The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-18
TENSION STRONG
 AT BROWNSVILLE
clrizENs' COMMITTEE AND NE GRO TROOPS ARE IN READINESS FOR CONFLICT WHICH SEEMS IMMINENT AT ANY MOMENT.

Brownsville, Tex, August 17.--With both parties prepared for an attack and each believing it to be imminent, there have been no especial developments today in the situation growing out of the recent trouble between the negro troops and the citizens of this place. The citizens com- mittee has been advised that the troops will not be sent here. Judge James B. Wells, whose word Is practically law along the border, is on his way home now, and when he arrives 1t is probable that there will be some move made to re- lieve the tension.
 He has secured a promise from Senator Bailey to go at once to Washington to groes
 News reaches here that the negro troops at Fort Mcintosh, near Laredo, are being kept closely within bounds of the post to prevent possible trouble.
 The citizens here are being kept in ig- norance of any developments in the in- vestgation, if one is being conducted by Major Penrose.
 Austin, Tex, August 17.AA dispatch was received this afternoon from William Kelly, chairman of the citizens commit tee, at Brownsville, appealing to Gov ernor Lanham to act at once regarding the condition of affairs brought about by the outbreak of negro soldiers on Mon day night. Chairman Kelly stated in the telegram that excitement is not subsid- ing and great fear is entertained among the women and children of a recurrence of the outrage. In the absence of the gover- nor the message was turned over to Ad- jutant General Huelen who said he would confer with General McCarkey, command CT of the department of Texas, who re- turned this evening from San Antonio, and ascertain what steps are to be taken to relieve the situation.
 
 sence of any word from official sources in Valparaiso and other points in Chile may be taken as indicating considerable exag geration in the reports of loss of life and extent of damage.
 Is Fortified Seaport.
 Valparaiso is a fortified seaport of Chile and the most important commercial town of the western coast of South America. It has a population of about l50,0O0. It is the capital of a province of the same name. and is situated on large bay in the Pa cific ocean, seventy-five miles northwest of San Diago, with which it is connected by rail.
 The city has various academic and col legiate institutions, naval school, school for marines, museum of natural history, Photographic bureau, etc, and its indus trial establishments comprise foundries, railroad and machine shops, sugar re- fineries, breweries, distlleries, large bot tling works and factories of all kinds. Elevators connect the lower parts of the city with the villa section on the heights. Important Termius. The port of Valparaiso is the termi- nus of important lines of steamers for Europe by way of the Straits of Magellan and Panama, and is the center of the South American coasting services. It con- tains a numerous foreign coloney, com posed chiefly of British. German and French merchants. There is a custom house wharf alongside of which steamers of ordinary tonnage can moor, but most of the loading Is done by lighters from quay surrounding the town. The harbor is defended by modern well mounted bat teres Severe storms and tidal wave at Valparaiso June 30, 1899, wrecked the l railroad and did great damage to the city.
 Tie bay of Valparaiso which Is well sheltered on three sides is bounded by ranges of hills. rising to from 1900 to 100 feet high, on the slopes of which con- siderable portion of the city of Valpa- raiso is built. On the south side of the bay are the spacious suburbs of Nueyo Malecom and Gran Avenida, from which pass out one of the finest of the thor oughfares of Valparaiso, the Avenida De Las Delicas. The lower central section of the city Is constituted by the AL mendarl. having regular and attractive streets and containing the principal bus mess houses. the park, the Plaza Vic toria and the National theatre. To the northwest of this city, in the quarter of the city known as the Puerto | Cor PorD. in which are situated the | greater number of public buildings. and | the vast warehouses which line the quays | and docks. In this portion of the city however, narrow and crooked streets are | still feature. but the newer sections | of Valparaiso have an attractive. modern | appearance, the buildings of the busi- ness streets being massiveiy built. <among l the monuments in Valparaiso are those | to Columbus. Wheelwright, (who estab- | lished steam navigation on the Chilean | coasD: Admiral Prat and Thomas Coch- rane. organizer of the Chilean navy. One report which reached this city said that | portions of Valparaiso was burning all night and that the bodies of hundreds of