New-York tribune., 1906-08-21
SHIFT NEGRO TROOPS.
Tseenty fifth Infantry Ordered
A5cGy from Fort Broscn.

Washington. Aug. 3O.-Orders were issued to-
day by the military secretary. Major General F.
&. AinswOrth 70" the transfer OF the Negro
troops from Fort Brown. Tex, where there has
been serious trouble between citizens and SOL
dicrs, TO Fort Ringgold, Tex. which is about
one hundred miles above Fort Brown and is
also on tho Rio Grande. The official order fol-
lows:
Commanding General, Department of Texas,
Camp Austin, Tex ,
Send company OF 26th Infantry to Fort
brown, Tex, Immediately and by quickest route
assign officers temporarily to company IL nee
esSary TO give full complement. Immediately
on arrival of this company at Fort Brown send
all companies OF 25th Infantry from that ulace
20 Fort Ringgold with supplies for at least one
Hlohtn Quartermasters. medical and subsst-
ence departments will furnish necessary trans
portatlon. attendance and medical supplies BY
order Acting Secretary of War.
AINSWORTH, the Military Secretary.
The company ordered to Fort Brown is made
up of white men, This shifting about of troops
was made subsequent to a report from Major
Z. w. Penrose on, the situation at Fort Brown
ana after an appeal by Senator Culberson to
President Roosevelt.
In his report Major Penrose saws he was per-
suaded that the killing of one citizen in Browns
vile and the wounding of another were the
work OF soldiers. although he has been unable
as yet to discover who the guilty men are.
or the attitude of the citizens of Brownsville
toward the Negro soldiers. Major Penrose says:
That the enlisted men have been subjected 70
lndignities since their arrival here there can
be no doubt and this has caused good deal OF
FEELING among them. The one case to which I
attribute this outbreak I will make the subject
OF an olflcial report as soon John w. Vann,
the Collector Of Customs. returns to the city"
Major Penrose then outlines briefly the case in
question. Privates Newton and Lipscumb
passing along a walk on August where some
women were standing engaged in conversation
with man named Tate. who is employed in
the customs office. The Negro privates walked
single file between the women and fence.
Tate knocked Newton clown with the butt Of
revolver and is reported TO have said, I'll
learn you to get off the sidewalk when there is
party Of ladies on the walk When Newton
rose. Tate is said to have covered him with the
revolver, commanding: Damn you, leave, or
VIII blow your brains out"
This account of the affair is corroborated by
Lipscumb. Major Penrose sought an official in
vestgation Of the occurrence but as the Collector
OF Customs, Mr.. Vann, is out of the city, It has
not been possible to have the affair looked into
On August l3, Major Penrose says, a Mr..
Evans and DR.. Combe, Mayor of Brownsville,
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 wO4 kl4ki uni
form Mrs. Evans was unable 70 identify the
man, but both she and her husband complained
annoyed them
That evening Major Penrose made an attempt
TO get all the soldiers into the reservation early.
All but two men, who were out on passes were
gathered into the post. but shortly after mid
night the engag cement which resulted dis
aStrously took place, and the whole garrison
awakened by fusillade. AS soon as the
shooting ceased and II seemed safe 10 make an
investigation all but two soldiers answered roll
call, and the rifles all in place and showed
marks which indicated that they had been
fired
Cartridges and shells made at government
! arsenals found where the shooting
took place. and Major Penrose expresses the
opinion that eight or nine soldiers, who had
keys to the gun racks got their weapons slipped
out of the post and engaged in the battle with
citizens and managed to clean their guns, re-
place them in the racks and regain their places
! in the barracks during the excitement which
prevailed in the post