Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-14

Lille hOu IOpS u plliey WIKI CHr at
tached to it was being run in order tC
convey people over the river.
Mark and Charlie took their seats in
the dangling carriage and were slid
across the novel bridge, and on reaching
the further side of the stream they made
their way as best they could, towards the
spot where their home had stood.
striking across the valley towards the
hillside, they encountered hundreds OF
homeless people lying on the wet grass !,
wrapped i'll blankets, sheets or quilts.
1t was growing cold and misty; soon the
rain began TO fall sfresh, and shelter
there was for no one.
The houses on the hillside, which the
flood had left untouched, were literally
packed from basement to garnet with
half-starved and almost fsmished survi-
vors. Almost the whole of the food
supplies in the neighborhood had been
destroyed, and the bare neoesssries OF
life were being eagerly purchased at 8
hundred fold their common value.
The pitiless waters had shown no favor
to anyone; rich and poor had been alike
smitten: and there sitting on the bleak
green slopes, or herded together in the
crowded houses, were men, women and
children of gentle breeding and large
wealth; and many an heiress and hand
some belle bad been suddenly reduced
TO rags and beggary.
AS they went along the ridge of the
valley, Eliot and Hesketh came upon
girl standing with her bare feet in the
slime, and with only a pettiooat and
shawl to cover her. At first they thought
her an Italian woman, so poor and mis-
cradle did she appear, but on approach
ing they discovered chat she was one of
the most dashing bellies of Johnstown,
and the daughter of wealthy banker.
The rags in which she stood were all
that was left of her father 8 splendid
mansion, which had been swept away
with her parents, she alone having
escaped with her life.
AS they urged the sorrowing girl to
seek refuge in one or other
of the houses on the hillside,
Mark and Charlie heard loud,
confused shouts further up the valley.
But the mist was too thick to enable
them to perceive anything, and they ran
forward TO learn what the outcry was
about.
In a minute or so they came upon
crowd of excited men, who were gathered
in ring about half dozen dead bodies
and three low-looking fellows who had
evidently been caught in the act of COM
hitting some efarious deed.
81 tell you'll" one of the crowd shouted
passionately, 'that 1 caught these
scoundrels red-handedl They were
plundering these bodies. See the watch
and chain he dropped when 1 first &C
cused him Of it. And the others are as
bad. One of them was pulling the ring
from that poor fellows finger when 1
ran up
He pointed as he spoke to a massive
gold chronometer lying beside one of the
victims OF the flood, and angry murmurs
went up from the excited bystanders
whose numbers were constantly increas-
ing.
cts Help the three men cried
eve were only looking at the bodies. -
d" It's true!" another citizen broke |
in. 81 saw you with my own eyes, you |
-- wretches! If you were not robbing |
that body, what is that watch doing |
there. If it had been left there by the |
flood it would have been covered with |
mud like everything else. And l saw |
you put some papers in your pocket"
At this point young man burst |
through the ring of people and bent for |
a moment over the body of the elderly |
nan the Infamous wretches had been |
"My God!" he cried hoarsely, cts
ny tatheri This is his watch!' Then
he turned with wild and menacing looks
Upon the thieves and their accusers, say
ng as he addressed the latter, whom he
appeared to know; care you certain,
Farris-Acton, that they were robbing
lim?'
Certain as deathl'' absolutely
ure of it, - the men spoken to cried in
breath. Examine that thief's pockets,
Ind then you will see whether it's true
IT not. -
In another instant the three villains
we're held by dozen men, and eager
lands were emptying their pockets; and
Don the most damning evidence of their
'uilt was discovered upou them.
The heartless knaves were literally
oaded with stolen spoil-watohes, rings
md other trinkets, with gold and notes
n abundance being found in their pos
ession, and some of the former articles
we're identified By those present as hav-
1g belonged to persons they knew.
"This is my fathers pooketbook!'
he young man Dried, who had forced
~ tA0 AuelOo VI Luc anu /
hen an ominous roar went up from the
lcensed and excited crowd, which had
ow increased tenfold in numbers.
"Shoot the varmintsl Lynch the
ussesl - score of voices crled passion
tely, and at that the robbers fell upon
heir knees, acknowledging their guilt,
nd Logging piteously, olamorously for
leroy.
"Come away, Charliel" Mark cried.
Il am sick of this. Murder will be
one here
"'Nurder! do you call it? Well, 1
link it only justice. The scamps de-
erye all they'll get. Let's see it out.
won't take long, for Judge Lynch
ispenses his justice quickly -
The threetold execution was soon eff
.cted. The affrighted wretches were
ragged TO the nearest tree, crying,
lrsing, praying, imploring, but their
ppeals for mercy fell on deaf ears, and
ION their lifeless corpses were hanging
if and still in the cold misty air.