Mexico Missouri message., 1902-08-07
ORDERED TO SHOOT TO KILL
Fierce Response to Attacks Upor
the Militia.
THREE ASSAULTS WITH STONES
Entire Eighth Regiment in the Penn.
syivania Coal Fields Called to Arms I'm
Anticipation Of Serious Trouble-Ons
of the Assailants Captured.

Shenandoah. Pa, Aug. 1.-The en-
tire Eighth Regiment was called TO
arms during last night as a result of
three attacks made by a band of men
In ambush, who threw stones at the
troops now in camp on the plateau
outside the town.
These attacks are becoming so fire.
quent that Brigadier General Goblin
has decided to adopt stern measures
to end them. Tonight double guard.
supplied with ball cartridges. sur
rounds the camp, and the sentries have
been instructed that If last nights
stone-throwing is repeated they must
shoot 10 kill, and investigate after
wards.
One of the attacking party. Lithu-
anian named William Stoppanitz, is
under arrest and is confined in the
guard tent, and the Provost Marshal
is oil the trail of others. 1t is not
known how many were in the crowd,
but the officers of the Eighth Regi-
ment believe the number to have been
more than a dozen.
The first attack, according to Col
onel Theodore F. Hoffman, was made
at 10:45 o'clock last 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 tie chest, knocking him
down and causing his gun to fall from
his hands.
He immed. ately jumped up and fired
several shots in the air. AS he did so,
the men ran down the road and were
pursued by several strangers. The
outpost. which had bean stationed
some distance from the camp. heard
the shot and one of the pickets cap
tured StOppanitz as he came running
down the road. The others escaped.
The shooting aroused the whole
camp. and the Eighth Regiment was
put under arms, and companies B, f
and X were Immediately out in skir-
ish 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 Is min
utes 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 3 o'clock this morning
the third and last attack was made.
and 1t was of such a nature that the
bugler, under orders from Colonel
Hoffman, sounded he 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 the sentries near by
On account Of the laurel underbrush
and the darkness the soldiers could
not see the offenders.
However, the sentries fired about a
dozen shots into the bushes, but no
one was hit. Some of the bullets went
whistlins over the tents of the Sleep
Ing soldiers of the Twelfth Regiment,
across the road.