The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-11
NEGRO SOLDIERS
PAY WITH LIVES
FOR RACE RIOT
Verdict of Military Court An
nounced After Execution.
Hanging Took Place at Fort
Houston at 7:17 A. NJ.
HANG 13 SIMULTANEOUSLY
225 Soldiers Form Hollow
Square About ScaffOld.
Show FOrtitude, Singing Hymn
Until Traps Are Sprung.
LIFE SENTENCE TO FORTY -ONE
Completely in Bloody Rald on
City of Houston.
COIOred Soldiers Ran Amuck,
Killing Several Whites.
225 Soldiers Form Hollow
Square About ScaffOld.
Show Fortitude, Singing Hymn
Until Traps Are Sprung.
LIFE SENTENCE TO FORTY -ONE
Completely in Bloody Raid on
City of Houston.
COIOred Soldiers Ran Amuck,
Killing Several Whites.

San Antonio, Dec. 11.-Thirteen OF
the negroes of the Twenty-fourth IN
fautry. u. S A. found guilty OF COM
nIicitN in the riot and mutiny at Hous-
ton on August %, were hanged on the
military reservation at Fort sam
Houston at 7:17 O'Clock this morning
announcement of the carrying out OF
the sentence was made at headquar-
tors of the southern department at
d. m. e,,--iee 1o+,,
ONLY army officers and SherlII JoAil
Tobin of Bexar county were preSeht
whom the sentence was carried out py
eoIdiers from the post. No newspaper
men or civilian spectators were al
lowed. the time ana place OF eXecu-
tion having been kept a secret
OF the sixty-three men tried by tne
same court martial. forty-one were
sentenced to life imprisonment one
man was sentenced to dishonorable
discharge from the army, forfeiture
of all pay and allowances ana 10 pe
confined at hard labor for two ana d
half wears Three were sentenced TO
he dishonorab bly, discharged from the
army. forfeit all pay and allowances
and he confined at hard labor for TWO
years. Five were acquitted
The negro soldiers who paid the
death penalty were:
SERGT WILLIAM c. NESBII1-
CORP. LARNON ]. BROWN
CORP. JAMES WHEATLBY.
CORP. JESSE MOORE
CORP. CHARLES w. BALT1-
PRIVATE WILLIAM BRACKEN-
RIDGE. ---
PRIVATE THOMAS c. HAWKINS.
PRIVATE CARLOS SNODGRAS
PRIVATE IRA B. DAVIS.
PRIVATE JAMES DIVINS.
PRIVATE FRANK JOHNSON.
l1TtTN TE. .EtY w YOUNG
PRIVATE PAT MAC WHORTER.
Bid Soldier Guards Goodbye.
Goodbye. boys of Company c."
were the last words uttered by the
condemned men of the oath United
States infantry as tne traps were
sprung and they were dropped 10
their death on the scaffold which had
been erected last night. Men of Com
parry c, 18th infantry. have been
gus riding the negro prisoners since
they We're brought to San Antonio to
stand trial before courtmartial for
completely an the riot at Houston on
August % last. The execution took
place i'm an arroyo about two miles
east of Camp Travis on great scaf-
fold which had been erected during
the night by engineers from the post.
A column consisting of approxi-
mately 125 cavalry men and 100 in
fantry soldiers assembled at the cav
airy guard house where the negroes
were confined at $50 o'clock this
morning.
Trucks were provided to convey the
prisoners to the scene of execution.
Col Millard +. Waltz, post command
er, was in command of the column
and led the way to the scaffold. The
column arrived at the scafford at
$40 a. m. A flood light had been
arranged to give light for those in
charge of the actual work of prepar-
ing nooses and adjusting them to the
necks of the condemned men. The
cavalry and infantry guard assembled
in hollow square formation around
the scaffold and the prisoners were
given the order to march upon the
death traps.
Negro Minister Says Prayer.
Without a tremor they stepped out
with soldierly tread and singing a
hymn they walked to their places
Prayers were said by a negro minister
and by two army chaplains and then
the men were ordered to stand upon
the traps. Resuming their song they
stood erect and displayed the great
est fortitude while the ropes were ad-
justed. At 7:17 the major in charge
of the execution, gave the order tc
spring the traps. The triggers had
been arranged. one for each drop
and six men were assigned to each