Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-07
JOHN KOEPKE IS
SUFF0CATED IN A
FIRE IN HIS HOME
Flames of Mysterious Origin
Start in Kitchen and Gas
Fills His Bedroom.
FIREMEN FIND HIS BODY
Position Indicates He Had Riseh and
Was Trying to Dress When He
Was Overcome

John Koepke. 81 years of age. resid.
ing at 2714 Eighth avenue, was smoth.
cred to death last night in a fire which
partially destroyed his home Keopke
was alone in the house at the time
and had the f1T@men not been prompt
the body might have been cremated.
The blaze was first noticed by Detlef
Kickbusch. 27O6 Eighth avenue. who
saw smoke issuing from the kitchen
window. and the alarm was sent in at
11:35. Neighbors told the firemen
when they arrived that Koepke and his
wife were both in the burning struc-
ture. Three of the fremen instantly
instituted a search for them
Entrance was gained into the bed
room by smashing in a window. but
the searchers failed to locate them
there. BY this time the smoke was
so dense they were forced to leave
for a few minutes. Then the
search was resumed. being directed TO
the bedroom. Charles Miller was the
first fireman TO enter. While cropping
around in the smoke he stumbled over
the body of Mr.. Koepke.
\ physician was called. but by the
time he arrived the unconscious form
had been removed to the police sta
ton. \ second physician was called.
and although there was no sign of
life. worked over tine body with a pull
moto- for an hour or more. Their eff
forts were without avail
Account for the Wife.
In the meantime Mrs. John Enge-
land. 2423 Fifth and half ave4ue. and
Mrs. John Haalk. 2529 Fifth and a half
avenue, daughters-in-law of Mr..
koepke. arrived on the scene and in
formed the firemen that Mrs Koepile
was staying at the formers house that
night. so all fears concerninC her safe
~ were quoted.
How the fire started will probably
always remain a mystery. \ theory
is advanced that il was caused by the
explosion of a kerosene lamp on the
kitchen table, as it was at this point
the blaze started. The damage from
the flames was confined almost en-
tirely to the kitchen. The table on
which the lamp stood was consumed
and a hole in the floor about three feet
square burned The flames had also
crept through the partition up into the
bed when the fire started and in at
tempting to arise and dress was over
come by the smoke and fell to the
floor The body was lying in a cramp-
ed position and partly dressed when
discovered. The firemen are of the
opinion that the fire had burned pos
sibly half an hour before it was dis
covered.
Native of Germany.
John Koepke was born near Kiel,
Germany. Sept. S, 1S4S. He grew to
manhood there. He was united IN
to Mrs. Wilhelmina Ohms in
1878. and the couple came 10 this
in 1892, settling in Rock Is
and, where he had lived since. For
over 20 years Mr.. Koepke had been en-
oloyed at the Rock Island Lumber
company Herman, the only son of
he couple, was killed two years ago in /.
railway accident.
Five children survive by Mrs. 4
loepke's first marriage. They are a 1
ION. Carl Ohms of Milan. and four
daughters, Mrs. Henry Timm, Mrs. /
John Haalk. Mrs: John ENGLAND of /
rock Island and Mrs. Olof Johanson
# Milan.