The Alto Herald (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, May 29, 1908 Page: 2 of 8
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THE ALTO HERALD
X. M, MeCLURE, Proprietor.
ALTO,
TEXAS
Some of tho great Atluntlc llnera
employ l&o firemen.
Japan Is steadily increasing her ex-
portnUons of jtnrikishas.
Everybody will rejoice to hoar that
the hens are laying only strictly fresh
eggs this year.
nulls created a scare lately In a
street In Mexico. They <lo that regu-1
larly In u street In New York.
The anarchists' favorite way of de-
fying society Is to persist iu going and
staying where they are not wanted.
Lard Is one of the chief Mexirnn
imports from the United States. The
figure for 1907 was nearly 7,000,000
pounds.
When a man says that he never ob-
jects to fair criticism he means usual-
ly that he doesn't protest against
compliments.
We are glad to announce that In
spite of the recent stringency the reg-
ular spring demand for (Ishhooks la aa
brisk as ever.
AN UNPARALLELED fLOOD
MANY LIVES ARE LOST
The famous automobile racers
around the world seem to do pretty
well when they are loaded into a rail-
road car or a steamship.
German leads the world in the pro-
duction of beet sugar, British India iu
cane sugar and the United States in
millionaire sugar refiners.
Judglug by the thickness of the dust
on the farmhouses so early in the
season there appears to be no diminu-
tion tills year in the popularity of the
automobile.
At Maysville, Ky„ high school
students are striking because they do
not like the new teacher. That unfortu-
nate Instructor should beware of
juvenile night riders.
A large and very fine wildcat has
been captured alive In eastern On-
tario. This seems to put the quietus
on the theory that all these animals
are located around Cobalt.
Manchuria doubtless cherishes hopes
of ceasing to be n bone of contention
soon. There is no restriction placed
on anyone's dreaming, but It Is often
dangerous to try to make dreams a
reality.
Why net put the anarchists In n nice
large Held and give them plenty of
bombs to play with? The field would
be well plowed when they were,
through., not Uk mention such a thing
iis fertilized.
How Is this for a verbatim copy of
a personal In the Hoston Transcript:
"Italian duke, agreeable manners, de-
sires continuous wireless correspond-
ence with American lady of means.
Object Mnccaronl."
Announcement Is made that the
drought has so affected the Cuban su-
gar crop that the yield will show a
marked falling off. As a result Amer-
ican refiners will be compelled to Im-
port large quantities of supplies from
Europe, where the beet sugar Industry
nourishes. Is this not a hint to Amer-
icans? nsks the Troy (N. Y.) Times.
If the old world makes a conspicuous
success of beet sugar production, why
cannot our people dp the same thing?
Plans are maturing for the erection
of a statue of Alexander Hamilton in
Washington. Tt Is rather curious that
the Intellectual prodigy whom Mr.
Bryce characterizes as "the greatest
constructive statesman of the na-
tion" should be represented at the
capital by no monument, when so
many lesser men appear In marble or
enduring bronze. Perhaps, however,
It will be hard to make a monument
which would overtop his own great
work, the "Federalist."
Are slovenliness and general lack
of neatness In one's dress and person
signs of irrationality and Incompe-
tence? if so, it behooves all testators
to beware of their raiment and of their
personal cleanliness. Future contest-
ants of their last wills and testaments
may be watching them and taking
notes of their appearance and man-
ner of comporting themselves. He-
sides, personal neatness In man or
woman Is an attraction, and It costs
nothing but a little care.
Again Is proof furnished that weath-
er vagaries are not confined to the
United States. Germany is having an
extraordinary Instance of winter lin-
gering well Into spring. Heavy snow-
falls are reported In many partB of the
empire, with cold more suggestive of
January than April. Italy also Is a
sufferer In the same way, a Home dis-
patch announcing that Intense cold
prevails throughout the country, snow
having fallen In towns where ordin-
arily the climate is very mild, Includ-
ing Milan and Perugia. Sunny Italy
appears iu have lost Its twlmlness for
the time being.
MILLIONS OE DOLLARS GONE.
All North Texas Suffers, but cities of Dallas and Fort Worth Are
Particularly Hard Hit.
