Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-21
BROWNSVILLE ROW
War Department Orders COL
ored Troops Transferred.
MAJOR PENROSE REPORTS
Hasn't Gone to Bottom Of Affair as
Yet.
NEGROES BADLY TREATED
And Retaliated by Shooting Up the
Town-Fort Brown May Be
Abandoned.
BADLY TREA!
NEGROES

Abandoned.
Orders have been issued by the chief Of
staff of the army for the transfer of the
colored troops of the 25th Infantry from
Fort Brown, Texas, where there has been,
serious trouble between citizens and SOL
diers, to Fort Ringgold, Texas, which is
about one hundred miles above FoEt Brown
and is also on the Rio Grande. The official
order follows:
Commanding General, Department of
Texas, Camp Austin, Texas:
Send one company of 2eth Infantry to
Fort Brown. Texas, Immediately and by
quickest route. Assign officers temporarily
to company, If necessary, to give full COM
plement Immediately arrival Of this
company at Fort Brown send all compa-
nies of 25th Infantry from that place to
Fort RinggOld, with supplies for at least
one month. Quartermaster's, medical and
subsistence departments will furnish neces-
sary transportation, attendance and med
icai supplies; IFTiMc BY sEgR oTasr sIApv OF WAR.
Replaced by White Troops.
The company ordered to Fort Brown is
made up Of white men. This shifting about
Of troops was made subsequent to g. report
from Maj. c. w. Penrose on the situation
at Fort Brown, and after an appeal by SEN
ator Culberson to President Roosevelt. In
his report Maj. Penrose says he was per-
suaded that the killing of one citizen in
Brownsville and the wounding of another
were the work of soldiers, although he has
been unable as yet to discover who started
the trouble or who the guilty men are,
OF the attitude Of the citizens of Browns
rose says: "That the enlisted men have
been subjected to indignities since their
arrival here there can be no doubt and
this has caused a good deal of feeling
tribute this outbreak will make the sub
ject of an official report as soon as John
w. Vann, the collector Of customs. returns
to the city,
On August Privates Newton and Lips
comb were passing along a. walk where
some women were engaged in conversa-
ployed in the customs Office. The negro
privates walked single file between the
women and fence. Tate knocked Newton
to have said: ieaTn you to
get off the sidewalk when there is a party
of ladies on it." When Newton rose Tate is
said to have covered him with the revolver,
bH3 bioW your Brains out This % account Of the
affair is corroborated by Lipscomb. Maj.
Penrose sought an official investigation Of
the affair, but the collector of customs, Mr.
Vann, being out of the city. 1t was not pos
sible to have the affair looked into.
Fusillade at Night.
On August 13, Maj. Penrose says. a Mr.
Evans and DR.. Combe. mayor Of Browns
ville called on him. Mr.. Evans said his
wife was seized while entering her home
by negro, supposed to be a soldier. and
who wore khaki Uniform. Mrs. EVANS
was unable to identify the man. but both
she and her husband complained that the
soldiers gathered near their home and an
noyed them. That evening Maj. Penrose
made an attempt to get all the soldiers
into the reservation early. ALI but two men,
who were out on passes, were gathered Into
the post, but shortly after midnight the
engagement which resulted SO disastrously
took place, and the whole garrison was
shooting ceased and it seemed safe to make
an investigation, all but two soldiers an
swered roll call. and the rifles were all in
place, and showed no marks which indicated
that they had been fired.
Cartridges and shells made at govern
ment arSenals were found near where the
shooting took place, and Maj. Penrose ex-
presses the opinion that eight or nine SOL
diers who had keys to the gunracks got
their weapons, slipped out of the post, en-
gagged in the battle with citizens and man
aged to clean their gums replace them In
the racks and regain their places in the
barracks during the excitement which pre-
vailed at the post.
The action Of the War Department was
taken after consultation with the Presi-
dent 1t Is understood to be only tenn
porary expedient to relieve the existing
tension and afford more time to consider
whether Fort Brown shall be given a full
garrison of white troops or shall be aban-
doned for military purposes.
The acting secretary of war today re-
ceived telegraphic report from Maj. A. P.
Blocksom inspector general, of his investi-
cation Of the recent troubles. copy Of
the report has been forwarded to President
Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. Maj. Blocksom
says:
Meior Blocksom's Report.
Causes of disturbance are racial. Peo-
pie did not desire colored troops here, and
showed they thought them inferior socially
by certain sights and denial of privileges
at public bars, etc. Soldiers resented this.
There were several individual encounters
night of the 18th a party of soldiers, prob
ably nine to fifteen. made raid through
several squares of the town, firing seventy
five to $50 shots, killing a bartender and
dangerously wounding lieutenant of aoilce.
They also fired into several houses where
women and children narrowly escaped be-
ing shot. Raid lasted from eight to ten
minutes. The claim is made that citizens
fired first but I believe without founda-
tion. Although act probably preconcerred,
do not think commanding officer could have
foreseen. Citizens cannot identify individ-
ual raiders and authorities have made no
demand for them. Investigation now going
on has as yet discovered none Command
ing officer today yesterday invited a COM
mittee of three citizens to assist in conduct
ing investigation. People are still in
state of great nervous tension and men
nearly all carry arms openly at night.
Women and children still frightened. con-
slider 1t necessary to remove colored trops,
the sooner the better. While now apparent
ly under perfect control, an entire company
Is on guard each day, a great strain with
little prospect If relief. Differences be-
tween soldiers and citizeAs are irreconcil-
able. Fuller reports about investigation will
be made In regular course
Big Lake Freighter Ashore.
DULUTH, Mimi, August 21.-The
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