Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-07-23
MILITARY BRUTALITY.
The Poet Heige1 and an Old Man Cut Down
by Austrian Officers.

The Poet Heigel and an Old Nan Cut Down
by Austrian Officers.
In Germany and Austria every week
brings with it instances of military bru-
tality toward civilians. Most of these
instances are forgotten after the publica-
ton of a few indignant paragraphs III
the Radical journals and Radical OF So
cial Democratic Interpolation in parlia-
mert. One that occurred at Riva, on
Lago di Garda, two weeks ago, however,
was so remarkable for such exceptional
brutality that it has had more serious
consequences.
Carl Reigel, the German poet, was sit
ting with friend at a table in the great
concert garden in Riva. His friend was
IS wears old and somewhat decrepit. At
the next table sat several officers of the
imperial chasseurs, who are garriscned
at Riva. Heigel's friend, WHO had been
wearied by q rather long walk, fell asleep,
and the officers began to poke fun at
him. They were so loud that they woke
the old man up. When he heard them
cracking jokes at his expense, he re-
marked to Heigel:
s'Persons Who make fun of an old man
can hardly be gentlemen, even if they do
wear uniforms
Eeigel nodded assent. All the officers
heard the remark and saw the nod. One
Of them sprang up, faced Heigel and
ordered him and the old man to leave
the garden. Heigel's answer was a stun
ming open hand blow which sent the
officer reeling back on the table.
Then followed scene with features
painfully familiar to persons who have
lived in Germany or Austria. The Off
GERS drew their swords and started for
ward to run through the two unarmed
men. The old man fell at the first onset,
but Heigel stood his ground, dealing
blows right and left until cut down.
Blood was flowing from three wounds
in his head and he lay half unconscious.
A young lieutenant aimed a sword
blow at him, but the bandmaster, Bru
nelli, who had fastened from the plat
form, Caught the sword with his baton
and pushed the lieutenant back. Sever
al other men gathered in front of Heigel
and his companion and threatened to
make short work of the officers in case
another blow should be struck. A crowd
invaded the garden, began jostling the
officers and demanded that they be dis
armed and punished then and there.
The police We're obliged to interfere to
save the officers from violence, although
no policeman had found time to inter
fere when Heigel and his companion
were beaten down.
Heisel has received calls daily in his
sickroum from all the most conspicuous
persons in Riva, excepting, of course, the
military. The city officials have called
upon MINI to apologize for the attack in
the garden. Throughout the whole dis
trict hound Riva there was unanimous
demand for the punishment of the Off
GERS concerned in the fight. A high rail
way official who was with them in the
garden was discharged. A lieutenant
colonel, who struck down Heigels COM
panlon, was called a coward by a cap
tain IN his own regiment. In the duel
which followed both officers were wound
ed. The rest of the officers will be tried
by court martial.
Heigel and his friend are recovering
slowly.-New York Sun.