The evening times., 1898-10-18
SOLDIERS TIED TO STAKES
lnhuman Treatment of Pri-
Yates at Camp Meade.
COLONEL MOORE'S ORDERS
Former Washington Newspaper Man
second West Virginia REGIMENT
Alleged Cruel Punishment for
Trivial Onenses.

Harrisburg, Pa, Oct 1S-Privates
Plant, Mace and Nose, of Company Nj.
Second West Virginia Volunteers, were
severely punished on Sunday for refusing
TO obey the orders of superior officer.
They were placed upon their backs in
the open field, their arms and legs out
stretched, and tied with ropes to stakes
driven into the ground
With the sun beating down upon their
! faces they were compelled to remain in
that position for two hours. The punish
ment was inflicted under the direction of
Lieut.. Col Moore.
The men who had previously been in
the guardhouse for trivial offenses were
ordered by Lieut.. CARROT, of Company
X, TO clean up about the camp. They
refused and the matter was reported to
Col. Moore, who Immediately issued or
ders TO tie the obstinate soldiers TO
stakes.
Three other West Virginia volunteers
who had failed to answer roll call were
manacled in front of the regimental tent.
The punishment of Plant and his COM
panions created great excitement and in
dignation in the camp.
Col Moore says Mase, who formerly
served In the regular army. has been
guilty on several occasions of conduct
unbecoming a soldier. Mace and Plant
never did military duty before they left
their homes al Shepherdstown. They
are now in the guardhouse, having alb
solutely refused 10 perform the fatigue
duty assigned them by Lieut.. CARROT. If
they do not relent within a reasonable
time a court-martial will follow.
The men were phOfOaraD ed by an off
Ger from another regiment as they lay
on their backs. and their friends declare
that in the event of court-martial the
phot0gra phs will be produced. that the
court may determine whether or not the
disobedience justified the punishment
The Lieut Col. Moore referred to in the
above dispatch is O'Brien Moore, for
many years the Washington correspond
ent of ST. Louis newspaper. Col Moore
is one of the best-known newspaper men
in the country and in Washington he has
a wide circle of friends, especially among
army and navy officers Col. Moore came
TO Washington six or eight years ago
from St. Louis. About three years ago
he resigned his position as Washington
correspondent and purchased paper in
Charleston, w. Va, where he removed
to manage mis- property. When the war
the President TO appoint him a paymaster
in the regular army. Mr.. Mckinley nom
mated him. but his appointment came be-
fore the Senate there was strong oppoSi-
ton 10 his confirmation. While a Wash
ington correspondent he had written some
very caustic stories concerning several
United States senators. including Mr..
German. Mr. Moore is a Democrat, but
Notwithstanding this fact. Senator Cor
man undertook TO defeat his confirmation
and succeeded Mr.. Moore then returned
TO his home in West Virginia where he
received an appointment as lieutenant
colonel in the West Virginia volunteers.
Col Moore has always been regarded as
a strict disciplinarian. but army officers
who know him Intimately, declare, that
the infraction Of the rules by the privates
SO "ecuiarly punished by his order. must
h. reen great. There is talk that Col.
Mo will be cOurt-martialed, but the
War Department has not received any
official advices on the subject.
Adjt. Cen Corhin said today that there
was no authority for such punishment as
that alleged 10 have been inflicted upon
the three West Virginia privates.
Secretary Alger issued an order last
June forbdding the use of the Saw
horse" as a punishment at Camp Alger.
He said at the time that il was unlawful
TO punish soldier by torture or in any
inhuman manner.
The order issued by Gen. Graham
while in command Al Camp Alger. which
was approved by the Secretary of War.
provides that no soldier shall be sub
iected 10 corporal punishment for an in
fraction of the rules.