Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-04-18
RECRUITS IN MAD RIOT
Serious ARRAY Near the Preside In
san Francisco.
TWO HUNDRED ARRESTS.
Saloon Wrecked and Burned-Police
Unable to Cope with the DisOr-
Ler-CaXalry Troops FL
nalIy Ordered Out.

San Francisco, April lS-There was a
riot at the gates of the Preside. where
the troops are quartered, as the result
OF which saloon was wrecked and
burned. Nearly 200 soldiers. mostly re-
cruits for the Eighteenth. Twenty-first
and Twenty-third regiments Of regular
infantry, and some prlvates awaiting
discharges, are now under arrest.
The trouble began on Saturday even
ing Charles King, recruit for Com
pany G. Twenty-thrd infantry. which
is now at Manila, went into John Reh-
neld's saloon, which is just opposite the
lower Preside gates. While there he
became involved in row with some
soldiers and was SO severely beaten that
he was taken to hospital. On Sunday
afternoon, two of Kings comrades.
hearing that his condition was precari-
gus, went to the saloon for the purpose
of finding out how the trouble origi-
mated. The barkeeper was rather curt
and offensive in his rgl!eS. The SOL
dierS went out and tod their comrades.
Some time later crowd Of privates
went to the saloon, threvS&out the bar
keeper and demolished the furniture,
bar fixtures and enptied out the liq-
uors and made "A complete wreck OF
the place. By this time 300 or 400 SOL
diers had surrounded the place.
In the meantime the police had been
notified, and several officers appeared
on the scene. They were greeted with
jeers. Then the mob ba5an 81 ,lemolish
the windows and doors OF tne saloon by
throwing stones. Policeman acLaugh-
lin ordered the rioters t"~lesist and,
drawing his revolver, threatened to
shoot tho first man Who tilycW a stone.
At this several rioters drew their re-
volvers and fired several shots into the
air.
The SALOON Fired.
In the meantime number of soldiers
went to the rear of the saloon and set
fire to it. AS the building was con-
structed Of light and intammable ma
terial, it was quickly in flames at every
point. The crowd now turned it's atten-
ton to prevent the spread OF the flames
and succeeded in saving the adjoining
buildings though some were scorched.
The news OF the riot had finally reach
ed the headquarters of Colonel Freeman
of the Twenty fourth infantry, who is
in command Of the Presidio. and Adju-
tant Harris promptly ordered out sew
eral troops of the Fourth cavalry. with
instructions to round up all the recruits
and others in camp and keep them I'M
der guard pending An investigation that
might lead to the discovery of the lead
ers and participants in the riot. Later
on, after roll call had been made of
the men in the quarters. the names of
those under arrest were registered, and
they were permitted to go to their bar
racks.
Until late hour a colOred provost
guard secured the city in search of
missing men. Nearly all OF those in
volved are raw recruits assigned to va
rious regiments now in the Philippines.
The saloon destroyed was at the Green
wich street entrance to the Presidio,
and the loss will b2 about $500.
Charles King. the injured soldier. was
New Yorker. recently from Washing
ton, but enlisted in this state. He says
that he became involved in the trouble
because he interfered to save a fellow
soldier. who was being thrown out of
the saloon.
The military authorities have begun
an investigation into the affair.