Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-24

Battery A. Second Illinois Field Artillery,
was shot to death while trying to quiet
negro soldiers who were firing on civilians
and white soldiers His body was found sit
ting upright in an automobile on san Felipe
street in the negro section OF the town. He
had been scalped and his body horribly
mutilated. A bhyonet had been thrust
through his left shoulder and a bullet was
imbcdded in his right shoulder. A charge
of buckshot had entered his left leg.
1t was discovered today tnat another
white girl, Miss Ruth Daniel was shot. She
received bullet in the abdomen, but her
condition Is not serious
The trouble started when Houston police
attempted to arrest negress found loiter-
ing near the camp of the Twenty-fourth
United States Infantry. The negro SOL
diers tried to prevent the arrest and the
officer had TO club one of the soldiers and
call for reserves.
Citizens living near the camp armed
themselves and went to the rescue of the
policemen crowd of 200 gathered The
| mob spirit spread to Houston and the crowd
grew to thousands.
The white soldiers were hastily formed
| into fighting line. The white force was
| made up of Illinois militamen, Texas mill
| tiamen and some regular army men.
The negro troops were in possession OF
| che camp arsenal, and the white men had
| little ammunition.
Most OF the mutineers finally left camp
| and marched toward the city
As they passed Washington avenue and
| Sandman street they shot down pretty
| Thelma Rechert, the ifteen-year-old daugh-
| ter of a small confectioner. She fell with
| a bullet through her stomach.
Governor Ferguson, reached on long-dis-
! tance telephone, declared martial law and
| II IN a
mand. General Hulen arrived at II o'clock
| and Immediately issued proclamation. II
| says:
| All citizens will return to their homes
| or usual places Of business at once. No
citizen will appear on the streets with
arms. Parties will not assemble on the
| streets. Saloons will not be permitted to
open Places of business where arms and
ammunition are sold, kept or stored will
| remain closed. HULEN.
Leroy Pinkett a captured soldier of thu
| negro regiment, late today gave the polc'
here the first accurate account of how thu
| truble started. His statement which th
| police say implicated half a dozen noncom
missioned officers, follows:
| The trouble started when n report cir
culated through the camp about o'cocl
yesterday afternoon that Corporal Balti
more had been shot and killed by police
man.
Lets get the cop. some one shouted
| Major Snow, camp commander, told u
that Baltimore was not dead, but that tn
policeman had been in the wrong. Majo
Snow had taken the rifles from the men, bu
last night Sergeant Henry cried:
| :" Get your rifles
| They broke into the supply house, too
rifles and ammunition, and started ou
More than 100 were in the party. ! myse
fired five shots. Fifty shots We're fired
the first volley. I didn't know whi
girl was hit.
: soon we met a man driving an automt
| bile. He didn't get out of the car whe
ordered and volley was fired. As "
marched past we heard the man groan."
' Pinkett SAID he had enlisted in Philade
phia.
I | Leroy Pinkett, of the negro Twent
E | fourth Infantry, at Houston, enlisted
[ | the army at the army recruiting static
| 1929 Arch street. on April Is, last II
father. Thomas Pinkett. lives at 1886 Cha
A | wick street. Pinkett was sent to Columbu
= O., Immediately after he enlisted.