Dallas, May 27.—The highest flood
ever known has raged down the Trin-
ity since last Sunday morning, follow-
ing heavy rains and waterspouts Sat-
urday and Saturday night. The high-
est point reached by the Trinity at
Dallas was late Monday afternoon,
when the gauge showed a height of
52.4 feet, which Is nearly half a foot
higher than the flood of 1890. The
Hver bed having been cleared of ob-
structions and Its margins freed from
overhanging trees and other growth
for many miles, made It possible for
the channel to carry away the floods,
more rapidly and prevented a much
higher rise. In a material way the
railroads have suffered most severely.
Hundreds of feet of the Texas and
Pacific trestle have been swept away.
The Rock Island's new dump and much
trestle work are so badly damaged
that It will be many days before traf-
fic can bo resumed. While the bridges
and trestles of the Houston and Texas
Central are still standing, as well as
those of the Katy and the Santa Fe,
they aro so badly damaged that It
will require some time and much la-
bor to put them in passable condition.
The only means of reaching Oak Cliff
and West Dallas Is by boat, nearly a
mile across the bottoms—West Dallas
being reached via Oak Cliff and thence
by wagons. The damago to the Oak
Cliff electric lines, dump, and trestle
work can not now be estimated, as
much of the double track dump Is com-
paratively new and under wnter. The
West Dallas pike and bridges aro still
under water, nnd no estimate of these
Iosscb, which fall upon the county, can
be given, but will be very heavy.
Standing at the foot of Commerce
Street one fu<Vs a sea of muddy nnd
debris-strewn water, raging and foam-
ing down the bottom, reaching to West
Dallas and Oak Cliff foothills, from one
to two miles wide and, outside of the
river bed, from ten to thirty feet deep.
Early Monday morning the plant of
the Dallas Electric Light and Power
Company was put out of service, and
the city has since remained In dark-
ness, and the thousands depending
upon electric power to drive the ma-
chinery upon which they worked are
Idle. Only the smaller plant of the
Wakefield corporation was operating,
and every unit of its power was as
judiciously distributed as possible over
the electric car system, and all the
city lines have given an unbroken al-
though limited service. At this time
(8:30 a. m. Wednesday) the electric
current Is turned on for the first time
to power users since Sunday.
About the time the large electric
plant of the light nnd power company
went out, the city water works pumps
and machinery were submerged, and
not a drop of water has been avail
a'ble since very early Monday. The
prospects are for a resumption of
pumping today, and It will require at
least two or three days to clean out
all the mains and leads, which have
been filled with water from the storm
sewers to be used In caBe of a down-1
town conflagration.
The telegraph and telephone wires
between Dallas and Oak Cliff are all
destroyed and tlie Zang's Boulevard
bridge Is gone, with the levee many
feet under water.
In the bottoms and on the foothills
In West Dallas and Oak Cliff, on the
skirts of Chestnut Hill and up the
river, In the northern portion of the
city, and scores of houses have been
washed away, besides dozens and doz-
ens that have been damaged, from the
degree of total wrecks to such as
results from simple inundation. In
the majority of the hundreds of houses,
but little of the contents were saved,
and that little In a badly damaged
condition. It Is said to be a conserva-
tive estimate to put tlio homeless pop-
ulation at 4000 persons. In West Dal
las, in Oak Cliff and In the city many
churches have been pressed into serv-
ice as temporary homes for shelter-
less unfortunates.
More Than a Million Loss.
The financial loss to Dallas alone
will reach fur beyond the million dol-
lar mark, as careful estimates of the
known railway, municipal and private
losses already exceed a million dollars.
The most pltable feature of the story
Ilea In the fact that the homes lost
were those of the poorer class of hom-i
owners, enticed by the lower price of
the lots and by the tempting terms
upon which they were offered to buy
nnd build on the installment plan.
These stood helplessly by and
watched the accumulations of years of
labor nnd sacrifice go down Into the
torrents of maddened waters, or else
fleeing In the darkness, dared not take
time to look back, so suddenly did
the floods come in some localities.
Soul-Harrowing Scene.
On Monday morning, while the
floods lind not yet reached their
height, at least ten thousand people
stood on the banks of the river and
vatched the floods. At 10 o'clock the
long trestle which approaches the
Texas and Pacific bridge from the
west suddenly gave way nnd precl-
tated ten persons who were on It inta
the middle of the torrent. The acci-
dent wns witnessed by fully 15,000
people who lined the eastern bnnk and
..these sent up a mighty groan of hor-
ror at the sight. Six of the struggling
men were filially rescued more dead
than alive, but the multitude was
foiced to stand helpless while It watch-
ed the three others fight gallantly for
a time and then succumb to blows
from heavy beams which hurled
through the water, sinking never to
l :se again. Their bodies have not been
recovered nnd not even tlielr names
known with certainty. Scores of other* j
who were on the trestle had narrow \
escapes, some even falling Into the i
ehallow water, from which they were
rescued only with the greatest dif-
ficulty.
