The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-15
FIRE CAUSE
OF DASH TO
PORT BYRON
Rock Island and East Mo,
line Departments Put
Out $4,000 Blaze.

r1Ie Damage e6tlmdte0 II $lV,UVV
by Fire Chief August Schmidt Of
Rock Island was caused by a blaze
at Port Byron'that broke out short
ly after midnight Thursday and
which threatened to destroy other
buildings In the business section of
the town, but which was placed un-
der control by Rock Island and
East Moline firemen.
A 2-story frame structure owned
by the Charles Metzger estate and
occupied by Frank Johannson's g
bakery and store, and two 1-story
frame buildings. were destroyed.
The two smaller buildings were va
cant. One was owned by Mrs. w.
D. Hall. Johannson's bakery suf-
fered . loss Of about $500 and he
carried only $4,000 insurance. The
building was not insured.
The fire is said to have started
in the bakery. probably from the
ovens, according to the theory Of
Fire Chief Schmidt, but for whom
with four Rock Island and two
East Moline firemen, the town ol
Port Byron might today have seen
the depletion Of many Of its build
ings, as a strong wind was blowing
and there were only bucket bri-
gades to fight the flames.
Rock Island Lesponds.
A long Instance telephone cal
was put In to Moline by person:
at Port Byron asking for the Mo.
line department to hurry its pump
truck to the scene. For some rea-
son the Moline department was moi
in a position to respond and tht
call was shifted to this citys. Fire
Chief Schmidt promised to RESPOND
and -ofdeEedrf0ur of the ffrsmen .Ol
I the centred station to beard the bil
pump truck with himself. The Mo
line. department had informed thu
chief that two East Moline nremeI
were waiting to be picked up ant
the big truck slowed down, fol
them, after which the big truck wal
pushed for all 1t could stand ove'
the soft roads. as the result q
Thursdays rain.
7 The fire fighters arrived in Por
Byron Just one hour and Is min
utes after the truck left the station
7 here.
Three Buildings Falling In.
The three frame structures wer'
falling in when the crew got the BIZ
pump truck in position on the RYE
bank and set the machinery t.
pumping from the stream.
Several hundred persons had beel
busy with buckets, but the firemel
soon had two lines of hose laid an,
the fire started to crackle and his
under two streams Of water throw
with go pounds pressure.
The buildings were on the ives
side of the street, running nortl
and south nearest to the river
Buildings on each side of then
were wet down and saved, as wa
the big elevator across the street
which contained both grain ant
hides, Fire Chief Schmidt was told
The inhabitants Of the town aid
ed the. fire chief and his six fire
men in every ray they could. help
ing in pullip1 he hose around an
| holding the 6xzles. which prOve
a considerable trick for inex
perienced hapds.
In an hour the last vestige q
fire was extinguished. and tn
townspeople sighed in relief.
In addition to destroying tn
three buildings some loss wa
caused by flames spreading to tn
Farmers Elevator & Supply com
pany, but only slight. The fire wa
checked at the Woodmen building
Considerable glass was cracked a
the Hartz department store and
the Riverside garage. .
Fire Force Feted.
Fire Chief Schmidt said that h
and his crew were feted by th
Port Byron citizens after the wor
was over. They received untoa
thanks and were furnished with q
lime q breakfast as they had eve
eaten. The mayor Of the tow
promised that the chief and Gro
would not be forgotten for thel
work. The big pump truck va
headed homeward 1t 5 O'Clock. q
|riving At the Station ut $50 o'colc
with . tired bunch Of men. VII
iwere, nevertheless. pleased with th
work accomplished which had ne
tied them such . round Of appreci'
ton BY the Pork Byron people.
lon A0A n AAlARh