The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-13

That Fort Riley, Kan, has been for
nine months as near reign of terror
as a well-disciplincd army post can
get is becoming known in spite of the
efforts being made to withhold the
facts. 1t is only with the confession
of Private Nicheal Quirk, Battery e,
Sixth Field Artillery, and the subse-
quent arrest of the Rev.. c. M. Brew
er, a cashiered army chaplain, for
merly stationed at Fort Riley, but now
a Baptist minister at Olustee Okla,
and Mrs. Fred Jordan, wife of a fed
eral convict, that the real state of af-
fairs is becoming known, and the COM
plete facts may never reach the pub
lie. But enough has already been
divulged to convince the public that
the plot to destroy Fort Riley was the
largest and most systematic ever per-
petrated in the United States Just
how well the criminal or criminals sue
ceeded can be better imagined when it
is stated that the damage to the
government is estimated at $1,000,000.
Revenge for fancied wrongs at the
hands of the government, more par
ticularly the army officers at the head
of military affairs at Fort Riley, is the
underlying motive. Tho Rev. c. NJ.
Brewer, who is implicated by Private
Quirk's confession, YVES G,Smissed from
the service in June, following a court
martial for habitual drunkenness and
conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman. The latter charge is a
broad one, and is said to have grown
out of the first charge.
Mrs. Anna Jordan, the wife Fred
Jordan, an artillcryman formerly sta
toned at Fort Riley, is also implicated
by the self-ccnfeosed dynGmiter She,
also, has suffered at the hands of the
government.
Her husband was arrested, charged
with appropriating government prop
erty for his own use. One night he
took an army carbine from its stand,
carried it to Junction City, and, in the
morning, returned it.
For this he was tried and sentenced
to serve a term of eighteen months in
the federal prison at Leavenworth,
IAN. Before he was taken to that
place his wife, assisted by Robert
Richardson, an eX-soldier, put into ac-
ton one of the best conceived plans
of escape known to the officers at the
post.
She managed to get word to her hus-
band beforehand, and Jordan, while
working on the reservation, under a
guarh. one afternoon, knocked the
sentry down, drew the firing pin from
his carbine, rendering that weapon
useless, and made his escape across
the hills, where Mrs. JORDAN was walt
ing Tor him with a horse and buggy.
She furnished him W'ths a suit OF
civilian clothes, weapons, money, and
q hottie of hair dye, with which 10
disguise himself 1t was this hair dye
that led to his capture, since JORDAN
YVES retaken on the night of his es-
cane. while dyeing his hair down by
the river, ten miles from Fort Riley
He has since been removed to the fed
eral prison.
Robert Richardson and Mrs. jordan
are under bond to appear before the
federal district court, to answer TO the
charge of assisting in the escape OF a
y federal prisoner.
I Five other members of Battery h.
Ouirk's organization, are under arrest
and in solitary confinement in the post
guard house. They are Privates Heck
more Johnson, Dory Shaw, Brigham
Young and Don Northrup, and Trump
eter Grille. They are wanted 1t Is
said as witnesses in the forthcoming
arraignment, before United States
Commissioner George w. Chase at
Junction City.
The history of the reign of terror at
Fort Riley forms one of the most IN
teresting as well as unusual phases
Of the annals of the regular army. The
first piece of incendiarism was the
firing of the Quartermaster's store
house, on the night of March a.
This structure, situated on the ma
neuver grounds on the reservation
was a huge sheet iron building entire
" filled with stores. 1t was totailS
destroyed. The loss was $25O'OOO' rms
was the first and worst piece OF de
struction.
1t was followed by an attempt lo
burn the cavalry ordnance building Oh
March 90. This building, in the hear
Of the post, contained large supply
of ammunition in addition to caroines
reyolvers and sabres, and other MN
tary equipment The fire was eNuh
gui.shed without great loss
Then followed a series Of threaten
ing letters to the highest oIhcers a
Fort Riley. These were all priel ant
81 10 al a