The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-15
HANGED At SUNRISE,
NEGRO SOLDIERS DIE FOR PART
IN RIOTING.
ihrtcen Members OF Twcnty-fourt,i
infantry Executed at Fort sam
houston One Minute Before Sum
risc--Forty -one Others Spend Lives
I'm Prison.

san Antonio. Dec. 11.-Except TO-
,he ashes from two huge bonfircs. n,
isolated thicket on the big govern
ment reservation. near here, shove,
no signs tonight that it was the exc
cution place early today OF Is neCr,
soldiers Of the Twenty-fourth Unite,
states Infantry. The negroes conyic:
ed OF participating in the riots a
Houston. Texas, August 23 last, wer,
hanged at 7:17 o'clock, one minut.
before sunrise.
After dark last night motor truck.
carried the lumber for the scaffold.
and company of the engineers to tn,
clearing. The scaffolds were built b,
fire light. Motor trucks shortly aft.,
o'clock this morning carried the con.
demned negroes from the barracks
where they spent their last night
and the officers and military guarG
to the place Of execution. The trucks
later carried the bodies to a place e..
indistinguishable as the execution
where the burial took place and then
they hauled back to Fort Sam Hous
ton every piece Of timber used in the
scaffold so that the site was clear be
fore formal announcement of the exc
cution had been issued by the South
ern Department headquarters.
The condemned negroes had known
OF their fate since Sunday. Twelve OF
them sought spiritual counsel Of Army
Y. M. c. "A. workers. The 18th
whose name has not yet been disclos-
ed, gave no inkling that he knew.
Outwardly all were stoical. They did
rot know the date of the execution,
but last night they were taken fror,
the cavalry guard house where they
have been prisoners more than "a
month and placed in separate bar
racks. s..
Aside from less than a dozen offi :
GERS of the Southern Department and
the sheriff of Bexar County. no one
In the city or the army camps knew
OF the execution date or place.
The condemned men were aroused
this morning before regular army
reveille. The military guard had been
summoned silently and no sound was
heard in the camp where nearly 40,-
900 men were sleeping. except the
purring of the army truck motor.
awaiting their loads. The negroes
dressed in their regular uniforms ts
as for inspection.
They displayed neither bravado nor
fear. They rode to the execution
singing hymn. but the singing was
as that of soldiers on the march. Ar
rived at the clearing the song ceased.
the men. shackled. were helped from
the trucks to the scaffolds and seated
on chairs A low Good bye, boys
addressed to members of their mill.
Iary guard who had been In charge or
the negroes since they were brought
here from Fort Bliss. was the only ex
preston from any Of the negroes.
The mems feet were bound. Al
army chaplain offered prayer. An Of
fcer called. Attention." and az on
parade the negroes stood erect. They
stood quietly while caps and moose
were adjusted and then stepped on the
traps. The major in charge of IN
execution gave a signal and soldier
sprung the traps.
The negroes plunged nine feet TO
instant death.
No announcement has been mac
when the Al negroes given life son.
fences by the courtmartial will be
taken TO Fort I.eavenworth
OF the others. four were sentenced
TO dishonorable discharge from the
army, forfeiture OF all pay and a,,ow.
ances due. and prison terms OF two
years and two years and six months
Five were acquitted and sent to ioin
their commands.
In spite of the executions md an
nouncement of tho other sentences to.
day, the riot at Houston is not q clos
ed incident. Investigation is still IN
progress and il is expected additions;
courtmartial will follow.
! The executions created some dem.
onstration among negroes who had
followed the progress of the trial. in
the nature OF "mournings' at a few
negro churches. Crowds at the.,
however were small.