The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-09-05
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

partment and the president of the United States
that certain twelve members of the three companies
did the shooting, assisted by negro ex-sodier who
running saloon in Brownsville
Captain Mcdonald apprehended the thirteen pro-
cured civil warrants and accomplished their arrest in
the face of the armed opposition of the three COM
panles of soldiers, acting under instructions from
their white officers. The arrested soldiers were
placed in confinement in the Fort Brown guard
house. Captain Mcdonald permitted the military to
hold them under guard because the Brownsville
jail was weak and the sheriff in charge inefficient
and unreliable
Mcdonald had been asked by the citizens of
Brownsville and the governor of the state to assume
charge of the and upon his arrival at Browns
vile, accompanied by three other rangers, sense of
security relieved the reign of terror that had followed
the murderous assault by armed soldiers
The strange part of the story is that, when the
colored soldiers were ordered to leave Brownsville
by the war department. they took with them the
twelve arrested soldiers, the state and local author
tites uniting in demand that Captain Mcdonald
release the he had arrested under civil process
and surrender them to their military associates
He refused until he received mandatory order
from the governor of the state.
The whom the investigation had shown to
have been probably guilty of the bloody infraction
of the peace taken, under military guard, to
Fort Sam Houston and the balance of the command
was transferred to Fort Reno, Oklahoma. Texas
never brought the prisoners to trial and, far
the public is informed greater punishment was
visited upon them than the other members of the
three companies compelled to suffer. All were
treated ake-the innocent and the guilty
The public has acquiesced in the settlement
of the Brownsville affair, having suffered it with
some protestation. But the public has supposed
that the authorities were utterly unable to fasten
the crime upon individuals and Mr.. Panes story
comes as a revelation 1t is based upon what the
author learned from Captain Mcdonald and other
civil officers at Brownsville and appears to be
thentic
It's details go to show that the white officers of the
colored troops were banded together in effort to
suppress the truth all of them refusing to lend
Captain Mcdonald any assistance and covertly in
terposng to prevent him from arriving at any of
the important facts.
They permitted the soldiers to form into line with
guns in their hands to resist the entrance of Captain
Mcdonald into the fort either to investigate make
arrests. In making the investigation and the arrests,
he defed the entire garrison and would probably
been killed but for his courage.
Such is the remarkable story told sequel to
the closed incident at Brownsville, which many
of the co1ored people of the United States
nursing anger against the national administration.
If it is not true its fasy should be established for
it will have tremendous effect upon sentiment that
has not been half satisfied with the settlement of
the Brownsville tragedy by the general government.