Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-08-30
Disorder Feared Near at Post
Where Iowa GuardSmen Are
Drilling, and More
Will Be Sent.
CARS RUSHED TO CAMP
Auto Driver Is Beaten, Town
People Say by Negroes, and
Threats of Trouble
Follow.

Deming, N. NJ. Aug. 27.-To avoid
disturbances which appeared imminent,
preparations were made at noon today
to transfer the battalion of Twenty
fourth United States infantry, (negro)
stationed here back to its former sta
ton at Columbus. N. M.
The decision was reached by military
authorities as a result OF threats OF
trouble between negro soldiers and
townspeople and the beating OF an
automobile driver last night, alleged to
have been tho act of negro soldiers.
at noon under orders to entrain the
command as COR as possible
Houston. Tex, Aug. 27-The fate of
the more than 100 negro soldiers who
Thursday night shot up the west end Of
Houston, with a total Of II deaths to-
day is entirely in the hands Of the mill
tary, Notwithstanding the action of Dis
trfct Attorney John III. Croker in fill
Ing murder charges against "a of them.
Houston. Tex, Aug. 27.-The negro
soldiers of the Twenty-fourth infantry,
who Thursday night took part in the
persons, early today were taken from
here and started toward Columbus, N.
Nd. Among them were the 81 men
charged by District Attorney John H.
Croker with murder.
The entire 633 members Of the bat
talon, which came here four weeks
ago to guard Camp Logan during con-
struction, were entrained at daybreak
and shortly after the train section bear
ing them started westward without in
cident.
With the arrival today Of Mai. Gen.
George Bell. jr., investigation of the
shooting was scheduled to begin.
The departure of the negroes appre-
ciably lessened the tension in Houston,
although from the hour the authorities
took firm hold of the situation there
hads been little fear Of any serious
trouble. Capt. L. S. Snow said that
while no charges had been preferred
marched through the San Felipe dis
trict shooting right and left. they
might be very serious" The contents
Of his official report to Maj. Gen.
James Parker at Fort Sam Houston,
San Antonio. were not given out. In
an interview, however, Captain Snow
said that conditions on Thursday night
approached mutiny. There was shoot
Ing in the camp before the men
marched to the city, he said, and he
pointed to a bullet hole in the frame of
q shack as proof. This shooting vas in
> 4 ~ SopId NV
and he did not believe any of the bull
lets were directed at him.
He was unarmed as he went among
the negroes commanding them to re-
main quiet.
Troops Work All Night.
All vas hustle and hurry at the
camp throughout the night as wagons
and trucks carried the negro battalion's
equipment to h waiting train. Dis
armed and quiet. the men worked stead
lily in preparation for the trip.
Every ~precauttOn was taken to avoid
any trouble as the departure was made.
The chief fear of the authorities was
that some n might attempt interfer-
ice at the last moment. AS a result,
the vigilance of the white guard around
the camp and the soldiers and civilians,
who patrolled the streets was strained
to the utmost. With 502 men Of the
Nineteenth infantry from Fort Sam
Houston, San Antonio. and $50 regulars
from Fort Crockett, Galveston. on hand
protection was thought to be adequate.
The first step taken by the local au-
thorities following General Bells ar
rival will be to give him the statements
gathered from Prfvates James Bivins,
Risley Young and Leroy Pinkett by
District Attorney John II. Croker.
Dead Sergeant Ring Leader.
These agree in declarations that Ser
geant Vida Henry. who lost his life in
the disturbance, was the ring leader
They say he formed the company in
line, led 1t from camp. issued orders
and threw put rear and point flank
guards o protection.
All the statements conform In the
declaration that there was no drinking
and that the trouble began over a re-
port that Corporal Baltimore. OF Com
pany /, had been. shot by mounted Of
ficers.
Mates Body Sent Home.
The body Of Capt. Joseph w. Mates
battery A, Second Illinois field artil-
lery, who was killed while Hiding with
a police officer to he scene Of the
shooting was sent 'to his relatives ir
Illinois today.
All but three Of the men who took
part in. the shooting have 6oon account
Al affidavit by Leroy rnkett. pri-
vate j I company Of the Twenty-fourtt
regiment, which participated in the
rioting. giving what he said was q com
plete: story Of the trouble, follows:
Privats Tells Of Shooting.
Yesterday about 3 p. m. we heard
that Corporal Baltimore. Of u com
pany, had been shot by special police
officers white officers who ride
horses.) All the boys said. let's go gel
getting late then and we stood retrea'
ats O'Clock and then / heard Sergeant
Henry, OF our company 2 >: well
don't stand around like that. II yOt
are going n do anything. -. ahead anf
do it,