San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-28
DALLAS LETTER.
DALLAS, Texas, Jan. 10, 1892.

To the LIGHT:
Monday was by all odds the coolest day
we ever experienced in Texas. Business
of all kinds was almost suspended. All
who were not absolutely compelled to go
out kept within doors. 1t was too slip
perry for the horse cars to run. Where
there was an incline grade, and the street
paved with bois dare, it was impossible
for the poor mules to stand. After re-
peated efforts to run the cars on Ross
avenre it was given up as a bad
job. For while it seemed as
if the motor cars would be of
little service. When first out the wheels
would revolve, but mary step" further
would the cars be, Notwithstanding the
many revolutions of the wheels, till Gin
ders. salt and dry dirt were strewn along
on the rails. After this was done there
was tolerable good service on most of the
electric lines. The motor men say were
this cold a general thing every winter it
would be necessary to have vestibule
cars.
This is the time to kindle fires with coal
oil. As we were at our breakfast yester-
day morning we heard the report of what
we imagined pistol discharge. Instead
of pistol shot it was the equally fatal ex-
plosion of coal oil can. 1t was eight
O'Clock calm and clear and cold when
Miss Navada Roberts of Wolf City. Tex
as, went in to build fire in Mrs. Pearee's
school room on Greenwood street, East
Dallas. 1t is supposed the gas in the oil
can caught fire when she struck the
match. At any rate there was an explos-
ion and in three minutesR Miss Roberts
had burned so that her face, hands and
neck were all backened and charred.
UidWon Mrc Dnaroois donnhtar
ran in the room instantly upon
hearing the report, and says Miss
Roberts was dead when she entered and
her clothing burning. Some say she was
killed by the shock. 1t is to be hoped she
was. Mrs. Kidwell got right badly
burned in trying to smother the flames Of
the dead girls clothes. Her parents were
wired the sad news. She was only
about IS years of age, and was much
beloved by those who knew her.
We. who have fuel and food are glad to
think this cold snap will be of short dura-
ton, for there is many needy one in our
town. There are numerous demands for
charity from people whom your cores
pondent knows are willing to earn their
own living, if they can get the work Not
withstanding we have a well regulated
charity association, the number OF APP
peals for aid is greater than formerly.
III Dallas does rot ''get a move on herself
soon there will be still further suffering.
Even the hackmen are feeling the effects
of the severe weather. 1t was al
most impossible to get hack or
conveyance for love or money. The
horses were not suitably shod for the
slick slippery ground, and those who
ventured out in hopes of earning a few
shekels were loosers In the long run. In
several instances the horses fell and
broke leg, and one poor brute broke
IbrQa tanc nd haA fn ha chnt hn
The letter carriers had to abandon their
horses and take it afoot, making only one
delivery day. One of the express COM
panies had to have a two hundred and
fifty dollar horse shot after it had fallen
and crippled itself.
who could earn his three dollars per day.
He was without work and without
money. His wife had been sick portion
Of the time. While she was sick the
neighbors sent food regularly. few
days since one of the children died. The
father bought the plank and made his
child's coffin. The undertakes In Dallas
do not like to trust their best friend when
il comes to buying coffin. And this man
did not want his child to be buried as a
pauper 1t was Dallas undertaken who
some years ago disentered corpse. took
the coffin, which had not been paid for,
and placed the coffiDless dead back in the
lap Of mother earth.
In November we chronicled the death
of Mr.. A. j. Williams. At the time it was
supposed he had gotten hurt in attempt
ing TO get off the Oak Cliff train while the
cars were in motion, and had managed to
reach the store over which his son rOomed
when his strength gave out and he died
1t now appears that the old gentleman
had auite a sum of money, in addition to
the SO found on an inside belt on his dead
person, and that he was seen in Dallas
Several days before his corpse was found
at the Oak Cliff store. John Annelo,