The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-05-27
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Dallas, Texas, May 27.-Vandals
are adding their depredations to the
loss inflicted upon a suffering peo-
pie by the Trinity river flood. 1t was
reported yesterday morning-and
the report was soon verified-that
men and boys in skiffs and in every
other conceivable contrivance which
would float were moving about in
the flooded districts and stealing
from deserted and half submerged
homes everything they could lay
their hands upon News of such
work came from practically every
part of the flooded districts and
caused authorities and citizens to
take prompt action.
In South Dallas citizens threaten
ed to shoot on sight any person
caught looting. In North Dallas the
police arrested six negroes who were
moving about in skiffs or on RATS
and other arrests were reported in
rapid succession.
GhouIs Prey Upon Property.
me most eXasperating news of
the kind, however, came from West
Dallas, where the people had suf-
fered most from the flood. Reliable
persons said that while scores of
families with scarcely their night
clothing upon their bodies were
perched upon the roofs of their
submerged houses patiently waiting
through the long hours of Monday
morning for rescuing parties, they
saw persons in wagons, half broken
buggies and even afoot come to the
edge of the oyerfIowed district and
of nil ;.Ir
ducks and pet dogs and take them
away. This was about daylight Mon
day, they said. Later in the day
there came both negroes and white
persons who We're bold enough to
carry away the trunks, bed clothing
and household effects which lay scat
tered about.
AS soon as these reports, DELAYED
because OF the confusion, reached
Sheriff Ledbetter he secured two
swift gasoline launches, in each of
which he placed two well armed
deputies and kept them patrolling
the flooded districts until dark
when they were relieved by other
officers who continued the work. The
sherlh also threw Gordon of depu-
ties on foot and on horseback around
eiiS 'SttioiS III WHlC1l II WAS Sdl0 the
depredations had been heaviest with
orders to arrest all persons found
with goods in their possession for
which they could give no satisfac-
tory explanation.
me Trinity river has fallen 6.1
feet In twenty-four hours. In other
words 1t stood 46.5 feet at 6 D. m.
yesterday, whereas Monday at the
same hour it stood at 52.6- feet.
weather Observer Eisenlohr express
ed the belief that from yesterday
evening on the fall would be much
more rapid-perhaps IL inches an
hour.
To Restore Light and Water.
Although twenty-four hours have
elapsed sice the catastrophe, the city
of Dallas is in many respects but lit
tie, If any, better shape than it was
at the time of the height of the
flood. The city is still without water,
or was until midnight last night,
when Water Commissioner Sullivan
said he hoped to be able to get the
pumps going at Turtle Greek station.
There are no street lights or cleo
trio lights of any other kind, with
the exception of those furnished by
few private plants, for the great
plant of the Dallas Electric Light
and Power company could not be put
to rights until the water left it,
which it did not do until yesterday
morning. The loss there will range
from $4,000 to $4,000 with the
indications in favor of the latter
figure. 1t was said last night that
perhaps the great dynamos could be
set In motion tonight.
Free Water From SprinkIers.
The citizens are also being put to
much trouble to secure a supply of
water for the barest necessities All
over town men may be seen carry
ing it In buckets from wells and cis-