Evening journal., 1898-07-28
SOLDIER LOSES ARM.
Michael Gersimer, a Private,
Shot by Farmer Walker.
HE WAS STEALING APPLES

1OOoE AND GERSlLMlElR' s ASSAII.-
ANT RECEIVED ROUGH TREAT
MENT-RELEASED ON BAIL.
DUPONTS WANT SOLDIERS RE
MOVED.
A desire to have a little fun and to
get apples, which were forbidden them.
led a crowd Of soldiers Of the Second
Pennsylvania Regiment, First Battal-
ion, encamped at Montachanin, to the
farm OF George Walker, about three
miles from camp, and to make raid
on his orchard.
Thlay were ordered off, but refused to
go, and one of the soldiers, Michael
Gersimer, was shot in the arm, which
had to be amputated last night at the
Delaware Hospital
OFF TO THE FARM.
Gersimer and several other soldiers
Started yesterday morning for a walk
to the country. According to their
story they stopped at Walkers farm
and helped themselves to THE apples
which overhung the road. They also
threw some sticks at the fruit, and the
next thing they knew THEY heard a
shot, but no one was struck. Then
several OF them rushed up to Walker
to find out why he had shot. They
grabbed for his gun and in the struggle
THE gun went off. Gersimer received
some OF the shot in his left arm, al
though some grains struck him in the
side. His companions bound up his
wounds as well as they could, and, Sc
curing carriage from an adjoining
farm, sent him into camp, when he was
brought to the Delaware Hospital His
arm was amputated at the shoulder.
News soon reached camp that a
member OF the battalion had been shot
and a large number OF men left their
quarters and went over to the Walker
farm, determined to capture Walker.
From reports, they broke down his
door and took him prisoner on the sec
ond floor OF the house. Although he is
said to have been handled roughly, he
was able to walk back to camp with
them.
Meanwhile, Colonel John Biddle Por-
ter, who is in command of the Second
Regiment, had noticed that many men
were leaving camp, and he promptly
sent out lieutenant Afierbach and a
provost guard OF eight men. This guard
met the party OF soldiers with Walker
as prisoner some distance from camp.
Lieutenant Affierbach at once took
charge OF THE whole body, and when
camp was reached the spectacle was
! presented Of about three score men
under arrest by a guard OF eight, Col
onel Porter ordered the party brought
before him and, after delivering a Sc.
we're lecture to those who had captured
Walker, committed them, fifty-eight II
number, to the guard-house. Con.
stable William p. Windish, OF viii
mington, who happened to be in tht
npighborhOod serving subpoenas in ,
case, took Walker into custody ant
brought him to this city, where h'
! was locked up in the police station.
WHAT WALKER SAYS.
When Walker was seen in the polio,
station last night he said that yester
day morning eight soldiers visited hi
orchard and he put them out an(
they went on towards the Spring Hill
brewery, which is about a mile be
yond Walkers. They came back abou
1890 and, Walker says, went through
the orchard clubbing trees and knock
ing down apples. With his gun in hi
hand he told them to get out and the,
left the orchard. After that, Wake
? says, he fired shot into the air. The
about five OF the soldiers returned and
coming up to him, first dared him {
shoot, and when he said HE would no
tried to take the gun from him.
7 1t was THEN, according to Walker
that the weapon went off, but he de
clares that he did not know anyon
was shot. The soldiers threw hir
down and beat him, he says. and too
his gun from him and went away
This was apparently for reinforct
ments, for a while afterwards a crow
of soldiers appeared, which he est
mated at fifty. He promptly too
refuge in his house. locking the doc
With an axe from the wood-pile the
? broke down the door and, searchin
= FOR Walker, found him upstairs. The
he says, they threw him downstair
:, He offered to gear up his horse an
: : drive to camp, but they said HE mu
accompany them, which he did.
Walker was arraigned this mornir
before Magistrate Daley and was pl
=, +, under s., 900 bail pending the recover
=, of Gersimer, to enable him to appea
- in the case. All of the soldiers WI
witnessed the shooting were in coul
Action may be taken against theI