Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-13
[EKASCUN FIGHTER.
Was Captain Mcdonald, Who
Figures in Browns
Vile Affair.
cowED DETERMINED MOB
Prisoner Safe While He Guarded the
Jail, Says Senator Guiberson
in Telling Story.

Captain Bill Mcdonald, the Texas
ranger who figures conspicuously in
the inquiry into the acts Of the negro
soldiers involved in the Brownsville
riot, is mentioned in Major Blocksom's
report as the man who would charge
hell with bucket of water" Senator
J, b. Foraker questions Captain Nc
Douald's courage by intimating that he
was more of an intriguer than fighter.
and Senator Charles A. Culberson Of
Texas upholds the captains courage.
In his committee room To some friends
he recently told few occurrences in
McDonalds career showing his ability
to take care of himself If Senator For
aker ever sought TO crafty his curios
ity about the captain, says Washing
ton special dispatch to the New York
Times.
One story about McDonalds action
in defending a prisoner from a mob
bent on lynching was illustrative of
Mr.. Cuberson's statement that never
In the history of the Texas rangers had
a prisoner been taken away from one
of them by mob: Mcdonald was
appointed captain of the rangers Oh
Culberson's suggestion, and when Cul-
| berson became governor of Texas he
renewed the appointment That was
| about twelve years ago.
! One day two men robbed the bank
at Wichita Falls and shot the cashier.
| The case was turned owed to MELON
| aid. The ranger captain. with few
| men. captured one thief and killed the
| other The prisoner was taken back
| to Wichita Falls and put in Jail. The
town was greatly excited, and the dis
| trict judge telegraphed TO Governor
| Culberson asking to have Captain Nc
| Donald who had charge of the Jail in
| the sheriff's absence. specially warned
| to protect his prisoner. The governor
sent fhe order. II got to Mcdonald
just before a mob appeared in front of
the jail 1t was a mob bent on bust
ness, and it came in broad daylight.
Mcdonald went out on the gallery
in front of the Jail" said Senator Cul
berson, carrying rife and | dom
know how many guns in addition &c
his usual arsenal. He was close to the
mob and above 1t. He brought his
rife forward. ready for use. and shout
ed out to the mob: I'm here TO protec
this prisoner | have special order!
from the governor TO see that he get
fair trial, and III protect his lif'
, with mine. II you get him you've go
to get me first. You can do that. bu
, I'll get some of you before you do il
The first man that puts a foot on tina
Jail step. by God. I'll kill. Now. yo'
get out"
Mcdonald Left Alone.
They did get out, and Mcdonald
! was left alone after that. 1t was fou
or FIVE days before the sheriff cam
, back. and meantime the eXcitemen
had died out. SO that the judge though
1t would be safe for Mcdonald to g
back home and that danger of Il Lynch
ing was over. Mcdonald turned hi
prisoner over to the sheriff and too
the train for home. but before he ha
gone thirty miles a mob took the pris
I'll oner from the sheriff. hanged him to
d telegraph pole in the middle of III
g town and filled him full of bullets"
e Another story was about n fight No
h Donald had with Sheriff Matthews G
l. Childress county. who had been anger
l. ed with him because the ranger ha
e been sent into the county TO clean IL
S work that the sheriff couldn't handl,
There We're hard words between th