Evening journal., 1902-08-04
SOLDIERS ORDERED
TO SHOOT TO KILL
Miners Make Three Attacks
Upon ihs Militia
Search in UnderbruSh RCSUl $ 10
Capture Of One Man Who Is
Under Arrest

Shenandoah. Pa, Aug. i.-The en-
tire Eighth Regiment was called to
arms during Saturday night as a re-
suit of three attacks made by band
of men in ambush who threw stones
at the troops now in camp on the pla-
teau outside the town. These attacks
are becoming so frequent that Briga-
dier General Goblin has decided to
adopt stern measures to end them.
Last night double guard, supplied
with ball cartridges surrounded the
camp, and the sentries were instructed
that If Saturday nights stone throwing
was repeated they must shoot to Kill
and investigate afterwards One Of the
attacking parties. Lithuanian, named
William Stoponitz. is under arrest It
is not known how many were in the
crowd. but the officers of the Eighth |
Regiment believe the number to have
been more than a dozen.
The first attack, according to Colo |
mel Theodore Hoffman, was made at
10.45 o'clock Saturday night. Private
Payne. Of Company /, on sentry duty, |
saw a party OF men on the Mahanoy |
City road. which separates the camp
Of the Eighth Regiment from tho
Twelfth. He commanded the men TO
halt, and called the corporal of the
guard, but before the latter could re
spond a shower of stones and rocks
were thrown at the sentry. One rock
struck him on the chest, knocking him
down and causing his gun TO fall from
his hands. He Immediately jumped up
and fired several shots In the air. AS
he did so the men ran down the road
and we're pursued by several strangers
The outpost, which had been stationed
some distance from the camp, heard
the shot, and one of the pickets cap
tured stoponitz as he came running
down the road. The others escaped.
The shooting aroused the whole camp,
and the Eighth Regiment was put un-
der arms, and Companies b, E and X
were Immediately thrown out In slyir-
mish lines They beat the underbrush
and laurel. which is FIVE or six feet
high all around the camp, but they
could find no one. The regiment was
then called to quarters, and fifteen
minutes later another shower of stones
was thrown at the stable guard, which
is located south of the Eighth Regi-
ment The guard turned out, and three
men were seen running along the road
IN the opposite direction from where
the outpost was stationed. The
strangers were not pursued
Shortly after o'clock yesterday
morning the third and last attack was
made, and II was of such nature that
the bugler, under orders from Colonel
Hoffman. sounded the whole regiment
TO arms. This time the stable guard
was again the object OF the mysterious
attack Stones in volleys were thrown
at the guard and at the sentries near
by. On account of the laurel under
brush and the darkness the soldiers
could not see the offenders. However,
the sentries fred about dozen shots
into the bushes but no one YVES hit.
Some Of the bullets went ing
over the tents of the sleeping soldiers
of the Twelfth Regiment across the
road. The noise OF the firing and the
bugle call 20 arms stirred up the
Twelfth Regiment and the Governor S
Troop OF Cavalry, which is located
close TO the Eighth Regiment
Colonel Hoffman made a full report
to Brigadier General Goblin, who came
TO camp to make a full investigation.
He put Stoponitz through a thorough
examination. The prisoner said there
were only four men in the body. He
gave the name of one of them as being
Michael Layotiz, and said he did not
know who the others were. While
under examination he made several
contradictory statements General
Gobin turned Stoponitz over to the
civil authorities, and he was placed IN
the Pottsville jail
The brigadier general said he had
issued orders that stern measures be
taken with all such offenders. 81
have ordered several rounds OF bal
cartridges to be issued to each sen
try" he said, "and that the officers OF
the guard be instructed to have then
used. The guard at the camp will alsC
be increased"
The following message from Cover
nor Stone was received on Saturda,
by President Fahy, of this district o
the United Mine Workers Of America
Harrisburg Pa. August 2-Mne
Dougherty and others. Shenandoah
Pa: Yours of the 31st ultimo, request
ing the recall of the troops. was dull
received. Upon full consideration O
the letter I am of the opinion that
would not be wise nor safe to with
draw the troops at present.
''W. A. STONE"
This message from the governo
finally disposes of the question Of r,
moving tho troops
Celebrated Her ioist Birthday