The San Francisco call., 1899-11-22
Fort Ringgold, Texas, the
Scene Of Most Exciting
Encounters
MANY VOLLEYS FIRED
United States Soldiers Declare
They Were Attacked, but Are
Accused of BOmbarding
the Town.
Special Dispatch to The Cali.

AREDO. Texas. Nov. 2.-Renorts
have reached here that there was
a pitched battle last night at Fort
Ringgold. Rio Grande City. Texas
! between company OF the Ninth
1 l. 6 Cavalry 4colered4. sa=Fisor1fr1E the
fort, and 700 citizens who attacked the
post shortly after dark Three thousand
shots We're said TO have been fired dur
ing the fight, but the casualties are not
/ known here. II is also said that all the
women and children have been sent away
from Rio Grande City and that runners
are out after reinforcements for the citi-
Zens The military authorities are occu-
pying the telegraph wires and full reports
\ cannot be obtained That the affair is a
serious one is indicated by the activity In
military circles here.
Major Thompson. in command at Fort
Mcintosh, bought up all the Krag-Jor-
/ gensen ammunition in Laredo to-day. and
is hurriedly loading a special train with
mules. baggage, etc, TO take the avail
able force here TO the scene OF the trouble
and special train is en- route here from
San Antonio with a company from Fort
Sam Houston TO Rio Grande City
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 21-To-day Gov
ernor Sayres was in receipt OF telegram
from the commanding officer of the
United States troops at San Antonio con-
veying the Information that there was a
between the Federal troops stationed
there and the citizens of that town About
the same time another telegram came
from the County Judge at that place, and
the kilograms are somewhat confusing
The military commander at San Antonio
General McKibben, telegraphs that the
report he received from the commander
at Fort Ringgold, near Rio Grande City
states that all the troops were in the
"a uyh
the citizens Of that town advanced on the
fort and fired upon the guard. The guard
returned the fire and the entire garrison
was at once called TO arms. The citizens
continued their firing MON he fort, the
soldiers returned the fire and finally had
10 bring their Calling guns into play TO
disperse the attackers. The commander
states that he fears further trouble and
asks for more troops
The telegram from the County Judge
states that the negro soldiers in the forts
there deployed in a ravine on the edge of
the town and fired into the town for about
an hour and half. shooting into a num-
Der Of houses. wounding one man, and
frightening the women and children so
badly that a number of them had fled TO
the surrounding ranches for safety; that
the attack was entirely unprovoked and
that the community was highly inCensed
and further trouble was looked tor at
once.
Upon receipt Of these telegrams, Gov
ernor Sayres ordered Adjutant General
Scurry TO the scene of action and he left
tonight for his destination. The Governor
also telegraphed TO Washington TO have
full investigation of the matter and TO re-
move the negro troops. The commander
at San Antonio sent special detail of
officers to the scene at once to investi-
gate All is quiet tonight.
oft ~
following telegram to the Secretary of
War at Washington:
Please direct Immediate. impartial and
searching investigation into the conduct OF
negro soldiers at Fort Ringgold Starr County.
Texas last night Also issue orders for imnne-
diate removal Of troops
Following telegram just received from the
County Judge Of Starr County: Negro soldiers
Fort Rnggold deployed In ravine at the
south edge OF town at o'clock last night and
fired about l5oO times into and over the town.
The fusillade continued at intervals over one
hour and half. one citizen wounded
in his house. Houses all over town were per
forated by bullets Women and children fed
10 the woods and ranches The population is
terrorized. l fear the people may decide to
avenge themselves for this dastardly act. The
civil authorities would be poweriess TO con-
troll 1 understand that Lieutenant Rubottom.
commanding directed this cowardly assault
No cause for the act. Wire Washington and
San Antonio for searching Investigation and
removal OF troops AT once
JOSEPH ID. SAVERS. Governor of Texas
Governor Sayers received the following
official message from the commanding
general (McKibben) in charge of Texas
division, L. s. A. from his headquarters
in San Antonio:
SAN ANTONIO. Tex. Nov. 2l.-To Governor
Savers Austin. TeXas-The following dispatch
has Just been received:
FORT RINGGOLD. Tex.-Adjutant General.
Department Of Texas. San Antonio: Every
man in garrison last night: citizens began fir
ing on our guard at T. Troop d and scouts
placed guard around garrison Enemy
opened terrific fire garrison at 1880 on side
next 10 Rio Grande City and continued for some
time. Our men. obliged 10 protect garrison.
fred several volleys. Finally ordered out Cat
ling gun and senced enemy's fire. None OF
our men hurt. No trouble since but rumor is
OF gathering in country. II true may need
more troops Cannot treat with citizens. who
will not even respect United States mail car
rier; unsafe for garrison. Shall l send men
after mail? RUBOTTOM.
Have ordered troops OF cavalry from Fort
Broad to proceed by forced marches 10 Ring
gold. Am taking every precaution to prevent
further trouble. VIII keep you advised Please
wire me any information you may obtain
McKIBBEN. Commanding General.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex, Nov. H.-Colonel
Reaser, post adjutant at Fort Sam Hous-
ton, left this afternoon on a special train
for Laredo with a detachment OF the
Twenty-fifth Infantry to make an inyes-
tigation of the trouble at Fort Ringgold
and to make full report to General Nc
Kibben, the department commander. Cen
eral McKibben has consulted with Gov
ernor Sayers on the subject and has been
asked by the Governor to take whatever
steps In his power 10 conciliate the citi-
zens and the soldiers. Trouble between
the negro soldiers on the frontier posts
and the Mexican population has been
brewing for some time. A collision be-
tween the police and negro soldiers at
the abandoning OF the post there. A
small-sized riot also occurred at Rio
Grande City last month. in which some
rested and fined. Since then the Mexicans
and snldiars at Rio Grande City ha We No.,