Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-05
AGAIN ON THE STAND
Former Sergeant Harris Cues
toned by Senators.
SHOOTING AT BROWNSVILLE
Investigation Resumed at the
Capitol.
TWENTY WITNESSES WAITING
Mr.. Foraker Proposes to Examine OFF,
GERS and Men on Guard Duty on the
Night Of August IS.
SHOOTING AT BROWNSVILLE
Resumed
Capitol.
WITNESSES WAITING

The hearing by the Senate committee
on military affairs on the alleged Shoot
ing up Of Brownsville, Texas, by men,
bers of the 25th Infantry was resumed
promptly at 1920 o'clock this morning,
when former Sergt. Israel Harris was
again placed on the stand, and was cross
examined by senators on his testimony
Of yesterday. A large map of the Fort
Brown barracks and of the town had
been placed upon the walls of the COM
mittee room, and was carefully studied
by the senators before the business of
the day began. The witnesses, whose
numbers had grown to twenty, were
again corralled in one of the corridors
Of the Senate. and only one Of them al
lowed to enter the committee room at
time. Some of them have come from as
far away as Texas and Oklahoma.
The hearing wass begun by Senator
Warmers asking the witness in respect to
his testimony Of yesterday.
Early Morning Roll Call.
He explained more fully that the time
for the drill on the morning of August
IA was the usual time for inspection and
that on that morning the captain and
sergeant counted the men in addition to
the announcement was made that all
were present or accounted for. They
expected to drill, but they were marched
to the wall of the barracks and ranged
along the inside of the wall on their
knees in order. he supposed, to protect
them in case the fort should be fired
upon. The wall, he had testified, was
about four or four and half feet high.
They were in that position while the
roll was called by lamplight.
Sergt. Harris said before going to
Texas with the 25th Regiment he hesi-
tated to re-enlist. and when asked why,
he replied:
The people down in that section had
no use for soldier"
Speaking of the trouble at Brownsville,
he said he heard some of the men say they
said the saloonmen stated they would pre-
pare to give liquor to the colored soldiers in
few days.
They said they would let them come to
the back door, but the men didn't want to
60 there" said the witness. "They said
that was an outrage"
While the soldiers were ranged along
the wall on their knees having the roll
call they were from 100 to $50 feet from the
gate. That illustrated the opportunity they
had to see Who might come in the gate.
Senator Lodge announced that he had
sent to the United States observatory and
learned that on the morning OF August IA
the sun rose at 5:37 o'clock so that 1t must
have been about 5:45 on that morning when
the men were assembled for drill, according
to the statement of the witness.
In reply to question by Senator Fora
kerr Sergt. Harris said he had never had
any trouble in any northern state. He had
never been court-martialed.
Didn't Hear Springfield Rifles.
Senator Foraker: Can you tell what kind
of arms are used from the report %
The witness: From the reports there
were mixed arms
Senator Foraker: ANY Springfield ri-
f1es?"
The witness: Il didn't hear any report of
a Springfield rife. The reports sounded
like six-shooters.''
He said that when his company left
Brownsville he was marched to the station,