Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1902 — MILITIA TO USE BALL CARTRIDGES [ARTICLE]

MILITIA TO USE BALL CARTRIDGES

Gen. Gobin Supplies Pennsylvania Troops With Loaded Shells. SENTRY STONED FROM AMBUSH Men Ordered to Halt Reply with Shower of Missiles and Later Repeat Performance. When Soldiers Get Orders to Kill. Brig. Gen. Gobin has ordered the guards and sentries of the regiments on service at Shenandoah to fire upon any gangs of men wao attack them with volleys of stones from ambush. The entire Eighth regiment was called to arms during Saturday night as a result of three attacks made by a band of men who threw stones at the troops now in camp on the plateau outside the town. A double guard supplied with ball cartridges surrounds the camp and the sentries have been instructed that if stone throwing is repeated they must shoot to kill and investigate afterwards. One of the attacking party, a Lithuanian named William Stoponltz, is under arrest. Attack a Sentry. The first attack was made at 10:45 o’clock Saturday night. Private Payne of company I, on sentry duty, saw a party of men on the Mahony 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 stones were thrown at the sentry. One stone struck him on the chest, knocking him down and causing his gun to fall from his hands. He jumped and fired several shots in the air. One of the pickets captured Stoponitz as he came running dowii the road. Camp Is Aroused. The shooting aroused the whole camp and the Eighth regiment was put under arms and companies B, E, and K were immediately out in skirmish lines. The regiment was 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. Shortly after 3 o’clock Sunday morning the third and last attack was made, and it was of such a nature that the bugler, under orders from Col. Hoffman, sounded the whole regiment to arms. This time the stable guard was again the object of the attack. Stones in volleys were thrown at the guard, and the sentries near by. Fire Into the Bushes. The sentries fired about a dozen shots into the bushes, but no one was hit. The Eighth regiment, Col. Hoffman said, was under arms and ready for action in three minutes. Col. Hoffman made a full report to Brig. Gen. Gobin. 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 as Michael Lavotiz and said he did not know who the others were. The brigadrier general said he had Issued orders that stringent measures be taken with all such offenders, Orders Balt Cartridges. “I have ordered several rounds of ball cartridges to be issued to each sentry,” he said, “and that the officers of the guard be instructed to have them used. The guard at the camp will also be increased." Gen. Gobin gave out the following statement: “The published reports to the effect that members of the National guard refused to wont in laying water pipe to the camp and that certain soldiers had suggested that they were union men and therefore could not assißt in the work was absolutely untrue and without any foundation."