davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
Three DRINKERS
IN New YORK DIE.
Many Are Ill and Hurt
After City's Wettest
Christmas
(By The Associated Press.)

NEW YORK, n. Y, Dec. 26.-Three
men are dead, 81 others are i'll in Belle
vue hospital and the police court calen-
dars are crowded, as result Of the
liquor drinking yesterday in this city
in celebration Of Christmas. II addi-
ton to the dead and sick, between 40
and so persons are in the accident ward
of Bellvue from injuries sustained in
fights or falls due to liquor.
Yesterdays fatalities increased to "a
the number of deaths in the city from
poison liquor during the month.
The number of drunks yesterday and
on Christmas Eve was as great as at
any time prior to prohibition, accord
ing to the police. Officials at Bellevue
hospital said the tide of deaths and suf
fering from poison liquor had been
steadily rising since the first prohibi-
tion Christmas in 1920.
In an open letter to Governor Smith,
asking his support in the passage of a
state enforcement act, Arthur J. Davis,
state superintendent Of the Anti-saloon
league, quoted the city health depart
ment's figures as showing 459 deaths
from alcoholism in New York City dur
ing the present years as compared with
307 deaths last yea.
This number" said Mr. Davis in his
letter, is greater than that of any year
since prohibition and almost as large
as in pre- re-prohibition days"
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
33 BURNED TO
DEATH; 70 Are
IN HOSPITALS
Funeral Services for 16
to be Held Today; IL
Are to Have Joint Ser.
vices Tomorrow
(Bv The Associated Press, =,

HOBART, Okla, Dec. 26.-Haying
completed the difficult task Of identi-
flying all of the 33 victims of the fire
which destroyed the school house dur
ing a Christmas eve entertainment. the
people Of Babb's Switch settlement to-
day set about the sad work of burying
their dead.
Plans for placing the unknown dead
in a common grave. first ccnsidere1
when it appeared Identification of al
the bodies would be impossible because
of their eharred condition, were aban-
doned last night when the identity Of
the last victim--a child of 11--was es-
tablished. Joint funeral services for ID
of the dead were set for this afternoon,
followed by burial in seperate graves
The Rev. G.. w. Estes. pastor of the
Presbyterian church, was named to CON
duct the services, with ministers from
all denominations participating. The
remaining II victims Of the fire prob
ably will be buried tomorrow
Grave diggers were busy throughout
the morning in the little cemetery. now
covered with a mantle of snow Local
undertakers were unable to meet tho
demand fer caskets. and special ship
ments had to be ordered from Okla
hamo City and Anadarke.
Twenty persons injured in the fire
are still confined to hospitals. All were
considered to have at least an even
chance Of recovery. -
A committee of local citizens had
been appointed BY Mayor F. e. Giles
pie TO provide for the care of children
orphaned by the disaster and to work
toward rehabilitation of the home life
Of Babb's Switch. Already a movement
Is under way to raise funds with which
to erect monument TO the memory oi
those who lost their lives in/Oklahoma's
worst Christmas tragedy
Three small fires in Hobart yeste rdav
added to the city's tension One Of the
blazeS, originating in a jewelry store.
caused mild panic in two nearby NOV
ing picture theatres, but no one was s.
riously injured.
Officers say they expect to take no
action toward investigating the fire
Vigilance of the school trustees in
placing wire netting over the outside
of the school windows, to keep out van
dals, is held chiefly responsible for the
heavy loss of life. Could the windows
Of the enc story structure have been
used as means of egress virtually all
Of the 200 persons in the building
could have escaped, it is believed AS
it was. the door was the only practica-
bic exit, and there was such a rush for
this that persons farthest from it had
little chance to escape as the fire start
ing from q candle on the Christmas tren
swept through the small structure
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

