The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-22
TO ABANDON FORT
BROWN AS AN
ARMY POST
AS RESULT OF TROUBLE WITH
NEGRO TROOPS ALL OF WHOM
MUST LEAVE TEXAS.
PRESIDENT GIVES ORDER
To Send Black Soldiers Out OF State
Major Penrose Tells Of In,
denities of the Troops at
BroWnVille.

Washington. D. G., Aug 21.-T'he ne
gro federal tr ops have been ordered
out Of Texas, instead of going To Fort
Ringgold 100 miles up the Rio
Grande from Fort Brown. and the bat
talon of the Twenty-fifth infantry has
been ordered to Fort Reno, Oklahoma
This action was directed by the
president and also recommended by
General McCaskey, commanding the
department Of Texas.
General F. J. Franklin Bell, chief of
staff, will make a thorough inyestiga-
don OF the Brownsville affair for
the president.
| Fort Brown is TO be entirely aban-
doned A company of the Twenty
sixth infantry was sent there today 70
pack up the government property.
Fort Brown will be left in charge of
care taker.
The abandonment Of Fort Brown as
an army post puts one of the most
historic posts IN the southwest out
Of commission and is undoubtedly a
result Of the recent trouble between
the citizens and soldiers.
lndignities to Troops.
OF the attitude Of the citizens of
Brownsville toward tie negro sol
diers. Major Penrose, in his report, |
ays:
THAT the enlisted men have been |
subjected to indignities since their ar |
rival here there can be no doubt. and |
this has caused a good deal Of feel |
ing among them. The one case 20
yhiehrl aitrih'ltc tho outbreak wilfl
make the subject Of an official report
as soon as John w. Vanu the collec
tor of customs, returns to the city.
Major Penrose then outlines briefly
The ca. in question Priyates New
ton and Lipscumb were passing along |
walk on Aug. 5. where some wo |
men We're stand Ing engaged in con
versation with q man name Tate, who |
is employed in the customs office The
negfo privates walked single file be
tween the women ana a fence. Tate
knocked Newton down With the butt
of revolver, and is reported TO have
said: "I'll learn you to get off the
sidewalk when there is a party Of
ladies on the walk"
When Newtcn rose Tate is said to
have covered him with the revolver
commanding: Damn you. leave, or
/ WIN blow your brains out This
account of the affair is corroborated
10y Lipscumh. Major Penrose sought
an official investigation of the af-
fair but as the collector of customs !
Mr. Vann. is ogt OF the city # has
not been possible 10 have the arair
looked into.
Sheds Light on Fusllade.
On Aug. 13, Mai. Penrose says,
Mr.. Eyars and Dr Combe. mayor Of
called on him. Mr..
Evans said his wife was seized while
entering her home by a negro sup
posed to be a soldier. as he wore
khah uniform. Mrs Evans was un
able TO identify.tbe man. but both she
md her husband complained that the
soldiers gathered near their home and
annoyed them.
That evening Major Penrose made
m attempt 10 get all the soldiers into 3
be rescryat on early. All but two
neQ who We're out on passes were
gathered into the post. but shortly az 4
or midnight the engagement which
csulied so disastrously took place and f,
DE whole garrison was awakened By a,
fuNliade. As soon as The shooting q
eased and ~ seemed safe to make >
N Investigation all but two soldier. --
VI wered roll call and The rifles were Z
li in place and showed no marks
.hich Indicated that they had been d.
red Carr dges and shells made af o
ovefumeut arsenais were found near Vi
there the shooting took place and d,
ialor Penrose expresses the opinion Al
bat eight or nine soldiers who had q.
eys to The gun racks cot their wos "a
ons. slipped ont ~ The post. and on Is
aged ia The battle with citizens. and Al
.anagcd to clean their guns re- M,
ace them in the racks and regain
leir places in tha barracks during the 81
Tc tement which prevailed in the or
lsf. io