Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-20

NEWPORT NE NO, OclODtT lJ'-tSpe
| cial. 1.-THE complete list Of casualties a
| last nights row in Phoebus shows tina
| one soldier was killed outright and sever
| others injured more or less seriously. Thi
| is the list
| Dead-Private Gorham, Battery e
| Fourth Artillery.
| Wounded-Daniel Titus, Battery l.
! Sixth Artillery. nose broken and left knee
painfully injured: David Williams, Bat
| terry /, Sixth Artillery, shot in the arm
| Gustavus Harlicher, Battery x, Sixth Ar
| tillery, seriously stabbed in the chest
| William Faley, Battery *, Sixth Artillery,
head injured by knife-thrust; Joseph
| Neinsky, Battery b, Third Artillery, shot
! in jaw; Pat Mccoy, Battery II. Sixth Ar
\ tillery, broken bone IN right foot, Henry
| Spinks, Battery B. Third Artillery, badly
! bruised about body.
This list, II is believed, contains the
names Of all of the soldiers who were
painfully wounded. There may be other
soldiers and some citizens who received
slight flesh wounds, but If such is the case
their names cannot be learned.
THE RIALTO.
The "Rialto," Pat Eagan's famous re-
sort, in which the tragedy occurred, is sit
uated on Mallory street where most OF the
other houses in which trouble has origi-
mated are located. The row began short
" after 10 o'clock last night in the theatre
in the midst Of a cheap vaudeville at
traction that has held the boards there
this week.
The soldiers at Fort Monroe were paid
off Yesterday for the past month, and
last night about sixty artilerymen flock
ed to Phoebus to make a night Of it,"
They drank freely during the evening,
and then proceeded to the Rialto TO see
the show.
ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE.
The eye-witnesses to the trouble seem
to agree that it originated among che sol
diers while a ballet girl was doing the
skirt dance. The men became disorderly,
and a general row was started. Pat
Eagan appeared on the stage and at
tempted TO address his mixed audience
stating that if the spectators did not OBJ
serve strict order he would ring down the
curtain and close the show. While he
was speaking some one in the audience
hurled an empty beer bottle at him. while
the soldiers Kissed and threatened him.
All the drunken soldiers needed was
leader to precipitate general melee. and
he soon materialized.
A LEADER APPEARS.
One burly artilleryman jumped from his
seat and started Cor the stage Fully a
dozen were behind him and others follow
ed as soon as they saw what the leader
Nr-oc "a In friRhtQn
soldiers, Eagan drew his re-
volver and fired at the ceiling, but the
soldiers did not brighten worth a cent"
The smell of powder enraged them, and
Eagan. finding his life was in peril fled.
Then followed one Of the most dis
graceful rows in the history Of the noto-
rious town OF Phoebus. Enclosed, as
they were. in the playhouse the regulars
fought as If for their lives Pistols were
fired, chairs. beer-mugs, and bottles whz-
zed through the air The audience was
panic-stricken, and there was a general
scramble to reach the street. Citizens
and soldiers clashed as they fought their
way out. and blood was freely spilled
The fighting was continued after the
street was reached, and the town officials |
were powerless TO quell the riot.
THE RAILTO FIRED.
The fresh air seemed 10 have bad |
effect on the whiskey-sOaked artillery |
men. and on reaching the street. the |
torch was applied to the Rialto, and tine !
notorious den was soon I'm flames
The Fire Department quickly responded |
to the alarm. but the volunteer firemen |
had no sooner laid their lines of hose
than the angry soldiers cut them into
shreds and defed the citizens TO interfere
with their work.
In the mean time word was sent TO
Fort Monroe with the request that n
provost guard be sent 20 Phoebus at once.
The guard was quickly formed by the |
and dispatched to the scene
Df action. arriving I'm time to prevent the
destruction by fire Of a half dozen or
more resorts on Mallory street. After
efforts on the part OF the
fremen and citizens the Rialto was
saved from total destruction
DEAD AND WOUNDED.
The dead soldier and the seven wound
ID men were placed on an electrician and
aiken to the Fort hospital while the pro-
yost guard scurried from house 10 house,
yathering in the recreant soldiers. Many
If the men were arrested in the houses
md on the street. but others succeeded
n eluding their brother regulars, and
made their way back TO the fort or hid i'm
he resorts of Phoebus's disreputable
Women.
GREAT EXCITEMENT
Great excitement prevailed in Phoebus
II night The citizens spent a sleepless
light, for it was feared that the soldiers
Who were still at large would return and
enew their dastardly work. The fire
nen remained on duty throughout the
light patroling the town. armed with
hotguns and other available weapons.
II has not been learned yet just who |
responsible for the murder of Private
Iorham and the shooting OF four SOL
iers, but this will probably be deter
lined by a military tribunal.
STATEMENT FROM EAGAN.
Pat Eagan proprietor of the Rialto,
, might made this statement in giving
is version of last nights fracas. which
iffers somewhat from the account of the
ye-witnesses given above:
THE row was started by one drunken
)ldier, who persisted in quarrellng with I
very one. Some soldiers took his part,
nd others sided against him, and when
disturbance followed / endeavored 10
let the men. The regulars then direct, q
I their attention TO me, and fired every
ling they could lay their hands on into c
10 bar and through the windows. I !
nptied the contents of my revolver and Il
Winchester repeating rifle at the c
ovid. Only three times did ! shoot TO
t-when a soldier shot at me- when I I
~ tbo fire started and when I saw q n