Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-02-17
PLANS TO MASSACRE.
Sensational Testimony Adduced In
BrownSjIIe Affair.
SHoTOvER BARRACKS
Another Witness stated That Insult
Ing Language Was Used. To-
ward The soldiers and In
vited 20 Come Out.

Washington. Feb. i6.-Testimony al
Ieging plans to massacre negro sol
diers at Brownsville. Tex. by men In
the town. who fired over the barracks
and challenged the soldiers TO come
out. vas given by ex-soldiers at the
investigation before the senate com.
mittee On military affairs. The most
sensational story was told By William
Mapp. who was a member OF Company
c. 1'wenty-fifth infantry.
Mapp was asked II he had ever
heard any discussion OF the shooting
which caused him TO suspect any per
sons OF completely. He replied that
at breakfast on the morning following
the shooting he had heard Wilbur Vos.
chelle. the reservation corral boss,
and white man who had been In
charge of corral prior To the arrival
OF the battalion OF the Twentynfth,
say:
Well. IL is a good thing IL happen
ed as II did was out IN town last
night and the crowd came In front
OF me. The plan was to catch a lot
OF you fellows in Allison's saloon and
massacre you"
Mapp said the remark was not ad-
dressed to him. and that ne did not
question Naschelle.
Solomon p. O'Nelll. also a former
member of Company c, testified that
the shooting was from the rear OF
the wall from II barracks and that
the shots were apparently over the
barracks. lihe said he heard a man
shout and yell: Gone out
This occurred several t:riCs said
O'Nelll. before he was compelled to
leave the window and drcss. He tes-
tilted that there was great excitement
In the barracks: that there WAS no
light. and the men could not &c, their
own rifles.
Former Sergeant Darby w Draw.
ner. who had charge OF Company c
quarters that night. the man whose
absence when the call to arms was
sounded IL said TO have resulted in
the order tn break open the companys
gun racks. testified that he slept In
| n room nj the end OF the c quarters
on the side nearest the town. and that
he was awakened by Corporal O'Neili.
who occupied the same room. o'Nein
told Brawner that there had been fir
ing and call To arms. aBd also told
him TO hurry and open the gun rack.
Paying no attention Ia what his sub
ordinate had told him. Brawner said
he dressed and rushed out To see his
commanding officer He said he met
First Sergeant Harley and asked him
what to do. and Harley said; wait
for orders"
The witness said that when he went
back To quarters he heard Major Pen.
rose say III you can't find the com.
mandlng officer In charge Of quarters
break open the gun racks and get
down as soon as you can and fall In. E"
Taking this as his order. Brswner
said he proceeded to open the racks,
and that he unlocked three of them.
but found that the fourth had been
broken open. Pounding on the racks.
he said, was continued after the keys
had been turned in the locks which no
explained by saying that Il was dark
and the men probably did not know
the racks had been unlocked. Sena.
tor Lodge called 20 the attention of
the witness To an affidavit he made To
the Constitutional league that he had
lighted n lantern and had found all OF
the gun racks intact except the one
that was broken open."
Brawner said the light WAS used
afterwards to verify the count Of guns.
and he explained his remark by say
ing that he thought intact" meant
that all OF the racks were accounted
for.
The only ammunition Company C
had. according To Brawner. was the
led bullet guard ammunition. or what
is known as the reduced range cart.
ridge.
Voschelle has been subpoenaed as
witness.
Before giving this testimony. Mapp
said that on the night OF the shooting
he had been awakened by the firing
and had gone To the window of his
quarters, and from there he saw sew.
eral gun flashes, and the shots seemed
TO be directed over the barracks A
man with deep voice. he said, shout.
ed: Come out. you -" and
napp said this challenge was repeated
several times. But the call 10 arms
was then sounded. and he hurried TO
get dressed and fall In. He said the
shooting and the shouting were out.
side the wall M the end OF Company
II barracks Mapp told OF the confu.
sion In quarters. and said that he got
his gun from the rack that was broken
open. and was one OF the first to fall
a..
Thomas jefferson. who was the
room orderly IN Company c BARRACKS.
said that he heard the shooting. and
thought there were ten or twelve men
firing. The shots. he said. came from
the road. and near the end OF y bar.
racks. He said he saw the Clashes
from guns. and thought the garrison
was under attack. He said that he
had made a statement M the war de.
partment before Judge Advocate Gen.
eral Davis FOR the purpose % clearing
his name Of suspicion. because OF a
| statement IN the papers that presid nt