The colored American., 1899-12-09
TROUBLE AT FT. RINGGOLD
The Facts Leading up to the Re
cent Outrage Candidly Pre-
sented by an Eye Witness
Troops Should Not be Re-
moved.

moved.
Fort Ringgold, Texas, Special,-On
the night of October Is, 1899, several
troopers OF Troop D. Ninth Cavalry,
went to Rio Grsnde City, Tex, which
Is three hundred yards from the Fort.
Its population is chiefly made up OF
Mexicans. The soldiers entered gam
ling don TO play, and during the course
of the game the Mexicans cheated them
out of their money. The soldiers re-
ented the unfair deal and this angered
the Mexicans. About fifty OF them
drew revolVeTs and Winchesters and
shot two soldiers, but not seriously,
and arrested three others who were
mere OnlCOkers. They were tried ac'
cOrding to such crude courts as they
have, and ten were fined $65 90, or four
months at hard labor, aod one was set
at liberty, from what evidence we can
not say, as the soldiers were without
fault and the fine imposed was out
rag GUS. They decided to serve their
sentences.
Mexicans constitute the larger part
of the population of the city, and they
Are ignorant, indOlent, poor and desti-
tute, and were it not for the military post
near them, they would slarye to death
and the city would cease to exist. A few
~ tho in nF fha .
lation sem to recognize this depen'
dence upon the post. Trey are peace
ful and law abiding citizens, and are
wont to respect the cOi0red soldiers sta
toned in the vicinity. Only the strong
arm OF the government, however. can
bring the lower and vicious classes 80
this spiTit of decency and order. Ever
since the Ninth Cavalry has been sta
toned at the Post, trouble of some
kind or other has been going on be-
tween the soldiers and deputy mar
shsls, who are made up OF border cut
thrOats, outlaws and escaped cOnvicts
from Mexico, whose former regulations
if made known. would sentence them
to the gallOWs without trIaL They do
not even respect the U. s. mail. Laws
are ruthIessly violated and soldiers that
are sent there to project the Communi'
ty are hoOted and insulted.
The town is destitute of business fa-
ciiitles and the means of procuring a
livelihood are meager. The men in
control are aware Of this; therefore be-
come parties to plot to aggavate sol
diers and force an arrest when they
make and effort to protect themselves,
and then exact fine OF from fifty to
sixty dollars. 1t Is learned that when
ever a soldier pays his fine the money
is distributed among the deputies as
their salaries. Such acts OF violence
only occur on pay days or just befOIe
or just at the time they suspect money
is IN circulation among soldiers. The
writer learns that such acts of violence
are not only perpetrsted on Troop d,
Ninth Cavalry, but upon every pre-
cedlng troop or company of soldiers
that have been stationed at Fort Ring
gold. 1t is said that the sheriff of the
county encourages his men to commit
these depIedations.
The MeXieans carry concealed Weap-
| ons OF all sorts, such as horse pistols,
| jacksknives, and other foul weapons,
known TO the Texas rangers and border
ruffians; but if a soldier carries 6
weapon of any kind, or even sUspec
ed, he Is hunted and if found il
thrown into jail, and tremendous fine
imposed.
The ragged and half starved Mexi
cans have hatred toward Negro sol.
diers, for what reason we do not know
but we suppose 1t is on account of pre-.
viOus condition OF seTvitude II there
Is any other reason we are at loss t.
understand it, for we have Negroes thai
could buy the entire Rio Grande City
and not hurt their purse in the slighes
respect. We also have Negroes also
| who are far superior to the majority in
intelligence, business faculties and in-
dustriousness.
| The recent trouble. widely published
was the outcome of a shooting
scrape on October 10Th. The Mexicans
made threats that they were going tC
whip all of the Negro soldiers on pay.
day November 20, and word was also
sent to the garrison to that effect. AL
order was issued five days before No
vembeT Goth that no one should leave
the post. During the day of the Goth,
Mexicans were seen prowling around
the garrison and in chapparal bushes
heavily armed, and from all indications
appeared to be planning an attack.
The suspicion became reality and the
assault was made. The soldiers and
commander of the garrison being aware