New-York tribune., 1901-07-15
SOLDIERS RIOT AT BEACH.
TWO DAYS OF FIGHTING LAID TO THE
ADJUSTMENT OF THE CANTEEN.

The officers commissioned and non-commis-
stoned at Fort Wadsworth were yesterday be-
moaning the day the post canteen closed UP.
One Of the sergeants averred that he had done
nothing for forty-eight hours but chase drunken
soldiers There were two soldiers in the post
hospital with badly cut heads. the result OF
being hit by a club or bottle, and some OF the
soldiers on duty showed the effects of fights.
South Beach resort keepers rejoiced when the
canteen abolished, and places which usually
closed up in the winter planned to remain open
next winter for the sake of the soldier trade.
After the experiences since the last pay day
they not quite anxious.
Some OF the artillerymen at the fort were
paid on Friday, and those who could get off for
the evening focked to South Beach. There were
any number of little fights between 10 o'clock
and midnight in the various resorts along
the water front ard the meadows back Of
the buildings.
A little before midnight seven eight drunken
soldiers wandered into Hergenhans barroom.
Hergenhan made preparations TO close up.
While he was thus engaged two of the soldiers
became involved in a fight. Hergenhan ordered
them out, and they refused to go and continued
to fight. Hergenhan then directed his walters
TO throw the out, and several of them pro-
ceeded to do So The moment hands were laid
on the fighting soldiers their comrades turned in
Hergenhan went to the aid of the walters. His
wife hearing the noise in the barroom. ran in to
drag her husband out. One of the soldiers
grabbed her by the throat Eergenhan ran be-
hind the bar and got pocemans club. With
this he twice struck the soldier who was choking
Mrs Hergenhan. The last blow knocked him
unconscious. In the excitement some one fired
five shots from a revolver
The soldiers on being forced outside grabbed
rle aud 10
front of the Hergenhan place, which extends
several hundred feet along the beach and in
cludes various buildings. The walters charged
the soldiers. and they scattered The police
telephoned for, and roundsman and TWO
officers arrived at the beach in the course of
time Hergenhan one of the men VINO
had been in the fight and the police chased
him. He plunged into the water and swan
along shore past the reservation boundary
which the police could not cross. and presuma-
blv landed near the water battery and made his
wav TO The barracks. The police later learned
that Prvates Smith and Carbel were in the post
hospital and it is supposed they were the men
who came in contact with Hergenhans club
Warrants are to be issued for them, and the army
authorities will be asked to give them over 10
the civil authorities as soon they leave the
hospital
On Saturday night Private William ]. May
found stray cat running along the beach and
caught it, Taking il by the tail. he swung II
about his head a few times. and then let 1t 60
1t landed in a heap of frankfurters piled beside
an Italians roasting crate. There was scat
tering of the sausages and the Italian rushed
at the soldier. The Italians wife mixed up IN
the affair and the soldier is alleged 10 have
thrown ice at her. Blows followed, and in the
fight the soldier hit on the head with
soda water bottle. 1t was half an hour before
he recovered consciousness
Word was sent to the fort that trouble was
likely as the other soldiers the beach were
In an ugly mood. few minutes later thirty
soldiers under command of a captain and
lieutenant. appeared on the boardwalk, going at
a double quick. At -forgenhans several SOL
diers under a sergeant. dropped out and en-
tered. Several dropped out at Nunleys.
and at both places stood guard The officers and
the rest of the men hurried to the lower end of
the beach This detail cleared the beach of SOL
diers
Several of the and Of the officers
who at Fort Wadsworth declared that
this outbreak the part Of the soldiers could
be directly charged to the abolishment of the
canteen at the reservation, and they were loud
in their denuncation of the combination.
they stated it, of the ladies of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union and the wholesale
liquor dealers who had Joined forces to induce
Congress to abolish post canteens They allege
that there has been more drunkenness among
the soldiers, more fighting. more men in the
hospital result of such fights, and more
trouble between soldiers. tradespeople and civil
ians since the fort canteen has been prohibited
from selling beer than for ten years in which
time the canteen dispensed mild intoxicants in
limited quantities.
There is talk among the resort keepers at the
beach of appealing to the authorities to stop the
crowds Of soldiers from coming to the beach.