Evening star., 1936-03-25
BY JOHN L. HACKNEY.
AWRENCE EATON, youthful

AWuENS6 Eh 1ON, yOuIlilul
Washington cab driver. had
never heard of the Virginia
- District of Columbia boundary
dispute until suddenly he found 1t
to be a personal matter.
1t was yesterday that he discovered
that the Potomac Rivers high water
mark is vital question to himself and
his family. The discovery was made
not because the river destroyed his
humble home (Which 1t did, but be-
cause now he finds himself beyond the
jurisdiction of either the District or
Arlington County's relief agencies.
Eaton and his wife were living In
a small shack at the foot of Mackeys
Hill, a short distance up the river
from Rosslyn and Key Bridge. With
them we're Mrs. Eaton's mother. Mrs.
Bess Norrington, 46; her brother.
Jackie Norrington. IA; her sister, Mrs.
Merle jenkins, and Mrs. jenkins 10
month-old son Claude. Eaton also
was furnishing cot for Thomas
Charles Fenton. %, after Fenton had
lost his job as an attendant at a
Georgetown garage.
Ready to Plant Garden.
Eaton drove his cab and Mrs. Nor
rington worked at w. p. A. job to
supply food and clothing for the fam
lily. Fenton hustled for his own meals,
and because he had been i'll, found
odd jobs to do for the neighbors who
lived along the narrow sandy shelf
on the south bank of the river.
Mrs. Eaton had collected garden
seeds and had picked a spot for
planting them as soon as the weather
became suitable.
! Then the flood came. The little
house was tossed against the rocks
Of Mackeys Hill and crushed. All
the family. furniture and clothing
was washed away. Members of the
family fled to the high ground and
sat on the hillside.
My sisters husband came after
ner," Mrs. Eaton said. and she and
the baby went back to Silver Spring
But we didn't have any money and
couldn't go any place"
Friendly neighbors took them In.
Mrs. Harry L. McDonie. whose hus-
band is employed at the Navy Yard,
gave them shelter; other neighbors,
in turn. supplied food.
Eaton kept driving his rented cab.
Business being what it was, he hadn t
been able today to pay the cab rent.
He still owes for two days.
Held Up-Loses 3 Cents.
"Righ. on top of losing our clothes
and tine house" he said today, dig
eoneG if didn't get held up. A col
ored boy stopped me at Twenty-sixth
and the Avenue and gave me an ad-
dress .r that same section.
When we got back in an alley. he
made n,e get out. had cents
that's ALL"
Mrs. McDonie took the leadership in
trying to get help for the Eaton family.
She arranged an appointment for him
yesterday afternoon and he came into
Washington. waited his turn and tried
to present his case.
Sorry" he was told at Red Cross
headouarters, but you are not in our
jurisdiction. The Arlington County
Chapter will have to help you"
He took the news to Mrs. McDonie,
who called Falls Church.
Sorry was the answer again.
"You are in the District. They will
have to care for you"
But when the plight Of the family
was called to the attention of the Red
Cross today machinery was set In mo-
ton at once to rehabilitate them.
| Meanwhile, Mrs Norrington is still
at work on her w. P. A. job. Eaton is
cruising.
Il look like tramp because I
haven't got change of clothes. But
some people say the public will take
pity on me If I look like need money
bad enough"
Finds Pair Of Socks.
Mrs. Eaton, Mrs. Norrington and
Jackie are in the same Ak. They
haven't change of clothing. Jackie,
his sister said, found one sock near
the wreckage of the house and the
other several hundred yards down
stream. He at least has q pair of
socks. She hasn't that.
McDonie and roomer in his river
side home, G. Tyson Hopkins, brought
the family into town today. They ar
ranged rent for week. The four
are living in a single room, equipped
with two beds, an oil stove, table
and dishes salvaged by Mrs. Eaton
from the mud along the river bank.
| They are assured quarters-417 As
toria Apartments, at Third and G
streets-at least for the time being.
If Eaton can earn enough with the
cab, they may remain there.