Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-07
BULLETS BUZZ IN
|. STREET CONFLICT
An Attempt is Made On Life OF Frank
Pag0nas in Ceffee
HeuSe,

Wild west frontier gun fights were
10 more thrilling than the scenes en-
acted last evening in East Moline, |
when running pistol battle was
staged on Fifteenth avenue. Frank |
Pagonas, according to police informa-
ton. was the intended victim of the |
affair, but he came out Of the battle |
alive and with a hole IN the top of his
/ head "a minor wound, as his only in
jury. Pete Serbas, one of Pagonas an
, tagonists in the battle, is in a hospital,
suffering from severe cuts and bruises
administered by Pagonas, Two other
men involved in the affair are sought
by the police.
Origin of the battle was in a coffee
house conducted by George Kanatas
aud two others, on Fifteenth avenue
between Ninth and Tenth streets. Ac-
eoring to information given to the po-
| lice from various sources, the gun play
was the climax OF quarrel between
two foreruen of laboring gangs en-
ployed by the Rock Island railway in
Silvis. Pagonas is foreman of one
crewfi and Serbas is foreman Of an
other engaged in different work. Yes
terday, it seems, Sarbas wanted to bor-
row the services of certain men in the
gang under charge of Pagonas, to per-
form a special task for which he did
not have sufficient number Of work
men. There was clash over the mat
ter, and the two men had trouble
which almost resulted in a physical
encounter.
Last evening the two foremen met
in the coffee house. With Serbas, it is
said, were a colored man who is a ma
tive Of Greece, and another man. Pa
gonas had one companion. The quar-
rel over control of the railway labor
ers broke out afresh.
Police reports are that Serbas drew
an automatic revolver and fired one
= shot at Pag0nas. which missed the
mark. The revolver had only the one
shell designed for use in such weap-
, on, and the glrtTidges in the chamber
were OF type which would not work
: in the automatic. Serbas. it is said
9 tried to fire other shots. but his gun
= would not work. Pagonas had bottle
; presumably q beer bottle. in his hands
when the first attack was made on him
$ He says he grabbed the bottle in one
hand. and closing his eyes he rushed al
/ Serbas and dubbed him with the
bottle, at the same time reaching fol
!, Serbas' weapon. Pagonas managed tt
4 wrench the revolver from Serbas
! hands, and handed the gun to his com
. panion. Then he resumed his wieldine
OF the bottle on the head of his an
tagonist. But the two companions o.
t Serbas came TO the rescue OF Their
s friend. Pagonas begged his compan
5 ion to give him the gun again, but hi!
friend refused. Without arms to de
= fend himself. Pagonas decided that thu
I odds against him were too keayy t.
/ continue the conflict. and he fled. A.
r he ran fRsm the place the coIored man
il is said, fired at him. Several shots
Z at any rate, followed the fleeing fore
st man. He made for the police station
q about block away He explained late
that his trip from the coffee house t.
81 the police station was made at tn
/ rate of at least 60 miles an hour.
y Night Desk Sergeant Elmer Maberr,
OF the police force had heard tn
L shots, and he reached the door Just a
Fl Pagonas burst into the room. Acros
the street. at the corner of Tent
street, was man firing deliberatel,
at Pagonas, and bullets were pepper
r ing the city building One Of the Garlic
'~ shots sent a bullet flying down Fiji
teenth avenue, and it crashed through
= an upstairs window of the building oc
y cupied by the Coin & Menas saloon
p and imbedded itself in partition wal
- Fortunately no one in the room was il
! the path Of the bullet
: From police headquarters Sergean
~ Maberry clearly saw the man who wa
- firing at Pagonas, and the sergean
- drew his own revolver, thinking to re
- turn the fire, but in the line Of his tar
~ get was a rooming house, and h
- feared that stray shot might take a
s innocent Yictlm~ officers rushed towar
n the corner, but the gun man fled whe
;, ne saw Sergeant Maberry draw his re
: volver. The man fed through the al
ley to the railway tracks and then too
~, an easterly course along the right {
he way toward Silvis. He was tracke
ne through the snow, but the trail wa
NJ lost before he could be overtakel
Chief T. j, Schafer and a squad of pf
trolmen were on the scene in a fe-
minutes.
Serbas, seriously wounded. wa
T. found in a coffee house some doors di,
tant from the one where the fight orr.
v mated. He was placed in the care
Mt DR.. G. f. Johnson, who dressed h
ST. wounds, and later he was removed
he a hospital The Kanatas coffee hous
az was in darkness within five minute
m after the battle Chief Schafer oil
Sc tanned possession of the gun said
m have been taken from Serbas. TT
tn magazine was filled with shells d
signed for the ordinary pistol. I'll
police found one empty shell of Il
- type used in automatic revolver
Search was made for other weapon
J but none We're found
One man was picked up on suspicio
Of but he was able to prove that he h;
he no part in the ARRAY, and he was r
NJ. leased. Police were unable to find Il
:: others said to have participated in Il
fight.