Residents Of the Rio Grande Valley.
awoke Chrstmas morning to find the
trees, g-ass and plants covered with
ice, and ice hanging from houses, win
dows, automobiles and covering the
earth like a blanket.
However, in spite OF the icy covering
the mercury dropped only to %, two de
grees above the low mark of the freeze
earlier in the week, and indications are
that it will not do much aidit onal
damage, as TIE tender limbs OF citrus
and the vegetable crops susceptible TO
cold were f.ozen in the first wind from
the north.
The norther which struck the Valley
Wednesday morning brought the tenn
perature down steadily, until the freez-
ing mark was reached at O'Clock
Thursday morning. The drizzle which
had started early Wednesday continued,
and began to freeze as the temperature
lowered At daybraak Thursday the
trees were covered with ice, many limbs
being broken off, and others bent to
the glounl.
The lowest temperature was reached
at 8 a. m Christmas cay, and the tenn
perature began 10 rise until the freeZ-
ing mark was passed at o'clock in the
afternon. mark Of 33 degrees was
TIE coolest recorded Thursday night,
and at Z a. m. today the temperature
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

some cther young men rolled big
snow ball on the lot where Willman's
pharmacy is located now, and the ball
remained there several days. The lot
was vacant at that time. and a big
palm tree stood at each side cf it.
Il have seen the temperature drop
lower than it did during the celd spell
this week, but it never remained be-
low freezing as long said p J. vi
vier another long time resident cf
Brownsville. We had a cold spell in
1909 when the mercury dropped to Is,
and everything was covered with ice.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
M. P. Earnings Report
Cheers Wall Street
(Bv The Associated Press

NEW YORK. N. T., Dec. 26.-Publica-
tion of the November earnings report
Of the Missouri Pacific railroad, show
ing gross incomes for that month of
$11 ,239,977. an increase of $946,163 over
the corresponding month last year and
ret income $1,784.253. an increase Of
$482.89l created a cheerful feeling
among Wall street brokers, who had
been surprised and disappointed earlier
in the week by the Unicn Pacific re-
port, showing declines.
Reduction in operating expenses is
reflected in the November report Of the
Texas and Pacific railroad which made
its appearance today. 1t shows gross OF
$3.253.346 in November, a gain. of 81
648, while net Of $SS6,46S is $20,576
above that of last year.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
Publisher Seeks Hike
On Parcel Post Rates
(By The Associated Press.) J

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 26.-
George c. Lucas, director Of transporta-
tion for the National Publishers as
ISOLATION, told the joint postoffice sub
committee today that second class mail
matter, consisting of newspapers and
periodicals, had been charged with un.
just cost ALLEGATIONS in the postoffice de-
partment cost ascertainment report He
suggested that instead Of making a gen
eral increase in postal rates, the gov
eminent assess the bulk Of the revenue
for postal salary increases against the
parcel post. He proposed five cent
service charge for each parcel post pack
age. This service, he said, had been
established under the guise Of service
to the farmers, but less than ten per
cent of it really was for the farmer
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
Present Cold Worst Since I899 Pioneer Residents Declare

That the present cold spell is the
longest that the Valley has exper-
fenced in more than so years was the
unanimous opinion of a number of
long time residents of the city who
were discussing it this morning.
Il remember in 1899. when snow
covered the ground several inches
deep, and the temperature dropped
much lower than it did during the
cold this week, but it did not last as
lcng," said George NJ. Puteenat, who
has lived here almost 60 years. Dur
ing that cold spell Mr.. Whitman and
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

Romance Becomes Tragedy
After School House Fire

HOBART, Okla, Dec. 26.-Bells
which were to have pealed joycusly
for the wedding cf C.aId Bolding and
Gladys CT ments, Yesterday. will to-
day toll lugubr:ously as the body Of
the Lride-to-bc is laid in its final
resting place in the Hobart GENE. cry.
Miss Clements was one Of three SIS
ters who perished with 30 other ptr-
sens in The fire which destroyed the
Babb's Switch soho house while
hristmas eve en- ertainm,nt was in
progress. Bedding was badly burned
N 4 futile att npt tc save his sweet
heart, but is expected to recover. One
Of Miss Clements sister, Mrs Juani-
Ia Clements Stevenson came here with
her three year old daughter from
Michigan to attend the wedding To-
Gay the bodies OF mother and child
lie side by side in the local morgue.
together with that Of Miss Clements
ether sister who was 10 have acted as
bridesmaid.
Romance again bowed to tragedy in
the case Of Aubrey Coffey and Vesta
Jackson, who We've to have been mar
ried next spring. Both pGrished in
the fire. Andrew Jackson. brother
CT the girl, sought 10 rescue the be-
trothed Fair when, standing on the
outside he tried to tear loose the wire
netting which covered a window and
barred their way 10 safety. But the
wire resisted his efforts and the
flames finally drove him back.
J. f. Eden, carried through the
doorway Of the building on the tide
of hysterical humans fighting their
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

