Evening journal., 1917-03-26
MORE TROOPS TO
Guard BRIDGES
Company H Joins Others in
Duty at P. B. & w. and
B. & 0. Structures
SENTRIES FIRE
ON STRANGERS


halt. a lone man in a rowboat tried G,
row under The guarded Pennsylvania
Railroad bridge over the SusQue
hanna at midnight Saturday, shoi
rang out, and the troops got their frs
thrill.
In obedience to orders the soldier
private Of Company d, Maryland Ma
tional Guard, as soon as he sighted
the rowboat coming down stream
shouted "Haltin The man in the boai
did not stop, and again the command
10 halt was given, but instead of obey
ing. the stranger rowed behind a pier
Running TO the other side OF the
bridge. the guard. as the boat come
through. leyeled his rife and fired
The man turned his boat and again
sought the protection OF the pier. and
keeping it between him and the guard
rowed on in the direction from which
he came.
The lights on the bridge had not
been installed, and in a few seconds
the man was lost in the darkness.
other guards, attracted by the shot,
ran up and tried TO locate the boat,
and the military patrol boat took up
tho chase, but to no avail.
Search OF both sides OF the river all
day yesterday failed to reveal who the
stranger was or whence came the boat
in which he made his appearance and
escape. Il is not thought ne was hit
by the bullets. as his rowing powers
apparently we're unimpaired. The au-
thoritles OF The two companies do not
know whether the man was bent on
mischief, or il was merely a foolhardy
prank. but it is certain that he could
have had no legitimate business "un-
der the bridge at midnight"
Less than Eve hours after Brigadier
General Charles ID. Gather, with Ma
jor NJ. A. Rockford, inspected the
three great bridges spanning the
river and the vital necessity for more
troops 10 guard the structures was
pointed out. the announcement reach
ed Company DIS headquarters that
Company II, First Maryland Infantry
Of Westminster. had been ordered TO
Havre de Grace as additional guards
men TO protect the structures. Since
another entire company has been or
dered here rumors are afoat TO the
effect that the vigilance will be eX-
tended TO the long concrete railroad
bridges over the Gunpowder and Bush
rivers.
Company II Is commanded by Cap
tain John H. Weigle This Will make
three companies OF the First Regl'
ment doing duty at the bridges. Ma
jor Reckord has maintained for sew
eral days that in order to give the
bridges the protection they need It
would be necessary TO have more men
and It was for that reason that he
has previously asked for two addi-
tionai companies. General Gather
appeared Unexpectedly at the head
quarters OF Company ID here yesterday
afternoon and Immediately went over
The entire situation with Major Reck-
Drd. who had asked him 20 make the
trip for the purpose Of seeing tho
wisdom OF the demand for more
troops
General Gather came up from Bal
Hn,oro in his automobile. reaching
here about 2.30 o'clock. In company
with Major Reckord and ono or two
pther officers Of the regiment he
looI patrol motor boat and made
thorough inspection trip OF Gar
retts Island which lies under the
Baltimore and Ohio bridge and which
has been the source OF no little anX-
lety 20 Major Reckord General
Gather was impressed with Major
Reckord's suggestion for more men
10 guard the little island on which
Is located one OF the main buttrosses
supporting the big span. II is he
lieved that the new guardsmon Will
reach here some time today.
The men OF both companies now
on guard we're much interested In
The news that the Fourth Regiment
had been called out.
Large crowds OF Hartford countians
who came to town to see the sol
aiers declared that some protection
should be given the ConowiRgo
bridge, spanning the Susquehanna
Iome distance above this place They
argued that should anything happen
10 the railroad bridges or the high
way bridge here. the only means Of
communication with the north would
be over the Conowingo bridge. which
enters Cecil county not many miles
rom Elkton. II is a huge iron struc-
ure and is used every summer by the
roops moving north from Fort Myer
o their summer camps.
Last night. for the first time since the
order was given for the guarding of the
three bridges here, n powerful searchlight
was mounted on the eastern end of thcl
baltimore and Ohio Railroad bridge. lei
4 pcrched high above the road level ami /
rs brilliant rays sweep not only the
oride,e and the waters about IL. but the
entire country for miles around. On the
opposite end Of the same bridge iaun-
nrods Of food lights were turned on TO.
nlent and for the first time the great
5aitimore and Ohio span looms M in The
1,.olsness like a gigantic spectre. The
cH.eng system on the pennsvlvania
s..l,o .sso.l,ao bridge has not vet l,oen com.
rrss" Yn tho highway bridre tbol
e,o Wefe turned on last nigb, ana sr,
peneet working order. moli,,, ~.
,,natfSay nfy as light as day for its cn,;re tr
, .sl'o'net interesting developmcrt ,-..
ter"ny Was that on acount ~ yes
nero hayre dc Grace is lusel, T., e''ooi's ,s'uoi
honor OF having the mobnijst;o,, ~ g tie
Maryland troops on its outskirts el.l,, .ne
they be called out General Cn;,l",
opposed to bringing the Ninr-lond trn,.'s
here because OF the saloons. At tbe NJ
ton last fall Havre de Grace went dr,,
but the law viii not be effective until
Nav of 1918.
Hundreds Of automobiles visited the
town yesterday. coming from every sec
tion of Hartford and the adjoining coun.
ties. Many parties motored out from
Baltimore. Two and three men in full
and carrying loaded rifles are at
each entrance at both ends Of the bridges
and no matter who or what his mission
L.