Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-09
CUT OF FHIS WATER SUPPLY.

Igna Kraus, who occupies apart
ments Oh the third floor OF the tene-
ment at 600 Second street, appeared
in the Essex Market police court Tues
day to press a charge of burglary
against his former friend, Louis BergC
Lessen, who lives in rooms on the floor
above him. For years Klaus and Berge-
Ieisen went to the same synagogue,
drank beer out of the 'growler" and
agreed socially, politically and other
wise.
Those who knew them never antici-
pated that sucn strong friendship would
De broken by the shortsightedness OF a
landlord iu constructing q house 30 that
in times OF war a tenant could by a sim.
ole turn of faucet shut of the supply
of water from an enemy VINO happened
to i've above him.
On Monday night Bergeleisen came
home from work tired and thirsty and
having rex galed himself with salt her,
rings at his midday meal sought the
faucet in the sink to quench his parcb
ed lips and throat. He turned the tsu-
Get but no water came.
Bergeleisen knew the cause, ss for
several preceding days for similar rea'
sons a deep resentment had been Grow
ing in his breast against Kraus,
whom he suspected OF using bic
Influence on the water supply
to play Joke on him. Ga thls
occasion Bergeleisen was in no mooo
for Joking. He was very thirsty and
made signals for Kraus to let go down
below. he hammered on the pipe,
stamped on the floor and coughed VIC.
lently, but there was not a drop to
drink. Finally he heard Kraus oper
the door leading to the DUMP waiter
shaft, and sJlckiog his head out, start
to pull up the dumb waiter. Bergelei-
sen opened his door snd looked down.
"Ignatzl Ignazl" he shouted, "Vat
is dere matter? Wy doan you turn OF
der vste? Och, | am so dry by mire
troa ~
Kraus made no reply, but continued
to pull on the rope. A moment later
a shower of tomato cans from above
came down on Kraus's head. He com
menced to yell and let 60 his hold OF
be dumb waiter, which shot down 10
The basement and struck the bottom
with crash.
II figs you, Mister BerheleiseD, "
shouted Kraus as he shook his fist IL
the directon of Bergeleisen's tiIt.
Kraus soon formulated a plan OF re-
venge. II will cbust gif him a leedlt
undt torture him." he said to his family
who were examining his head wbert
The tomato caus struck him. Kraus
then put his head out Into the sirshait
again and shouted to Bergeleisen l.
modulated tones that gave no indics-
ton of his intended revenge, "Lou's,
Louis, LOuis."
"Vat is i'd, Ignat2?" answered Ber-
geleiseD.
"Vas you spesgin' nit me moment
ago?" asked Krsus.
"Yah, wanted der vater." said Bel
geieison, who was thrown com )lett ly
of his guard.
"Vy l will turn id righdt on" re-
piled Kraus.
He gave the faucet quick turn and
Bergeleisen, who was waiting feverishll
above with tin cup in his hand receiv
ed about a gill of water in 1t; then th'
stream again stopped short. He held
the cup under the faucet for about leu
minutes logger, but no water came.
Then there was an angry dialogue be-
tween the two men through the all
shaft.
"I gnatz, gDalz, vat moDgey doodle
pixness is dis? We're is der vateI? Ber-
hsbs you tink you own der hydranc
undt der Croden Pond?"
"Vy, Mister BergeleiseD, | am usin
der water" shouted Krsus wi hjust the
suspicion of a laugh. 'Ikey is tagin o
bath; ven key gets through den Chak'
ey taies a bath. Ven Cbakey ged'
through Issy tsigs bath. Den comes
Sollg. undt Abey, undt Benny, und
Msxey, undt Morris, undt Lena, und'
| Rebecca, undt Sadie, undt mlneseii
undt mine wife. You may get drin K
10 aboutd four hours, perhaps longer.
"You vos putin up cbob on me,
answered Bergeleiseu. "Derr slD
enough water iD der bibes ter gif al
your family bath. You taig batL'
Ach. mein Gott vat lie!"
According to The police Bergelelsel
was driven to the expedient OF sendinl
for can of beer. This was followed q!
another can, and several more. ln tn
course of an hour Bergeleisen had mus
tered up enough courage to come dow
stairs aud demand satislactIon. ID
started down the stairs with a yell tha
aroused all the tenants. He knocked
on Kraus's door and demanded satisfat
ton. Kraus refused 10 open 1t an
Bergeleisen kicked it in. He made
rush for the water faucet and, turne
| it of. clutchiug Kraus by the whisk
ers. Kraus pot similar hold an
then the little Krauses joined in tn
fight. The little B-rgeleisens went
their fathers assistance and score {
neighbors took hand. A general tigf
followed and 1t was not ended mt
several policeman arrived. They mai
aged to restore order and Bsrgeleise
was marched off to the Union Markt
station on Kraus's complaint.
When th case was called yesterda
in the police court each side was pleI
tifully supplied with witnesses. Att
, hearing number OF them Magistra
Flammer discharged Bergeleisen wit
the remark that he thought there WI
= plenty of fprovocation for him to act as