The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18
SOLDIERS ATTACK POLICE.
TRY To RESCUE A CoMRADE WHO
WAS ARRESTED.
One Negro soldier and One Police
man Killed I'm the Ensuing Fight
Citizens of Eel Paso Much Excit-

Ell PAso, Tex, Feb. i7.-At 5 o'clock
this morning a mob Of negro soldiers from
Fort Bliss attacked the city police station
with the object of releasing two Of their
comrades who had been arrested yester-
day. During the fight Police officer Stew
art and one negro soldier were killed. and
II is believed another OF the soldiers Is
wounded.
Yesterday afternoon the police locked up
n corporal from the fort for being drunk
and threatening to chase the police force
out Of the city, and last night another
drunken soldier was arrested Comrades
OF the prisoners took the news to the post
rescue party. armed with Krag-Jorgen-
sens, was organized and Just before day
light a descent was made on the city.
A few minutes before O'Clock two Of
the soldiers, rifles IN hand. entered the
police station and demanded Of officer
Stewart. the only man on duty. the sur
render Of their comrades.
Stewart ordered the men out Of the sta
tion and they opened fire on him. Jailer
Richard Blacker who sleeps in a room
adjoining the station office. aroused by
the shots, sprang out OF bed. grabbed his
pistol and started into the office. AS
soon as he appeared in the doorway one
OF the soldiers opened fire on him.
Blacker dropped to his knees, and at
his first shot one OF the negroes staggered
and ran out. closely followed by his com
panions. and the entire squad left on a
run. About twenty shots in all were fired.
Stewart was shot twice through the
lungs and died at o'clock.
A trail of blood leading from the station
was followed and half block away the
dead body of negro, shot through the
breast, was found. The dead negro
clutched his gun in his hands Another
rifle and traces OF blood were also found,
which indicates that another OF the ne
goes was wounded
Officers Blacker and Scott pursued the
fleeing soldiers, but were unable TO make
any arrests
The company stationed at Fort Bliss IL
Company Il. Tweuty-fifth infantry.
Posses are out looking for the maraud-
ers. though at the post is Is claimed that
the only missing soldiers are the dead
man and the two prisoners in the police
station
The police have learned from the two
prisoners the name OF one of the soldiers
who did the shooting in the station office,
and Sheriff Boone and Chief OF PolIce
Lochart have demanded the surrender OF
the man from tae commandant of the
post. The latter has given assurance that
ne VIII lend all possible assistance in
bringing the guilty men to Justice. and II
Is believed there viii be no further clash
The entire police force however has been
iHVNHttu anu armed with NtnCheaterS to
be IN readiness for any emergency Feel
ing here against the soldiers il very bitter,
ana many citizens have offered their SER
vices TO the civil authorities
Inc commanding general OF the depart
ment OF Texas az San Antonio has tele-
graphed orders to Capt I,oughborough,
commanding at Fort Bliss. TO not permit
any soldier to leave the garrison until
further orders and to make immediate and
thorough investigation Of the circumstances
connected with the shooting today and in
oaFcerate every soldier believed TO nave
taken part Tn the raid on the police station
and the murder of Policeman Stewart
IL is thought that not less than ten
negro soldiers were IN the raidinE party
which was acting under the leadership OF
Corp. James Hun who was killed
Capt Loughboruugh refused to give any
information as to what Is being done at the
garrison fnrther than that rigid invcstiga-
ton is In progress.
There Is no unusual excitement in IN.
city over the affsir.