Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-04

l
sent Out by Colonel Porter.
A clash occurred in Christiana hun
bred yesterday week between ak or
eight members of the First Battalion
of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment.
which is encamped at Moptchanin,
and George Walker, farmer. residing
about three miles from the camp. as
result of which Michael Griesmer. q
private In Co. E, lost his right arm.
Walker was put under arrest, charged
with shooting him, and 58 members of |
the battalion were committed to the |
Rusrdhouss for disorderly conduct. |
The accounts of the trouble, as told by |
Walker and the soldiers agree as to the |
shooting, although differing on other |
points. Both sides say that the gun
went OF in a scuffie between the
soldiers aud the farmer.
SOLDIERS WERE STEALING APPLES.
Walker lives near Hilleide mill. His
pple orchard has been visited more
han once by the soldiers, and as he
says he did not mind their taking
some fruit, but yesterday week
when party Of eight Of them stopped
In the orchard about 0 O'Clock he put
them out. They left and went in the
direction Of the Spring Hill brewery,
which is about mile further on.
They returned about 1890 o'clock.
and as Walker says, came in one end of
= the orchard clubbing trees aud knock.
ing down apples With gun in hand
BIS ordered them to get out and they
did. The men say they were in the
road taking APPLES from the over
hanging branches. when they heard a
shot, and all fell to the earth to escape
being struck. None was struck, and
several of them rushed up to see what
the farmer was shooting about. Walker
says he snot in the air, and his stats
ment is borne out by the failure to
strike anything,
GUN WENT OFF IN a sCUFFLE.
When the crowd rushed up to him,
be says they dared him to shoot, hut
be told them he did not want to do
that. Then they grabbed at his gun,
four or Eve soldiers participating in
the struggle, in the course of which
the second barrel Of the weapon was
discharged. Walker says he did not
know at that time that any one was
struck. The load struck Griesmer in
the right arm near the elbow and some
OF the shot struck him IN the side of
the body. ,sd
His companions did all they could
for him under the circumstances, tying
up his wounded arm and securing a
carriage at the adjoining farm, had
him taken back to camp. The con-
dition of his arm was so serious that IL
was thought best to bring him to the
Delaware Hospital in this city, where
amrutation was performed by DR.. Jesse
Williams.
After the shooting, Walker says the
soldiers knocked him down, beat hin
with stones, and took the gun away
from him. The weapon was seen at
Justice of tho Peace Days Office las
evening and bears evidence OF having
been 10 q scuffle.
CROWD OF SOLDIERS CAPTURE WALKER
Ths news that a farmer had shot
soldier was not long in reaching thi
Montohanin camp, and at once, soldier
who were not occupied with some duty
began to leave the camp and made 70
Waler's farm, bent ON capturing Oh,
farmer. But when they reached hi
place. they found that he had lockel
himself in his house. With an a,
from the wood pile, they knocke,
4 panels out of the door and secured ad
mittance. Walker had taken refuge il
the second story. They found hir
there, and Walker says threw hir
downstairs, although be added that b
brought his man down with him
Finding he was in the hands of lare
crowd Of indignant soldiers, Wake
offered to gear up his wagon and driy
Z over to camp, but they insisted tbs
he must accompany them. which b
did.
1t go happened that County Cor
stable William p. Windiah was |
Christiana hundred. and he heard ,
the shooting aud drove TOWARD
Walkers place. He met the mob
soldiers on their way to capture til
farmer, told them he was an Office
and Advised them TO allow him
arrest the farmer, so that the civ
authorities could handle the caHe, b,
they would not assent to that, al
with some profanity continued
their way. Unable to bring them to
right mind, the constable drove WI
all haste to the camp and inform
Col. John Biddle Porter of the circur
stances so far as he knew them. II
colonel had already noted that lar
number of men we're leaving the line
Bnd in order to prevent mischief, b
sent Lieut.. Affierpach and prove
guard of eight man armed with rife
In the direction the soldiers had take
PROVOST GUARD TAKES MANY PRIsoNEl
The provost guard came up with t
mob aome distance from camp, al
Lieut.. Affierbach at once took char
OF everything, the soldiers who b
captured Walker becoming virtua
the prisoners of the provost guar
The whole body arrived at camp
due time, escorted by Coastal
Windish and Regimental Adults
Campbell, who had gone after |
party at Col. Porter's direction,
soon as Mr.. Windish had given an IL
of the desperate state of the case. Ur
the arrival of the soldiers, COL. Por
ordered them in front Of his quart
and delivered strong rehuke to
crowd who had taken the law 10 th
own hands in the capture OF Walk
he olosed by committing them, SO
number, to the guardhouse. The mar
of those who had accompanied Griesr
were secured and may be used as "
nesses. etlf
In order that the civil authori,
might properly handle the case,
colonel turned Walker over to g
stable Windish' who brought him
the City HALL The farmer had b
accompanied to camp by his son an
friend. HIS was seem az the City {
yesterday afternoon week and told
side Of the story which has already b
given 10 the account of the trout
Walker expressed regret at tine oh,
ing. He is a respected man in
neighboriiood, and is said TO be a q