Mr.. Thielan recalled another spell
in 1886 which rivalled the present
freeze in severity.
During the freeze in February. 1899,
residents of Brownsville took wheels
off their buggies. and coasted all
ever the city on sleds. That was in
the time before Volstead, and many
Ct the persons became so interested
IN coasting around over the snow
that they did not notice when it thaw-
cd out, and forced their horses to
drag them around in the mud and
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

was IA. At noon the mercury stood at
81.
The weather forecas, is for warmer
snl fairer weather tomo row, although
tonight Will probably be d.sarrceably
ccld bat not freezing, according to
W. J. Schnurbusch, Of the local weather
bureau station.
The coating IS ice on trees and
houses began to melt yesterday after
noon. and today most Of the ice was
gone, with only Few traces in spo )
where the 81 Ght north wind kept the
temperature down.
Accc ding to reports received here,
rain was HEAVIER ~ he uppor Valley,
continuing Thursday AMI snow was re-
ported at McAllen ana other 20 hts in
the western end of Hidalgc county.
Like the other cold spell. Ii tie can be
&scertained as u the extent o. the dam
age from this freeze. said County Agent
Louis H. Alsmeyer this morninG. Not
many citrus trees were injured { ON the
limbs cracking from &c. and it is doubt
ful if there was any consi lerable dam
age to he cabbage. Tulnips, carrots
and other crops Of that kind are not
killed, although the tops are frozen
off"
Farmers Of the uppe~ Valley yester-
day expressed the belief hat the cold
Continued on Page Two)
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
(Bv The Associated press.l

SALTVILLE, Va, Dee gov th nine
bodies thus far recovered and six or
seven persons S i'll missing, the search
for victims continued today in the area
Of the Holst,n River Valley laid waste
By the flocd Of line muck released By
the breaking of a dam Wednesday night
az the Mathieson alkali works.
While more than a score Of injured
lay in an imprlvisd hospital here
searchers continued to fight their way
through he st etchcS Of liine-wh.t d
mud deposited by the torrent which vir.
tually swept away the little settlement
Of workt RS De ow the dam.
Four a five of the injured are not
expected 10 live and many are suffer
ing from pneumonia resulting from i'm
mersion in the icy watess and from
burns caused BY the alk4Ii muck. Many
OF the rescuers also have been treated
for buns.
Several Of the bodiessrecovered had
been carried six miles bddow the dam in
Tumbling Creek. Bciief-.hat- soarr-of
the missing still lay buried under the
avalanche If mud, standing waist high
in places, kept the searchers at theL
task after more than 36 hours
The river valley today. with its deep
layer of lime mud, had the appearance
Ct an ice gorge. Houses brushed over
and crushed by the weight Of the re-
servoir mixture and automobiles COW
cred almost to their tops BY ii present,
ed scene of desolaticn
Most Of the victims whose bodies
have so far been recovered were at
tending Christmas tree party at the
home Ct Harry Prater, the house near.
est the dam. With a minutes warning
of deafening roar as the dam broke
the merrymakels were trapped az the
house was engulfed. Occupants of some
other houses which withstood the tor
rent managed TO struggle through the
mud and water to safety.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

1t was a disastrous freeze because
the sun came out warm next day, and
even the old sour orange trees were
killed. But that was before there was
a large citrus acreage in the Valley"
Mr.. Vivier also recalled the cold in
1899.
John Thiclan and Miguel Fernandez
agreed that it is the worst weather in
25 years.
This is the blue Moon" said Mr..
Fernandez. ''It is the worst cold
since 1899. when we had six inches of
snow on the ground.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

way 10 safety. sought to force his way
year old daughter, but he was unable
TO gain an entrance and the child
burned to death
Mrs. w. G. Bolding lost three chill
dren in the fire. One Of them Ed
ward. 8 years Old, he had managed
to get out Of the building with her.
but once outside the boy remembered
h'e toys hc had left behind and dash
~ back, after them. He never came
cut.
As result Of the fire, the little
settlement isn't the saddest Christ
mas Of IT'D history And it was ex-
pccted to b the happ:est. Crops had
been unusually good this year and
Santa Claus had promised to deal
each family more lavish measure of
Christmas gaiety than normally. But
the fire spoiled it all. Christmas ca
iols changed to funeral dirges.
Christmas gifts and festivities were
forge tton while every citizen turned
his attention to identifying the dead
and preparing fer their burial.
Several families lost Two or mere
members in the fire. The family Of
T. G. Coffey, consisting of his wife
and four children. was completely wip-
ed out. The names of Bolding, Cur
tis. Biggers. Peck. Reville and Gle
ments appear two or mere times in
the list Of dead.
Babbs Switch is a prosperous farm
ing community located sevsn miles
south of Hobart. Cotton and wheat
are the principle products raised The
population is about 250.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
IN OUR
VALLEY