Just before 3 o'clock Monday morn- ;
lug E. Pemberton, who lives on the
Kngle Ford road, learned that the wa |
ter was rapidly approaching his dwol-■
ling, which fronts directly on the
load. He was in the city of Dallas j
nt the time. He at once started to go |
tj his family—his wife and one Binail j
child.
On the way he learned that his fam i
lly was safe but that the water was
In his house.
Turning back In haste Pemberton
now thoroughly wet with perspiration,
but with a strong heart from learning
that his family was safe, ran for
the greater part of the distance back
into the city and made his way almost
exhausted into the office of the News.
"As I crossed the Texas and Pacific
trestle coming back," he said, "some
poor man wns crying for help ns he
passed clinging to some driftwood, un-
der the trestle. I rushed down ns close
at possible, but could not aid him. He
passed away nnd 1 heard him giving
despairing cries ns he seemed to lose
his hold on the log to which he had
been clinging. The poor fellow was
drowned almost In my sight,"
The Sheriff Impressed all the avail-
able river craft and rescued many
people from trees and housetops
where they had spent many hours.
On Monday a systematic relief cam-
paign was set on foot, nnd Tuesday
boatloads of food were sent to West
Dallas, the hardest lilt locality.
A washout occurred on the Katy
between Fort Worth and Denton. It
will probably be Impossible for trains
to be operated on schedule time today.
The high water of Village Creek cov-
ered the tracks east of Handley for
more than a mile, nnd all efforts to
operate carB beyond Handley proved
futile. Hopes nre being entertained
that operations may be resumed by
tonight. The full extent of the dam-
age to the tracks is not known.
Hourly traln3 were operated by the
Frisco from Fort Worth to North Fort
Worth, and through that source em-
ployees of the packing plants will be
cared for today, and until Btreet car
traffic |b resumed, which may be sev-
eral days hence.
In Fort Worth alone the damage is
estimated at probably In excess of a
million dollars, nnd while two men
are reported to have been drowned,
their bodies have not been recovered.
A cyclone at Newark, Wise County.
Saturday night marked havoc In the
business part of the town, but no lives
were lost.
Reports received from Fort Worth
last night said that nearly every rail-
JUSTICE DURHAM KILLED.
Bullet Through the Heart Brings In-
stant Death.
Cleburne, Tex., May 23.—Till O. Dur-
ham, about 32 years of age, Justice of
the Peace of Precinct No. 1, which
embraces Cleburne, was shot nnd
killed last night on the court house
squnre.
Mart niack, about 50 years of age
was taken Into custody a few minutes
later by Officer .lames Henderson and
was placed In the Johnson County Jail
charged with doing the shooting. Mr.
Black Is a railroad trainman, and a
man of family.
Last night Mr. Black and his oldest
dnugliter, Miss Bessie, were downtown
and walked by the drug store on the
BouthwoBt corner of the square. Jus-
tice Durham was standing near the ci-
gar case In the store conversing with
friends when Mr. Black and his daugh-
ter stopped on the walk In front of
the place and Miss Black spoke to
Justice Durham, who then went to the
door, where a few wordB were ex-
changed.
In an Instant a shot was fired, and
Mr. Durham fell to the sidewalk, a
bullet having pierced his heart and
come out under the shoulder, falling
to the pavement. Another shot was
tired, but did not take effect.
Monk Qlbson Sentenced.
Cnero: At 4:30 Monday afternoon
District Judge Wilson In special ses-
sion of court sentenced Monk Gibson,
a negro, charged with the murder of
the Condltt family near Edna, to hang
Saturday, June 27. When asked from
tho bench whether he had anything to
say, the prisoner simply replied: "No,
sir."
The Commercial Club of Stamford
has been taking very active steps to-
ward securing a Carnegie Library for
Stamford, and has received a great
deal of encouragement in the mat-
ter.
New 8tate Legislature Adjourns.
