The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-20
THE RIOT AT FL PASO.
War Department Does Not Regard It as OF
Especial Significance.
THE AUTHORITIES ARE COOPERATING
Lieutenant Loughborough HIS Ar
rested the Men He Thinks Re-
sponsibIe for the Outbreak.
Especial to The Post.)


Washington, February ia high off,
cial In the war department when asked
today about the recent trouble in El Paso
between the peace officers of that city and
the negro traops o. the United States army
said: ooh. 1t was nothing but drunken
row and it is wrong to attempt to make a
race issue of 1t. IL is not an uncommon
thing for soldiers-or sailors. for that mat
lter--to get drunk and to get into rows
and it is unfair to assert that the colorei
soldier is any worse than his white broth
er in that respect Offences against the
ished in the army, and the soldiers found
to be responsible for the ARRAY at Ell Paso
will be courtmartialed. There is NJ spe-
cal method in assigning colored soldiers
to Texas posts except that they are the
only ones available for duty on the Mexi-
can frontier at the present time. The
Twenty fifth infantry did yeoman service
/ in the Santiago campaign and was brought
/ home from Cuba TO recuperlte. They re-
! lieved other co.ocei tr- ops in the depart
ment of Texas. Colored troops have been
.
years and il is only recently that any trou-
| be has occurred between them and the
citizens. II they are now Withdrawn II
would have he practical effect OF Temporal
lrily abandoning the posts along the Mex
lean border, for the reason that there VIII
/ he no white troops available for tnat duty
unless they are brought home from CUBA
or the Philippines. That will be done
eventually. Of course but at present there
n,.a ,ar+e Of -ftr y .
| the case Of either of the possessions named
before the coming summer The trouble
at FL Paso Is being thoroughly investi-
gated and the guilty parties will be well
punished The military and civil authori-
ties are cooperating in the matter and
steps have been taken to prevent any re
currence of trouble and better order and
better understanding among the soldiers
aud the civilians"
Hon. John H. Stephens said to The Post
correspondent, today that ne had received
telegram from prominent parties in FL
Paso asking that the colored Troops be
removed. lie said he would go 10 the war
department tomorrow In company win
botl senators from Texas and prot 81
agains. the presence OF negro troops ana
ask that they be removed from that city.
General McKibbin, commanding the de-
par,meat OF Texas. has forwarded TO tho
adjutant general Of the army copy of the
following telegram from Captain Lough-
borough commanding the troops at Fort
Bliss. Texas. in regard TO the trouble with
the local authorities at Ell Ioso on the
18th instant:
Through negligence or connivasee Of
uoncommissioned officers in charge OF the
barracks, arm racks were opened last
: uight aud number of rifles taken out.
One soldier was killed aud I learn one
guard at tine city jail, where two soldiers
were held for drunkenness and disorder
ly conduct. Arm racks are now locked
and keys in my possession. All ammuni-
ton has been placed under lock and key.
Have not permitted any one to leave gar
rson Am cooperating with civil author
tiles and will do everything in my power
to bring the guilty parties 10 justice"
General McKibhin adds that he has or
dered an additional officer to Fort Bliss
and that h. will make thorough inves-
tgation He says no further trouble Is
apprehended.
General McKibbin. commanding the de-
partment of Texas, transmitted to the way
department today the additional follow
ing particulars OF the trouble that oc-
Cured at El Paso Saturday. "Adjutant
General Department of Texas. Everything
quiet here and from what can learn also
in the city. Believe l have the leaders.
Investigation necessarily slow. Everything
doing to find the guilty party. Civilian
authorities are very considerable and are
cooperating. belieYe that the non COM
missioned officer in charge of the barracks
was one Of the party. Keys to the arm
rack found on the soldier killed.
"Loughborough,
Commanding"