" is just little over SO years OF age
We dislike to give away Mr.. Putegnat' )
age, but it is necessary for purposes Of
weather comparisons. Besides, Mr..
putegnat's appearance bellies his age.
lie locks at least Is years younger
Mr.. Putegnat has lived here all these
years. ne was born here, in fact. He is
what some Of US term IAN old timer"
And Mr.. Putegnat is authority for the
statement that never before has there
been as long and severe a period of cold
weather as that now drawing to a close
we hope.
There have been cold snaps as severe
as this one, he says, but never as long
as this one.
We must depend upon our "old tim
ers" for this sort of information, as no
official weather records are available.
Other old residents support Mr.. Pute-
gnat in his statement.
Telegraphic news reports from Los
Angeles today say that it is estimated
that ten per cent of the citrus fruits
in that district have been lost because
of frost. If Los Angeles admits as much
as ten per cent, we can well believe that
the actual loss will be considerably
more.
Misery loves company, someone said
somewhere sometime.
Our government agricultural and hor-
ticultural officials stationed in the
Valley have given US information cal
culated to save trees that may have
been damaked by cold
These suggestions are well worth re
peating H. E. Ferrin, state and federal
SAYS that in instances where the small
trees split the tree can be saved from
damage by painting with bordeaux
paste, and wrapping with cloth I'M
mersed in melted beeswax.
County Agent Louis Alsmeyer warns
against pruning citrus fruit trees until
it has been possible to determine the
extent of injury from the cold. The
extent of damage will not be learned
until at least ten days have past, he
saws. Pruning may result in cutting
off limbs that are not dead and leaving
others that are dead. Where limbs are
split the yshould be tied up, as outlined
in Mr.. Ferrin's suggestion.
The Missouri Pacific is losing no time
in taking advantage of its enlarged ter
itory by the acquisition of control OF
the Gulf Coast Lines.
1t announces that early next month
it will establish an all-steel fast pas
senger service between New Orleans
and Kansas City, via the Gulf oCast
Lines from New Orleans to Kinder, La,
thence north over the Missouri Pacific
Some months ago, when the Missouri
Pacific filed its application for permit
to acquire the Gulf Coast Lines, there
was talk Of the famous Sunshine Special
being extended from Houston south to
Brownsville. This would give the Val
ley direct passenger service into St.
Louis.
Perhaps that's one of the good things
II store for US next year. And another
maybe that long-talked new terminal
for Brownsville.
Eggplant may have been destroyed,
likewise such beans as there were, and
beats and tomatoes. But the big winter
crop-cabbage-is safe, from all ac-
counts. Last year the Valley shipped
approximately 5000 carloads of cabbage.
This year the shipments will be large,
and indications are the market will be
good.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
Arrest of Alleged
Poisoner Expected

OLEAN, n. ", Dec. 26.-Chief Of po-
lice Dempsey today was awaiting word
from Columbia, Miss, of the arrest Of
Mrs. Hilma Ensinger on a warrant
charging attempted murder, first de-
gree, in connection with sending poison
ed candy through the calls. The war
rant was mailed here Christmas eve to
Sheriff Branton.
Miss Harriet Mosier, "A, the only per-
son who partook of the poisoned candy
which arrived at her home in a Christ
mas package, apparently is out Of
danger, physicians said today.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

slush Of the streets, which were then
unpaved. according to old timers.
1t was so cold, and 80 unexpected.
that residents of the city had to make
some kind of provision for the poorer
people in Brownsville. Hundreds Of
fam Iies were huddled into the old
grammar school building, and wood,
which was given by persons having
plenty of it, was stuffed into stoves
and fireplaces to keep these people
from suffering during the two days
I that freezing weather lasted.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
National Cemetery
Superintendent Dies
(By' The Associated Press.)

