The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-22
BORDER BATTLE.
COlOred Soldiers and Citizens
Engage In a Fight
At Rio Grande City Near Texas
State Line.
5000 SHOTS ARE FIRED
Women and Children Take Ref
uge In the Country.
Conflicting Reports Regarding
the Trouble.
900 SHOTS ARE FIRED

battle Sunday night at FIT. RinggOld,
Rio Grande city, Texas, between a COM
pany of the Ninth United States cav
airy Ccolored) garrisoning the fort and
several hundred citizens who attacked
the post shortly after dark. Three thou
sand shots were said to have been fired
during the fight but the casualties are
not known here. It is said that all the
women and children have been sent
away from Rio Grande City and that
runners are out after reinfOrcements
for the citizens. The military authOri-
ties are occupying the telegraph wires
and full reports can not be obtained
That the affair is q serious one is in
dicated by the activity in military cir
cles here. Major Thompson, in com
mand at Ft. Mcintosh bought up all the
kra JOrgenSen ammunition in Laredo
and is hurriedly loading a special train
with mules, baggage, etc, to take the
available force here to the scene OF
the trouble and a special train is en-
route here from San Antonio, with
company from FIT sam Houston, on the
way to Rio Grande City.
State Adjutant General Scurry with
a force of Rangers, is expected here,
also on the way there.
REPORTS CONFLICT.
Austin, Tex. Nov. Ex-Governor Say
ers is in receipt of a telegram from the
commanding officer of the United
States troops at San Antonio conveying
the information that there had been
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 they
are somewhat confusing. The military
commander at San Antonio, General
McKibben, telegraphs that the report
he received from the commander at Ft.
R1nggOId, near RIO Grande city, states
that all the troops were in the garrison
when the citizens of that town ad-
Vanced on the fort and fired upon the
- G,4r.
and the entire garrison was at once
called to arms. The citizens continued
their firing upon the fort, the soldiers
returned the fire and finally had to
bring their Gattling guns into play to
disperse the attackers. The command
er states 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 a half,
shooting into a number of houses,
wOunding one man. and frightening
the women and children so badly that
a number of them had fled to the sur
attack was entirely unprovOked and
that the community was highly in
censed and further trouble was looked
for at once.
Upon receipt of these kilograms Gov
ernOr Sayers ordered Adjutant General
Scurry to the scene of action and he
left for his destination. The governor
also telegraphed to Washington to
have a full investigation of the matter
and to remove the negro troops at once.
The commander at San Antonio sent a
special detail of officers to the scene at
once to investigate.
Governor Sayers sent the following
telegram to the secretary of war at
Washington:
please direct Immediate, impartial
and searching investigation into the
conduct of negro soldiers at Fort Ring
gold, Starr county, Texas. Also issue
orders for immediate removal of troops.
Following telegram just received
from the county judge of Starr county:
Negro soldiers at Fort RinggOld de-
plOyed in ravine at the south edge
of town at p. NJ, and fired over 1,500
shots into and over the town. The fu-
sillade continued at intervals over one
hour and a half. One citizen wounded
in his house. Houses all over town per-
forated by bullets. Women and chill
Population terrOrized. 1 fear the people
may decide to avenge themselves for
this dastardly act Civil authorities
would be pOWerleSs to control L under
stand that Lieutenant BubOttom, COM
manding, directed this cowardly as
sault. No cause for the act. Wire
Washington and San Antonio for
searching investigation and removal Of
troops at once
JOSEPH D. SAVERS,
Governor of Texas"
Governor Sayers received the official
message from Commanding General
McKibben, in charge of the Texas divi-
sion, Z. S. A:
San Antonio, Tex. Nov. 21.
'To Governor Sayers, Austin, Texas:
''The following dispatch has just been
. Fort Ringgo1d, Nov. 21.-Adjutant
General Department Of Texas, San An
tonic: Every man in garrison last
night, citizens began firing on our
guard at Z. Troop D and scouts placed
on guard around garrison. Enemy op-
ened terrific fire on garrison at 1880 on
side next to Rio Grande City and con-
tinued for some time. Our men obliged
protect garrison, fired sever al volleys.
Finally ordered out gatling gun and
silenced enemy's fire None OF our
men hurt; no trouble since, but rum
Ors of gathering in country. If true
may need more troops. Can not treat
with citizens, who will not even respect
United States mail carriers; unsafe for
garrison Shall 1 send men men 1,o,,u,o,,
Have ordered troops of cavalry
from Fort Brown to proceed by forced
marches to RinggOld. Am taking every
precautiOn to prevent further trouble.
Will keep you advised. Please wire
me any information you may obtain.
M KIBBEN,
Commanding General"
TROOPS FORWARDED.
San Antonio, Tex, Nov. 22.-ColoneI
Reaser, post adjutant at Fort Sam
Houston, left on a special train for La
reda with a detachment of the Twen-
ty-hfth infantry to make an investiga-
tion of the trouble at Fort RinggoId
and to make full report to General
McKibben, the department commander.
General McKibben has consulted with
Governor Savers on the subject and has
been asked by the governor to take
whatever steps lie in his power to con-
ciliate the citizens and soldiers. Trou-
bic between the negro soldiers on the
from
tfOn has been brewing for some time.
A collision between the police and the
negro soldiers at Laredo. a few weeks