Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-21
ESTIMATE OF DAMAGES
PLACED AT $4,000 TO
STRUCTURE AND STOCKS

through the floor in rapid success
sion, leaving only two of the seven
tables intact. In the meantime
the firemen were gradually getting
the better of the flames.
When smoke began to fill The
Argus plant the firemen investigat-
ed without delay and found that the
fire was following Joints DIP through
the brick wall. A line of hose was
laid into The Argus building. Bricks
were torn away and the water ap-
piled with telling effect.
At the same time the flames be-
gan shooting skyward through the
skylight, causing a greater menace
to The Argus building on the west,
and the building occupied by Bueh-
ler's meat market adjoining the
burning building on the east, and
the Martin Cigar store building on
the corner. A line of hose was
brought up by the firemen from the
rear of the building to combat this
development.
Argus Removes Valuables.
Owners and members of The Ar
gus force removed valuable papers,
files and other articles, aided by
volunteers. Chief Cox aided in the
rescue, removing the property in a
police car to the police station.
Bert Jones, owner of the second
hand store at 1909 Second avenue,
also took charge of some of the
property, which he placed for safe
keeping in his building.
Wall Threatened.
At time when about twenty
men were in the basement of The
Argus building removing files, a
fireman rushed in and gave warn
ing for all to clear cut as the wall
between the two buildings was in
serious danger Of giving way. This
danger was accentuated by the fact
that the floor of the Sexton build
ing was falling and the ceiling was
burning.
There are six linotype machines
on the Third floor of The Argus
plant, weighing about one ton each.
If the wall gave way these ma
chimes would have crashed to the
basement and in all probability
would have caused fatalities.
The fireman's warning was not
questioned and there was a rush
for the outside.
Boy Scouts Work Hard.
Members of the Boy Scouts or
ganization were on the job. They
roped off portions of the street and
gave efficient aid in guard duty and
other work.
Appreciation for what was done
for The Argus is extended to all the
workers, and it can be said that the
work of the fire and police depart
ments and of the Boy Scouts, COM
ing under the direct notice of The
Argus. proves that not only are
Rock Island police and fire depart
ments efficient to a degree, but also
that the Boy Scouts have an organ
ization that does credit to the
Scout leaders, the members of the
boy, and especially credit to the
city of Rock Island.
Workers Furnished Lunch.
The Argus acted as host to mem
bers of the police and fire depart
ments, wet and cold from their
work, by taking them into the Mar
tin Cigar store and instructing that
all their orders for food and coffee
be charged against it.
However, after the fire was ex-
tinguished, Frank Martin, one of the
owners of the string of Martin
stores, refused to take any payment.
Pump Cellars Out.
The fire was completely extin-
guished at 1880 o'clock this morn
ing but Chief Schmidt kept one OF
the big pumps at work all night
pumping the water out of the base
ments of the Sexton and The Argus
buildings. Police remained all
night to guard exposed property.
Arsenal Chief Lauds Work.
Dan Shire, chief of the arsenal
fire department, investigated the
situation this morning, and lauded
the firemen for their work. Moth
ing but expert knowledge and stick
ing ability saved the Sexton build
ing from complete destruction and
possibly the destruction Of the
whole block" Chief Shire said.