June 24, 1863, Galveston Weekly News
Galveston, June 18, 1863.
Yesterday morning the wagon of Mr. Butler, market gardener, was surrounded by a number of soldiers at the market place, and about thirty watermelons taken from it. This is a hard case, as Mr. Butler has been moderate in prices compared with others, who are too exacting.
Water is beginning to get scarce. We have lately had but little rain. There are but few cisterns, most of which are out of repair, and families are already experiencing much inconvenience from so limited a supply.
A large amount of jewelry was taken from Mr. Shaw’s store, on Tremont street, during Friday night. The burglars at first were baffled in their attempts to effect an entrance, but finally succeeded by means of a false key. The articles which have been received were found by some children at play, concealed beneath a house in Mr. Lidstone’s lumber yard.
Some soldiers have committed depredations on the property of farmers upon the Island, stealing their watermelons, &c.–The latter threaten to destroy their crops, rather than be robbed, if this practice is allowed to continue. B.