The Washington herald., 1906-11-22
Dismissals Are Ordered to
Begin Immediately.
PRESIDENTS DECREE IS FINAL
wires Taft that Case Is Closed SO
Far as Executive Is Concerned.
War Departments Report Sow
Soldiers started Brownsville Riots.
Maj. BIocksom's Statement.

vile colored troops, who were ordered
dishonorably discharged, and that his or
der was made upon the recommendation
of al investigating officers. was made
public yesterday by the receipt OF a tele-
gram from him, and the publication by
the War Department Of the reports of the
men who were sent 10 investigate the
riots there.
The three companies will be mustered
out in squads of about twenty-five each.
beginning at once. SO far. twenty-five
men have been put out. their dismissal
having occurred before the receipt Of the
message from Secretary Taft, ordering
suspension pending a message from the
President
While the order for their dismissal said
they could not again be employed Ia the
army, navy. or marine service, il is an
nounced that members of the companies
may enlist II they prove they were not
implicated in the riot, but each case VIII
be special one 70 be taken up by the
War Department and the President
President ROosevelts message to Sec
rotary Taft yesterday said that only upon
the presentation Of absolute evidence that
there had been an error, could the case
be roopeued. and, so far as he is con
cerned. il IS ended
Secretary Taft has wired Brig. Gen Nc
Caskey. commanding the Department Of
Texas. TO proceed with the execution of
the order and the officers, who Will be
without commands until companies are
recruited, may be used as recruiting OIL
GERS.
BIocISsom Made Report.
That the original recommendation Of
the dish0norablc discharge Of the troops
was not made by Inspector General Car
lington. a Southern man, as has been
claimed by opponents Of the Presidents
course, but first by Mai. Augustus r
BIocksom, is brought TO light by the
publication Of the investigating report by
the War Department
II further shows. iu a letter from Act
ing Secretary oliver, al the iustgatiou
Of the President, 70 Gen. Darlington. that
the President, as early as October T. had
decided Ugon his course In this letter
he told Gen. Darlington that IL the guilty
parties could not be discovered. after
having had "a time limit set in which 10
report be heartily approved Of their dis
honorable dismissal, ar recommended by
Mai Bl0cksom, and Cen. Darlington later
concurred iu the suggestion.
Troops Feared BAH Cartridges.
In recitng the causes which led 10 the
riot at Brownsville. Mai Blocksom saws
that the soldiers heard they were not %
go 70 Camp Nabry because Texas troops
la.
the maneuvers. The people did not desire
coiored troops there. and the soldiers a.
the Twcnty-hfth were not allowed 20
drink Wi,h the white people at the princi-
pal bars in the town. He also recites the
incident OF two white women being in
suited on the street by negro soldiers, and
the indignity by a negro soldier, who
seized "a Mrs. Evans by the hair and threw
her violently 10 the ground. This incident
occurring on August J. inhamsd and in
furiated the citizens. The canceiiug Of
passes and the sending out OF patrols
which followed. Mai. Bl0cksom saws.
probably increased the resentment Of the
soldiers against the people Of Browns
Vile
b Company Fired First.
Continuing. Maj. BIocksOm described the
raid on the town. He says that from the
evidence obtainabIe his belief is that the
first shots were fred between B Com
pauy barracks and the wall separating
the post from the town. A number of
shots were fired into the air for the pur-
pose Of creating an alarm. The soldiers.
nine 60 fifteen, possibly more, then
jumped the wall and started through the
town. There is no reliable evidence. he
says, 70 support the claim that the first
shot came from the town.
The Lieutenant Of police. Dominique.
heard the firing and rode toward it. ac-
companied by two policemen. said Mai
BlOckSOm. The raiders fred uDOu
him and continued to shoot until
his horse fell dead, shot through the
body several times. Dominquez was shot
In thearm, which was afterward ampu-
tated. He did not draw his revolver from
its holster
Fired at Police.
A number Of shots were also fired at
the other two policemen. Mai. Blocksom
docs not think that the commanding and
other officers and some Of the senior non
commissioned officers can be blamed for
no. discovering the preconcerted raid. 1T
is easy to say he continued. in the
light Of later events. that the guard
should have been doubled, and other pre-
cautions taken the night Of the thirteenth.
but who could imagine that American
soldiers in a body would try to murder
unoffending women and innocent chill
GIen?"
Older Soldiers Ought 10 Know,
In conclusion Maj. Blocksom says that
many of the old soldiers Of the battalion
who had nothing to do with the raid.
must know something tangible as to the
identity Of the criminals, and that if
they do not disclose their knowledge they
should be made to suffer with others
more guilty, as far as the law will per-
nit
It IS possible commented Mai Block
som, that Mcdonald might have fought
the entire battalion with his four or five
rangers were there obedience as blind as
his obstiUacy. II is said here he is so
brave he would not hesitate TO Charge
hell with one bucket Of water
Gen. GarIingtOn's Report.
Gen. Darlington. in his report, quoted at
length the evidence verbatim. which he
took in the course Of his investigation.
He examined each Of the prisoners. who
talked very freely on other subjects, but
as soon as the riot was mentioned as
sumed "a wooden. stolid look. and each
man positively denied any knowledge of
the circumstances connected with or in
dividuals concerned in the affair
He says that after delivering his ult-
matum promising dismissal and fixing a
time limit, during which any soldier might
come to him and make known any in
formation. only one man presented him
self, and he not to give information.
but to urge his own case for exemption.
He was a first sergeant, of twenty-six
years service.