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Dec. 26.-James
Williams Burns. rs. superintendent Of
the National cemetery in Memphis. died
at his home here yesterday following
heart attack. Mr.. Burns served in the
Union army during the civil war, be-
ing drummer boy in the sixteenth
Michigan infantry. He had been in
charge of the National cemetery here
for the past eight years.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
SEVEN SLAIN BY
MEXICO BANDITS
Train Derailed South of
Saltillo; Express Car
Is Looted

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 26--Fifty armed
bandits Wednesday night derailed a
Laredo to Mexico City passenger train
at FL Cobre, south of Saltillo, killed a
woman passenger and the six soldiers
cf the guard and sacked the EXPIRE IS
car according to press dispatches from
Saltillo. Several passengers were
wounded in the fight. in which the sol
dier guards put up gallant but futile re-
sistance.
A military column has Be en- sent from
Saltillo in pursuit of the bandits. A
similar outrage occurred at the nearby
station cf Carneros last October.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
Mississippi Postmaster
Is Slain by Old Enemy

CHARLESTON. Miss, Dec. 26-James
w. Ashcraft. postmaster here. was shot
and killed last night by Lew Houston,
travelling salesman for Memphis chem
ical concern, in crowded barber shop
The shooting is said to have resulted
from i'll feeling existing between the
two men for several years.
Ashchaft's father was killed under
similar circumstances on another
ShriStmas eve AZ years ago.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
Wealthy Chinaman Is
Killed in Tong War
fBy The Associated Press. J.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 26-Moy Quong.
wealthy laundry owner shot in what is
believed TO be renewal Of tcng
feud. died from wounds in hospital
today. Before his death he is said to
have identified Wong Way as his as
sailant and Harry Lee as Wong's COM
panion in the affair. They are in GUS
tody.
Wong and Lee are said to be the first
Of the tong feud slayers here to be
identified.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
Search Being Made
For Missing Fliers
(By The Associated Press.)


SAN FRANCISCO, Calf, Dec. 20
Search is being made today for Lieut.
Oakley C Kelly and Lieut.. H. c. Miller,
who left Vancouver Barracks Washing
ton yesterday at / o'clock for San Fran
cisco Up to o'clock today they had
not reported there. They were last seen
flying over Redding, Calf, at 4:3O
o'clock yesterday.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
JOURNALIST DIES

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 26-
James G. Rice. SO, former editor of the
Chattanooga News and well known
Southern journalist, died yesterday at
Alexandria. La, from a stroke Of
apoplexy.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
SENATOR OWENS BROTHER DIES

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Dec. 26.-Col-
onel William Otway Owen, army med
ical corps retired, brother Ct Senator
Robert L. Owen of Oklahoma, died sud-
denly of heart trouble here last night
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
McGraw Denies Giants
Sold and Braves Bought
(By The Associated Press. }


NEW YORK. N. Y. Dec 26.-Jobn ].
McGraw, vice president and manager of
the Giants, today denied published
report that he had sold his interest in
the New York club and had purchased
the Boston Braves
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
nine KILLED AS
DAM BREAKSA
ALKALI WORKS
Several Are Missing in
Virginia Valley Laid
Waste by Lime Muck;
Many Injured
tR- Thc Associated Press. /,

RI HMOND, Va. Dec 2G Four
more bo1.cs were foun4 today in the
muck~ from the dam that broke We'd
nesday night and flood d the lower sec
tions of Saltville bringing the known
death list to 13. Seven persons sill are
missing.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
STANDARD OFFICIAL DIES

LOUISVILLE. KY, Dec. &c. I. Col
lins, IS, chairman of the board Of di-
rcctors, Standard Oil company of Ken
lucky, died at his home here yeste rday.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26
(By The Associated Press.l

ROANOKE, Va, Dee. 26.-Vibration.
believed here to be earth tremors and
strong enough TO shake pictures from
walls. knock vases from tables and
rock buildings. were felt in Roanoke
and vicinity late last night A watch
man in silk mill reported that the
floor of the brick building he was pa
trolling trembled and furniture ratified
abLut.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-26

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 26.-No
earth shocks were registered on the
seismograph at Georgetown University
during the night, Father Tondorf, in
charge of the instrument said today.