Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-25

stop Just now; we came over to meet the
mail, for the orderly seems to have an
unusually big load this morning. Here
come the youngsters up from the post
Office now"
And as he spoke perhaps half dozen
young cavalrymen, still in their riding
boots and spurs, as though they had but
just returned from drill, came slowly up
the slope. Wharton had an open news
paper which he was reading aloud: the
| Others were hanging about him, evident
ly listening with absorbed attention, to
the neglect of their own letters
whats the matter with the boysg'
| asked Kenyon, whimsically, as they ap-
| preached. 'They look as solemn as
| owls"
Naturally all eyes were drawn toward
the coming party. Lane, bending for
ward, saw that Hearn's face was pale,
even under the coat of tan and sunburn.
He would have passed them by, simply
] lifting his cap, as Wharton half folded
| the paper when thegroup filedin through
the main gate, but again Kenyon spoke:
what makes you look so like pack
of mutes, lads? What's gone wrong? Is
| congress sailing into Us again."
Maj. Kenyon" said Martin, deliber-
ately, hating in front of the gate, Il
.aid some disparaging things about your
remarks here the other day l beg your
pardon, sir. You were right; l was
wrong Hold on, Hearn; don't go now
and brood over this thing. Stay here
with the crowd, and we'll take it all to-
gether."
Lane had half risen, anxiety deepen
ing in his dark gray eyes:
What is it, Hearn? Come in here,
come in, all of you"
| And Georgia Marshall, glancing from
Dne face to another, noted the silence
and gravity that had fallen on each.
Some looked full of Suppressed wrath,
others simply perplexed and annoyed.
Without a word to any one Hearn
stepped in and stood beside her chair.
| You best know your own papers,
major; you read this aloud" said Martin.
| And Kenyon, looking about in mo-
mentary surprise, unfolded the great
pages of the Chicago daily. His eyes
cleaned as they caught the heavy head
lines at the top of the sheet.
| Hello, hello! what's this?' he said
Army Brutality. Outrageous Treat
ment of Private Soldiers. Civilians In
suited and Abused. A Thug in Shoulder
Straps. Lieut.. Hearn q Cowardly Bully
Special Dispatch to The Palladium.
Central City, May 3.-For years past the
citizens of this thriving frontier town
have had frequent cause for complaint
rs to the staggering and insolent bearing
of the officers of the army stationed
at the neighborirg post of Fort Ryan;
but of late the feeling has reached fever
heat, due to recent occurrences which
attracted widespread attention. Acting
under instructions, your correspondent
reached this city five days ago, and has
made thorough, impartial, and ex-
haustive investigation into the matter:
has talked with many, if not all, of the
prominent citizens; has personally
visited the post and conversed with
number of intelligent enlisted men; and,
as a result of his painstaking observa-
tons, he is enabled to send you the fol-
lowing account, for the absolute accu-
racy of every detail of which he vouches
unreServedly.
80 far as the enlisted men are con-
cerned, the people have no complaint to
make. 1t is, indeed, the contemplation
of their wrongs and sufferings that has
roused the popular clamor against their
aristocratic and overbearing taskmasters.
Just why it is that the instant a Young
man escapes from the hotbed of turnkey
ism and snobbery, West Point, and dons
the straps of n second lieutenant, he
should imagine that he owns the earth
and that the nations should bow down to
mm, is something no intelligent mind
can understand. But to become con-
WINGED that it is so beyond peradventure,
one has only to visit this representative
army post garrisoned as it is by large
detachments of so called distinguished
regiments; though, from all accounts,
the distinction they have earned seems
chiefly to be connected with drinking
bouts and gambling tables.
ION every side it was declared to your
correspondent that civilians who ven
tured out to the fort We're treated with
contumely and insult: that the officers
rudely ordered them off the reservation
and forbade them to enter the sacred pre-
cincts of the barracks. and even caused
their election from the public store and
saloon, kept at the post by one Stone.
who truckles, of course, to his official
neighbors and obtains in return the
mandate that the soldiers must spend
their money with him at swindling
prices and the prohibition against their
having any dealings WI the reputable
merchants in The cir. On the other
hand. the merchants vino have been so
unGortun@,e rs 81 trust the officers are
not able 10 collect their bills at all. and
are absolutely forbidden TO enter the gar
sison whe: they seek to press their claims.
Here Is the brief history OF one days
experience. Ia company with one of the
oldest. wealthiest and most respected
business men of this section your cor
respondent drove to Fort Ryan this
morning to see for himself how ar the