The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-12

+ Ex-Sergt. Mingo Saunders. Of Company
/ b, Twenty-hfth Infantry, VINO has been
made famous in prose and poetry since
1.-THE riot at Brownsville. Tex, last August
was before the Senate Committee on Mill
| tary Affairs throughout the whole Of both
its sessions yesterday. and was stin on
the stand when adjournment was taken
4 TO to-day. His testimony helped 10 more
than that OF any OF the witnesses who
have preceded him to establish the
identity Of those responsible for the
I shooting. although he testified that the
shots came from the direction Of the town
and toward the barracks
! Nine OF the ex-s0ldiers have been ex-
amined so far. and in general their testi-
mony has been the same. About thirty
more are here waiting To be heard. and
at the present rate Of progress the last
man viii not testify before the close of
/ the session. three weeks hence. The cost
/ Of The investigation is about $3.50 a day,
and IN addition the government win have
TO bear the expense of bringing the wit
nesses here.
Saunders proved to be a very crafty
witness. and his answers to questions.
especially 10 those put by Senator Warner.
who is conducting what may be termed
the administration side OF the case. in
dicated that he was In constant fear Of
being trapped. Al one time be even de-
clined TO admit. in reply TO Mr.. Warner.
that the difference between 40 and - is
Il don't zactly see what you're drifting
at, he said The Missouri Senator was
attempting 70 show that. as there We're
s. guns IN the company, and only 46 Of
them were in the racks, 9 must have been
elsewhere.
Saunders said he had been nearly
twenty-siX years in the service. and would
soon have been eligible 10 retirement on
a pension. During all that time he said
he had never been in trouble Of any
kind.
Firing Was Mixed.
He was married, and lived outside the
barracks He was aroused by the firing.
and upon going to- quarters ten to fifteen
bullets, which were fired from the town.
whizzed past his head The firing seemed
to be mixed as II by Winchesters. six
shooters, and, perhaps, some Mausers.
He did not distinguish the shots Of any
Springfield rifles. which were used by
tho garrison at Fort Brown.
When the call to arms was sounded
Saunders said there was some difficulty
in opening The gun racks Of his company.
and the order 60 break them open was
given by one OF the iicutenants Of the
company Some OF the men were trying
to hide. and there was great confusion.
The firing was stu going on testI-
fed Saunders. and ] told them 10 stand
up and II they We're killed. TO die Ike
soldiers" Lieut. Loris0n. the company
commander, cautioned the witness to keep
the men in restraint. but 20 defend the
fort in case an assault was made
upon 10.
Saunders said that at inspection the
morning after the shooting all OF the
guns OF his company were found in
proper condition. He also accounted for
the ammunition. When the Twenty
NTH came 10 Fort Brown be said they
brought along a lot Of loose cartridge
shells, where were in a box on the rear
porch Of the barracks The Mexicaus
were accustomed 10 going into the
barracks and carrying of anything they
could pick up. They took away caps
clothing. and even arctic Oversh0es."
which the men had brought from the
North, Saunders said. They also picked
up the cartridge shells.
In answer 10 questions by Senator For
aker Saunders said he was not imph-
Gated IN the raid himself and knew of no
one who was. He had res0rted TO one
ruse after another in order 20 get in
formation from the men Of his company
regarding the AFFAIR. but always had
failed. He was one Of seven men. De
said, whom Gen. Darlington had talked
with at FL Reno. and he had then told
the general that he had been unable TO
md out any thing from the men.
What Saunders Told Darlington.
Senator Foraker read from the report
OF Gen. Darlington. wherein he stated
that subsequently Saunders had come 10
him and asked 10 be exempted from the
dismissal threatened by the President.
Did you go to Gen Darlington and
make any such request?" asked Senator
Foraker.
Yes. sir. / did" replied the witness.
Il told him what my service had been
in Cuba and the Philippines. Of the en-
gagements in which / had taken part, and
what my record had been.
II told him." continued Saunders. II
says. general. Use a pore man. and /
serves my country honest and faithful
for the government and befo' Ia tell YOU
a lie. general. I suffers my life to be de-
stroyed, my body 20 be buried I'm the
earth. and cattle 70 eat grass from the
substance Of my blood but now Use to
be cast out in the world a condemned
man, but l tells you honest don't know
nUthin bout who did that shOOtin'"
When asked why he had made a special
plea for himself the witness said ne was
obliged 20 Took out for Saunders first"
he knew he was not guilty. and If any
others were they should be punished
The witness used many technical terms.
and adopted a very cOndescending atti-
tude toward any Senator who did not
understand them. He caused several
laughs by his quaint expressions. 1T
don't zactly understand de pussonality o.
dat map" he said at one time. when
asked 10 point out designated objects on
the large map of the barracks and sur
roundings which hangs in the committee
room.