Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-08-04
FIRST ATTACK ON TROOPS
Strikers Throw RoCka At Soldiers Encampsd
At Shenandoah.
ONI Of OEFLNDLas LODGED N IML
Others who Were Implicated In the
Assault on sentriss Have not
Yet BeeR Appre-
hendede

SHENANDOAH. Pa. Aug. s.-The entire
Eighth regiment was called to arms last
night as a result Of an attack made By
band OF men In ambash who threw stones at
the troops now in camp on the plateau out
side the town. These attacks arc becom-
ing so frequent that Hrigadier General
Goblin has decided to adopt STERN measures
to end them. Tonight double guard with
bali cartridges surrounds the camp and
the santries have been Instructed that II
last nights stone throwing Is repeated
they must shoot to kill and investigate af-
terwardH One OF the attacking party, q
Lithuanian named william stoponitz, is
under arrest and is confined in the guard
tent and the provost marshal IL on the trail
Of others. It is not known how many were
in the crowd. but the ofacers Of the Eighth
regiment believe the number to have been
more than dozen.
The first attack. according to Colonel
Theodore F. Hoffman. was made at 10:4s
o'clock last night. Private Payne OF COM
peny I. on sentry duty. saw q party on
the Mshaony City road which separates
the camp Of the Eighth regiment from the
Twelfth. He commanded the men to halt
and called the corporal OF the guard, but
before the latter could respond a shower
Of stone and rocks were thrown at the
sentry. One rock struck him on the chest
knocking him down and causing his gun
to fall from hfs hands He Immediately
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 been stationed
some distance from the camp, heard the
shots and one OF the pickets captured stov-
onitz as he came running down the road
The others escaped.
Shooting Arouses Camp.
Tho shooting aroused the whole oamp
ana the Eighth regiment was put under
arms and Companies B. n and X we're inn
mediately out In skirmish lines. They beat
the underbrush and laurel which is 0ve
or six feet high all around the camp but
they could md 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 regiment. The guard turned
out and three men we're seen running along
the ROAD IN the opposite direction from
where the outpost was stationed. The
strangers we're not pursued.
Shortly after o'clock this morning the
third and last attack was made, and It was
orders from Colonel Hoffman, sounded the
whole regiment to arms. This time the
stable guard was again the object Of the
myafsrioue attack. Stones IN vclleys were
thrown at the guard and At the ssntriez
On account of the laurel undeEbrush and
the darkness, ths soldiers could not sec
the offenders. However, the sentries fred
8 dozen shots into the underbrush, but
no one was hit. Some OF the bullets went
whistling over the tents OF the sleeping
Twelfth regiment across the road.
The noise Of the firing and the bugie
call 70 arms stirred up the Twelfth regi-
ment and the governors troop Of cavalry.
which is located close to the Eighth regi-
ment. Colonel Clement OF the Twelfth
regiment sent out detachments to investi-
gate the trouble. as did also Captain OFT,
In command Of the cavalry. The Eighth
regiment, Colonel Hoffman, was under arms
and ready for action. The command. after
standing In formation for thirty minutes.
was called to quarters and not again dis
turbed
Colonel Hoffman made a full report to
Brigadier General Goblin, who came to
camp during the day to make q full In
vestigation. He put stoponitz through a
searching examination. The prisoner said
there were only four men in the body.
He gave the name Of one Of them ae
Michael Lavotiz and said he ala not know
who the others were. While under ex-
animation he made several other contra
dictory statements. General Goblin says
that he will turn stoponitz over to the
civil authorities tomorrow. He will be
placed In the Pottsvills jail.
stringent Measures Against Offenders.
The brigadier general said he had issued
orders that strongest measures be taken
with all such offenders.
II have ordered several rounds OF ball
cartridges TO be issued to each sentry"
he said. land the oficers Of the guard be
instructed to have them used. The guard
At the camp will also be increased
Colonel Hoffman said that he did not
know that the stone throwing was done
TO annoy the troops OF to see what tho
regiment would or could DO.
Last nights occurrence demonstrates
that We can be ready for any emergency
in three minutes" he said. land hereafter
We win stand no nonsense and will give
bullet for each stone"
The colonel said there IL an ugly feel
ing among many persons against the
troops. Reports are being made to him
daily Of soldiers being elbowed and other
wise annoyed on the streets. II was the
intenti0n OF Colonel Hoffman to give a
parade in the town proper ~ a compliment
TO the bFisadler general. but owing to last
nights afiair Il was decided that Il would
be better to have the parade take place
within the camp The soldiers spent a
quiet day. There was a large Sunday
crowd out. The regimentkl chaplain held
services In the morning and IN the aft
eFnoon each command gave q dress parade.
Tomorrow the cavalry will be sent out on
short marches. General Goblin today gave
out the following statement;
"The published reports to the eject
that members OF the National Guard re-
fused to work in laying water pipe 70 the
camp and that certain soldiers had sue-
gested that they were union men ana
could not assist In the work. is untrue
and without foundniion.A