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Fire destroys Illinois home of ex-Bear Bortz
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LIBERTY, Ill. (AP) — Authorities are trying to determine what sparked a blaze that destroyed the century-old home of a former Chicago Bears player who helped the team win the 1986 Super Bowl. The Quincy Herald-Whig reports that no injuries resulted from the blaze early Wednesday at Mark Bortz's two-story farmhouse near Liberty, a village in western Illinois' Adams County. The house was fully engulfed when volunteer firefighters arrived, and two fire engines got stuck in snow that kept them from getting to the scene. Bortz was a fixture on the Bears' offensive line for 12 seasons, including the 1985 that culminated with the Bears' title over the New England Patriots. He was a two-time Pro Bowler. Fire Chief Don Loos says Bortz and his wife have another home and aren't without shelter. 
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Today is Sunday, May 19, the 139th day of 2013. There are 226 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: The Rt. Rev. Harry I. Witherspoon, D.D. Bishop of Illinois, willpreach in Trinity (Episcopal) Church, in this city this evening.
1888 -- 125 years ago: At 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Mississippi River flooded itsbanks at Rock Island, destroying the warehouse of the Rock Island Lumber companyand damaging the Lumber Company and arsenal power plant. Total loss isestimated at $100.000.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Residents of South Rock Island township are circulating a petitionfavoring the annexation of that area to the city of Rock Island.
1938 -- 75 years ago: Mrs. Thomas Ackles, of Rock Island, has been elected president ofthe Playcrafters for the next season. She succeeds Warren Leonard.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Some 8,000 people filed through the gates of Rock Island Arsenal on Saturday to view a display of a part of the nation's armed strength. The occasion was theannual observance of Armed Forces Day.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Willis Kuschmann, of Moline, who already has won his laurels as oneof the most artistic men in the Quad-Cities area, has a new hobby. He is deeply involvedin miniature railroading. At the age of 88, when many other seniors are dozing in theirchairs or sitting before the television, Mr. Kuschmann is planning and working on hiscollection.
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