke.
/ A pile of leaves was being burned near
/ the barn. and the wooden structure be-
( came ablaze when the wind blew the
flames in its direction. The Harrison
street department responded 10 the
: alarm, and for a while the chances of
saving the Holtom house seemed
rather slim
After an hours fighting the firemen
succeeded in extinguishing the blaze
| but the harm was destroyed. Two
horses and COW were saved, having
been taken from the burning building
/. Later in the afternoon the roof oil
!, the Holtom house became ablaZe
again, fire probably having beer
smouldsri1g underneath the roof Tbs
Harrison street auto truck made the
run. and when part way TO the FIRE a
shaft on the machine broke. One o.
the firemea went 10 the scene and ex
tinguished the blaze with bucket o
water The residents in the Harrison