Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-25
FEARED FOR THEIR SAFETY
Thought Citizens Were shooting
Up" the Town.
COMMITTEE INQUIRY RESUMED
Testimony Heard in Regard to Break
ing the Gunracks to Get
the Mems Pieces.

Francois L. Oltmans, sergeant f1rst-class,
Hospital Corps, white soldier, was recalled
to the stand today in the Brownsville in
quiry being conducted by the lenate COM
mittee on military affairs. He was station
ed at Brownsville for some time with white
soldiers as well as with negro soldiers, and
he testified that citizens and soldiers con-
tinually had trouble. Before the arrival of
the negro soldiers, said Oltmans, the citi-
zens protested that they did not want
black soldiers to be sent there. The wit
ness then testified at length concerning the
shooting on the night of August ID. He
had previously told his story to Gen.
GariingteU, inspector general Of the army,
and that testimony was put into the COM
mittee record.
Took Refuge in the Fort.
The witness was examined at length con-
corning the arrival Of two women at the
hospital during the shooting. One of these
women was the wife of a white soldier who
lived in town. Her husband was absent on
competitive drill and the witness said the
women came to the hospital and asked per-
mission to remain there for the night, as
they, thought the citizens were shooting up
the town. The witness said the women
thought their house might be attacked.
Senator Foraker brought out the fact that
the women had no thought Of danger from
the negro soldiers.
w. H. Sharpe, white who was the
blacksmith at Fort Brown during the time
and before the shooting, was cross-exarf1-
ined by Senator Foraker on testimony taken
before Gen. Darlington. He testified to hear
ing the shooting on the night Of August IL,
saying that the shots appeared to come
from near the gate into the garrison. He
told of repairing Company c gun racks,
alleged by members of that company to
have been broken open after the shooting.
and corroborated the testimony given by
negro soldiers as to the character of the
damage to the racks.
Rolan Osborn, post quartermaster SER
geant, a white soldier, testified that 1t was
very common thing to hear shooting
call to arms was sounded he thought it was
for night drill he said. and he did not get
up. He thought the firing was from rifles
and revolvers and the shots seemed to be
from the direction Of the barracks.
Broke Open the Gunracks.
Charles E. Rudy. who was one of the
negro soldiers, an officer Of Company c,
testified that when the shooting occurred he
was sleeping on the front porch of c bar
racks and was awakened probably by the
first shot in the town. He said he saw the
guard outside the barracks fire his piece in
the air to call the guards, and then several
shots came from outside the wall. After the
call to arms Rudy said he protested against
gave orders to break open the racks If the
non-commissioned officer with the keys
could not be found. Rudy said that he sent
one of the men after a fire ak and took it
from the man and broke open one rack him.
SELF. He said he helped Sergt. McMurray
issue bali ammunition to the men after the
company fell in.
At this point recess was taken.