Guthrie, Ok : Gov. Haskell lias ap
proved the bill by Representative An
thony, levying taxes upon the groFS
receipts of earnings of public service
corporations, upon Inheritances and
gifts and upon incomes In excess of
*3,500 per year and the bill Imposing
n graduated tax upon land held In ex-
cess of C40 acres, as well as all land
lean d In excess of a like amount. The
100-day session, as provided by the
constitution, adjourned Tuesday night
sine die.
Horse Killed; Rider Drowned.
Brownwood, Tex.: Otho Elliott, who
runs a livery stable, got on a horse
nnd started to Bailey addition to see
an tr.ipk.ye. While galloping along he
ran Into a place where a bridge had
washed away. The horse had his neck
broken In two places. It Is thought
that Elliott was only stunned, but fell
Into a foot of water and was drowned
before help arrived.
road leading Into Fort Worth was crip-
pled. Through passenger trains on the
Rock Island are now running back to
Chlckasha, but expectation* are that
trains will be operated as far as Waur-
ika today. Between Fort Worth and
Waurlka the track was washed out
In many places ranging from 100 to
2000 feet, telegraph wires are down
and traffic will not be resumed for nt
least a week. The line to Dallas also
has a washout, and a week will be nec-
essary In which to make repairs.
On the Frisoo a washout and a lost
bridge has been suffered between
Hrownwood and Brooke^mlth, and an-
other washout nt North Fort Worth,
Hut all trains arc expected to be run-
ning on schedule time today. A serl-
oun washout occurred on the Cotton
Belt between Carrollton and Grape-
vine, where n portion of the track and
an abutment of a bridge are missing.
Waco, Tex., May 25.—The Brazos
river was thirty-five feet and seven
Inches deep at 9 o'clock last night and
still rising. The present depth la
the highest point on record and Is als
Inches above the mark attained ear-
lier this month. Backwater In the two
creeks on the west side has overflow-
ed many blocks and on the enst side
an area of fifty blocks In under water.
The loss Is heavy and many families
have been driven out of their home*.
The submerged sections of the city are
being patrolled by policemen and
tieputy sheriffs In boatB. The Bosque
it more than a mile out of Its banks.
Farms in the Bosque and Brauos val-
leys, where cotton and corn were be-
ing cultivated yesterday are deep un-
der wnter.
The present great flood was caused
by torrential rains and water spouts
occurring last night
Parts of wrecked houses and big
trees were seen In the floating masses
going down the BrazoB tonight.
As a precaution, travel across the
Mg new steel bridge and the suspen-
sion bridge was stopped by the author-
ities. The two railway bridges are al-
so considered la Jeopnrdy.
The flood water has nearly reached
the National cotton press at 9:30
c'clock last night. Fire broke out in
the flooded district, adding to the dis-
may and confusion.
At midnight It was reported from
Guthrie, Okla.,that there had been a
steady downpour of rain fo- more than
twenty-six hours nnd that the chances
were at that time that the rainfall
would continue throughout the night.
Resulting from the deluge, the Cot-
tonwood river, running through Guth-.
rle. threatens to leave Its banks, In
which event much of the lowland wl l
be under water.
A message from Chandler state*
that trains on the Frisco through there
have been abandoned for the night.
A heavy ralustorm prevailed in tho
:eglon of I>awton for the last thirty-
six hours and reports from there say
railroad service has been abandoned.
A telegram from El Reno statos tha
Canadian river near there Is beyond
Its banks and many families In tho
bottoms were forced to leave their
homes. The overflow particularly ef-
fects North El Reno. A six foot rise
n the Canadian there Is reported
since 3 o'clock Suuday afternoon.
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas in
Oklahoma was forced to quit at noon
Sunday when the bridge on the
main line at Eufaula went down. To
add to the disaster, the main supply-
ing natural gas to the eastern part
if the state was carried away with tho
Clarksvllle bridge, and the supply ot
gas for Mutkogee and several other
Southwestern Oklahoma towns was
e ntirely cut off. Officials of the gM ■
company said It will be a week b*fo'«
icpalrs can be made so that the iu
tupply can again be carried. At nattfr-
ral gas is used for lighting and heftfc
lng purposes, business will be suspend-
ed la a measure.
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McClure & McClure. The Alto Herald (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, May 29, 1908, newspaper, May 29, 1908; Alto, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth214003/m1/2/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stella Hill Memorial Library.