The Washington herald., 1913-08-12
RIOT At CAMPS
BARELY AVERTED
District Guardsmen Surround
Jail and Start to Rescue
Comrades.
CHAPLAIN BRINGS PEACE
Privates Williams and Andersen Re-
sent Insult to Girl and Are
Placed Under Arrest.
CHAPLAIN BRINGS PEACE
ny STAFF coRREsPoNDENr.

by STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Camp ordway. Bolivar Heights, w
Va, Aug. I.-Enraged because two Of
their comrades had been arrested 70,
forcibly resenting an insult offered a cir
friend. more than 800 District Nationa
Guardsmen tonight threatened to storm
the Harpers Ferry Jail.
Shouting and brandishing their fists
the mob of young soldiers surrounded
the jail and vociferously demanded that
their two companions be released. For
a time the situation seemed very serious
and the jailer momentarily expected the
guardsmen to commence an assault for
the rescue of the prisoneres.
Chaplain Quells Riot.
The incipient riot was quelled by Chap.
| lain Stevenson. pastor of Bethany Bap.
list Church in Washington. who rush ed
into the midst of the mob and urged the
young soldiers to- dispense. 1T was a
difficult task. for the Guardsmen were
Thoroughly aroused, but after long plead
ing he finally succeeded in restoring Or
der, promising the men that justice would
be shown toward the prisoners
The two unfortunate Guardsmen were
Joseph Williams, of Company b, First
Regiment. and NJ. T. Anderson, of Com
pany ], First Regiment. Upon permis-
sion OF Mayor WentzeIl, who arrived on
the scene during the trouble. the priscn-
ers were released from the jail and
turned over the the military authorities
for court-marital proceedings.
According to the story now current,
Williams and Anderson were. strolling
along one of the streets of Harpers
Ferry with young woman when an
other guardsman. in passing. made an
insulting remark to the girl. The es-
corts at once proceeded to give the Of
Tender a thrashing. The first round
hardly was under way before the vigil
liant Harpers Ferry police were on the
SPOT.
Soldier Receives Wound.
An accident. which came near being
serious. happened in camp today when
Sergt. James Custa. of Company A, First
Regiment, received a bullet in the upper
left side OF his chest, while near the fire
used for cooking. Some one threw a
blank cartridge into the fire; it exploded,
and part OF the metal lodged in Custa's
chest He was removed Immediately to
the regimental hospital, where the wound
was dressed by DR.. Bryson. Luckily for
Sergt. Custa, the wound is not serious.
Last night. newly commissioned Lieuts.
J. Ralph Fair and A. J. Schmidt, Of
Company X. First Regiment, entertained
the officers Of that regiment. Tonight
Commissary Sergt. Mater. of the Second
Regiment, will entertain the nom
commissioned officers Of both regiments
at Bolivar.
Tomorrow morning the rifle team repre-
senting Company +, First Regiment, will
leave for Camp Perry. Ohio, to take part
in the regular company match. Members
of the team are Lieut.. Thomas Brown.
Lieut. A. J. Schmidt, Sergt. Joseph
Schriver. Sergt. Edgar II. Gerber, and
Sergt. Frank ]. Fairs. Last year this
team won the company championship of
the United States at Seagirt, n. J.
The team has been practicing three days
a week for the last three months, and is
in fine condition to retain the champion
ship. Last year Lieuts. Brown. Schmidt,
and Fairs and Sergt. Schriver were
members of the regimental championship
team of the United States.
Company X. First Regiment, also has
six men on the brigade team Of Camp
Ordway. The Company X team, before
it earned the right to compete in the
matches at Camp Perry, defeated all the
National Guard Company teams of the
District of Columbia at their range in
Congress Heights.
Tonight at $50 the cannon fired final
salute of thirty-one shells to the camp.
The artillery leaves tomorrow for Wash
ington with the Signal Corps. The last
regimental drill, which was the best ex-
ecuted of the encampment, occurred this
afternoon. The custom introduced by
Gen. Ordway of saluting the colors, was
a prominent feature of the parade.
firing of Daily Grind.
The 1890 guardsmen, after a week in
camp here. are beginning to weary Of
the daily grind. The encampment comes
to an end Wednesday afternoon. The
consisting of the Signal Corps
section. will start for Wash
ington overland tomorrow afternoon.
According to orders issued by Mai. c.
Fred Cook, the Signal Corps, which will
leave tomorrow afternoon, and the re-
naming guardsmen. who will entrain at
| 30, 2, and go o'clock Wednesday after
noon, will both arrive in Washington
about the same time.
A terrible storm which swept the field
about midnight cut the camp on from
the outside world. When the guardsmen
awoke this morning. instead Of finding
themselves basking in an uncomfortable
heat, they were shivering. Preparations
were made Immediately for the renewal
Of the battle between the Mexicans and
the Americans.
A disorderly retreat by the big army
Of Americans that went forth early to-
day to continue Saturdays battle with
the Mexicans was witnessed. The Ameri-
cans outnumbered the Mexicans four to
oner Wild cherries are given as the cause
Of the defeat of the Americans.
Cherries Cause Defeat.
The soldiers had successfully attacked
the Mexicans by charging up q hill on
which a small forest interviewed. They
were able TO meet the Mexicans' fire COW
cred by this ambush. But some one dis
covered the luscious cherries. The Mexl-
cans deployed back Of the hill, and by a
flank movement, backed up by field artil-
Iery, succeeded in hacking up the Ameri-
cans before they could leave the cher
res.
Second Lieut.. ]. r. Mickey, Of Company
I. Second Infantry, is being sympathized
with by his comrades. He received word
from Victoria, British Columbia, today
IF the death of his brother-in-law. John
Bryant. an aviator. Mrs. Bryant. Nc
Keys sister, wires that she will continue
lying despite the death of her husband.
The couple had been married but two
months, having met on an aviation field.
The guardsmen will bivouac in pup