New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-19
BROWNSVILLE THREATS.
White Soldier and Negro Disagree
ON Several Points.

Washington, Feb 1s.-wtnesses in the Browns
Vile hearing to-day testified that the shooting be-
gan in the rear OF the commissary, away from the
town, and continued around the road and into the
town while the call to being sounded
The Senate Committee Military Affairs heard
great deal OF contradictory testimony. the value
OF which must be determined by other witnesses.
AS to certain Incidents IL white soldier
against Negro ex-solder
Senator Foraker called Hoytt Robinson formerly
OF Company D. who musician OF the guard
and sounded the call to arms the night OF Au-
gust 49, The call sounded. he said, at about
midnight. after he had been awakened by Sergeant
Reid and his call taken up by the trumpeters
at the barracks. He thought the men firing the
shots were stationed in the town. near the gate
into the military reservation. He did not hear any
shots passing over the guardhouse.
William c. Nolan, private OF the first class in
the hospital corps white soldier. who had been
stationed at Fort Brown for two years prior to
the arrival OF the Negro soldiers said that he
at the hospital when the shooting began. with
Sergeants Altman and Sanborn and three four
patients. The first shot. he thought from
the OF the cOmmissary back OF the hospital
and not from the direction OF the town In a few
minutes there three shots. and then
five shots. which. he said sounded ~ the men
firing were moving around the road. Northeast OF
the town Is saloon which opened for the
Negro soldier trade. and Nolan said that from
that point several more shots were fred and
then from a point the gate into the ressrva-
ton vOlIey. He heard bullets and
no flashes from guns He thought the fort
being attacked, but not certain whether the
shooters were outside within the military in
closure.
Nolan said that a few nights before the shooting
Private Newton. Negro, came 10 the hospital for
treatment His face was badly bruised. and Nolan
asked him how he injured. Newton said he
was in town and that a man knocked him down
with the butt Of his stX-shOoter without reason.
Nolan told the man it was funny he did not know
the reason FOR the assault and Newton insisted
that he did not Nolan said that Newton then
said: We'll, that's the way 1t was; but Wen fix
the - " yet Nolan said he told the
he should not talk that way-that he would
get into trouble.
on cross examination Nolan said that there was
only call To arms. and that was sounded by the
musician a the guard house. and twenty-five to
thirty minutes elapsed between the first shot and
the call TO arms.
called He said that he in the hospital con-
valescent August Is and had permission go to
the post exchange. While coming back, he said,
and another man. walking toward the hospital. He
said that he stepped back TO let them pass and
they stopped and began to talk The strange man.
according 10 Harden, said Il tell you. Texas won't
stand for it'
He then said something about assault upon
his wife and added: IF some soldiers are not put
under arrest by 10 o'clock Wen Kill every - mig
ger soldier in Fort Brown"
Harden said he lodged into the hospital and heard
Harden's testimony differed greatly from that
given by Nolan He said that number of shots
passed over the hospital Sergeant Sanborn said
Harden ordered him to get back OF brick pillar
that Nolan also got behind a pillar. He said he
heard about fifteen hOrsemen gaHOpinE around the
country road and entering the town The hrlng, he
thought. by this body Of men, Nolan had testi-
fled that there were hOrsemen passing around
Sergeant Altman of the hospital corps. also white
soldier thS next witness. In his BRIEF testi-
nony he sustained Nolan. Sanhorn has been sub
poenaed to clear the situation