New Britain herald., 1917-08-24

Houston, Texas, Aug. 24.-As re- suit of the riot of negro soldiers Of the
 24th U. s. infantry last night the en- tire city of Houston and it's environe are under martial law today. General John A. Hullen Is in command as provost marshal. A revised list shows
 16 m6n dead.
 Orders have been given to soldiers to permit armed men to enter the city.
 One Negro Was Also Killed.
 All street cars carried armed gu ards, all shops selling ammunition were guarded, and saloons were clo sed.
 Captain Mates. Illinois National
 Guard officer, who was killed by the negroes, was mutilated beyond recog milton. Feeling among the Illinois troops is running high, and regulars
 from Fort Crockett at Galveston. have been rushed here.
 One hundred and fifty negroes of the 24th United States infantry, who, last night, left their quarters at Camp Logan, near here, began to fire their guns promiscuously,< and for several hours terrorized the resident commun- ity.
 Martial law was proclaimed by Gov. James B. Ferguson, effective in Hous- ton and vicinity, and early today the military authorities had the situation under control, although 70 of the ne- gro soldiers were still missing.
 The trouble is said to have started after some of the negro soldiers had complained of treatmeht accOrdeds them by members of the Houston po- lice force About g o'clock some 80 negroes later joined by others, formed at the camps and began march toward downtown Houston. Lights in residences along the way were shot out and a number of persons wounded as they sat inside their homes. 1fifA ss Major show, commanding the negro troops guarding Camp Logan, declared that he attempted to control the men when he saw what was about to hap pen, but they were beyond control and some 15O of them started to shoot promiscuously in the camp and soon scattered in every direction An at tempt was made to kill him, Major Snow declared.
 According to police reports the origin of the trouble was the arrest of a negro woman in a downtown sec- tion. A negro soldier asked that the prisoner be turned over to him and refusal led to an argument the sol dier finally being taken to police head quarters.
 A little later another negro soldier the policemen and asked the first man. When told that the negro was at headquarters more words followed and this negro also was sent to headquarters.
 Previously, the negroes had reported the happening to their officers. A followed between Police Brock and army off, cers, which led to an order being is- sued to the effect that the negro troops are to be called ''colored' troops by members of the police de- partment.
 Evidence of the brewing riot be- came apparent in the evening and Ma jor Snow, in coHmand of the troops, word that the negroes had the ammunition tents and armed themselves. He attempted to 1uell the negroes, but they already were beyond control and had begun to shoot at random while marching ;oward the city
 It was not until the negroes reached l he Reichert store at Washington ave- 1ue and Sandman road that the talk ne of life began. Alma Reichert, l5 years old, the first victim, was shot by , stray bullet, it Is believed, as she lad sought safety in her fathers store.
 A block further south, as the negroes turned in that direction on the NVSnk10T~ killed and w. J. Wrucks seriously in- ured-
 Sixteen truck loads of federali1ed National Guards were rushed to the ,eat of the trouble, and all the streets were put under heavy patrol.
 More than 100 armed negro soldiers were said to have hid under buildings n the vicinity of West End baseball park, and with their high powered lrny rifles, pursued sniping tactic for time.
 Illinois Captain Killed.
 Among those killed was Captain J. W. Mates. battery A, Second Illinois 1eld artillery, who arrived here few lays ago to prepare the camp for the .eeiment which is still in Chicago. He yas shot while trying to quiet the ,eoro soldiers who were firing on ,oldiers and civilians. He was badly nutiliated. his right arm being cut if and his scalp almost torn away.
 After the troops rounded up the ,esroes 1t was found about 70 of the ioters were missing.
 The dead: Ira D. Rainey, mounted ,olice officer; Rufe Daniels, mounted ,oltce officer< middle aged man named smith: S. satton, barber; Captain J. V. Mates Battery A, Second Illinois Ald artillery; E. J. Meinke, police