The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-05-14
AN ARSENAL GUARD GETS 4
BULLET AFTER HIM.
He Runs Behind a Lumber
Pile
COL. FLAaLER DIsAPPRovEs OF HIS
SHOOTING AT FISHERMEN.
And Says People Can Fish Where they
Please
If they Do Not Modest Government
Property.


On Friday morning one of the Arsenal
guards shot twice at VIM. ard Henry
Wilson, who were fishing in Sylvan Water,
an account of which was published by US
that evening.
On Saturday we published another
article on the Outrageous and unlawful con
duct of the guard and advised the Wilson's
to report the case, in writing, to COL
Flagler. And we also stated that if that
shooting occurred again it was quite likely
somebody would shoot back. But we were
not aware that this had occurred, even
before our comments were published-but
such is the fact.
On Saturday morning between 9 and 10
o'clock VIM, E. Hilton, Clarence Saul
paugh, Frank Peasley, Henry Wilson, and
stranger, IN two sk;ffs, went up Sylvan
Water to fish. When they were within
about IS feet of the bulkhead or dam a
guard, named Kelly, who lives in
Davenport, ran down from the woods
to the shore and yelled something
at them, and motioned them off. Very
soon afterwards he fired one shot at them
the ball whistling over their heads,
The boys then rowed up to the Water
Power Co.'S Island aud were standing on
the shore when Kelly ran out on the
bulkhead to an old shanty on the wall, and
Immediately fired another shot at them.
This shot also went wild. Hilton i'm
mediately drew large inch barrel navy
revolver, a. calibre, anG fred at the guard.
The ball struck the shanty, and then the
guard took to his heels and ran away,
hiding behind lumber pile on the shore.
The boys then rowed away short distance,
and on looking around saw Kelly's
head and shoulder visible above
the lumber pile. One of them made
motion to get the revolver, when dowr
went the head and shoulders The boys
fished awhile in the canal, and then re
turned to the bulk head. After fshinl
there about half an hour Lieut. Rockwell
and his wife came walking down the shor,
and the Lieut.. conversed a few minute
with the guard at theilumber pile. He IT,
walked across the dam to the Waite
Power Co.'S island where the boys hac
landed. He addressed them respectfully
and asked what the trouble was between
them and Kelly, the guard. They toll
him, and he remarked that he guessed
Kelly didn't understand the rules, an
also that he has no orders to shoot a
anybody" Lieut. R., also said he didn'
e distinctly remember what the regulation
were but he could see no objection to tbei
. fishing near the dam, so long as they di
t not land on the island. The boys RI
!, marked that they couldn't see how the
e could injure the government property b
y fishing within 80 feet of the bulkhead {
the Island, when old Guyer and his crow
were allowed to fish from the Island, an!
where they pleased The Lieut.. couldn'
D see how they could either, and he said h
would so at once and see Col. Flagler,-an
. walked away. He returned shortly afte
10 ward and stated that Col FIagler had sa
~ they could fish anywhere they wished, pr
y vided they dId not land on or tie to the
>, land or the bulkhead He also said tn;
~ Kelly had no authority to shoot at them,ar
in answer to the remark of one of the boy
"a that if Kelly or any guard ever shot at hi
10 he would Kill him, the Lieut. reLlied tn
y he would be justified in doing so, in St
u defence.
Is A good deal of sport is being made
" Kelly on account of the good time he ma
Do in getting behind that lumber pile. III
ne ia not the first time he has shot at perso
eu and-then ran away, when they return
10 the fire. He should be placed in sol
be other employment. or dismissed from
tn Island.