Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-12
13 Negro Soldiers Hanged, fl Imprisoned for Life
 by Army Court.
N0 ANNOUNCEMENT
 MADE TILL ALL OVER
lrmy Officers and Sheriff Only Wft- ness of Execution Just Before Sunrise Tuesday Morning
 At San Antonio.
San Antonio, Tex, Dec. 11.-A

San Antonio, Tex, Dec. 11.-A trampled clearing in lonely mesquite thicket on the big government reser- yation. except for the ashes of two huee bonfires, showed no signs to- night that it was the execution placa ot thirteen nergo soldiers of the 24th infantry today. The negroes, con- yicted of participating in the riot and mutiny at Houston on August 23. were hanged at 7:17 o'clock this morning, one minute before sunrise. Only army officers and Sheriff John Tobin of Bexar county were present when the sentence was carried out by soldiers from the post. No newspaper men or civilian spectators were al lowed, the time and place of execu- ton having been kept secret.
 Of the 63 men tried by the same eourtmartial, Al were sentenced to fife imprisonment Oneman was sen- tenced to dishonorable discharge fro mthe army, forefeiturde of all pay and allowances, and to be confined at hard labor for two and half years. Three were sentenced to be dishon- orably discharged from the army. forfeit all pay and allowances, and te confined at hard labor for two years. Five were acquitted. gsg Negroes Hanged. ~-- .a The negro sodiers who paid the death renaty were: "'
 
 pofal Larnon Brown. Corporal James Nheatley. Corporal Jesse Moore, Cor roral Charles w. Baltimore.
 Private. first class. William Brack- enridge, Thomas fc Hawkins and Car los Snodgrass of Company l, Privates Ira B. Davis, James Divins. Frank Johnson Risley w. Young and Pat MacWhorter
 Following the hanging of the 1a men, the chief of staff of the Southern Department gave out written state ment, at the same time refusing to answer anyqu estions.
 Last Words of Men.
 Goodbye, boys of the Company c were the last words uttered by the condemned men of the 24th US. In- fantry. as the traps were sprung and they dropped to their death on the scaffold, which had been erected Mon- day night. Men of Company c, 18th Infantry, have been guarding the ne- gro prisoners since they were brought to San Antonio to stand trial before courtmartial for complicity in the rot at Houston on August B last.
 The execution took place in an ar royo about two miles east of Camp Travis on great scaffold which had been erected during the night by en- slneers from the post.
 A column consisting of approximate Y l25 cavalrymen and 100 infantry soldiers assembled at the cavalry guard house where the negroes were confined at 5:30 a. m. today. Trucks were provided to convey the prison CTS to the scene of the execution. Col onel Willard F. Waltz, post comman- ger was in command of the column ana ed the way to the scaffold.
 The column arrived at the scaffOld at 6:2O a. m. A flood of light had heen arranged to give light for those in cnarge of the actual work of prepar- ing the nooses and adjusting them to Me necks of the condemned men. The eavalry and infantry guard assembled ,a AolloW square formation around .ne scaffold, and the prisoners were gwen the order to march upon the | death traps.
 without a tremor they stepped out "itn SOidlerly tread and singing a nymn they walked to their places. hlayers were said by a negro min .s.er and two army chaplains, and .aen the men were ordered to stand yn the traps. Resuming their song a'ey stood erect and displayed the greatest tortitude while the ropes Were adjusted.
 l3 Men Drop to Death.
 Al t:l7 the major in charge of the execution v gave the order to spring sle traps. The triggers had been ar mau n".sed' one for each drop, and six x.en were assigned to each one. A; ,h e word of command they pulled or n.s triggers and the 13 negroes drop. pea to their deaths.
 ,, ~ieven Of them died almost instant m.. , he other two quivering a mo taut. "' aA'oi' 'ne iope ooN"'"s < NJ civilian spectators were allowed sn tne execution. Sheriff John Tobil x S aS;u several of his deputies helped te nsrn ,ast the moose, they having pre- s,m' rrea the hangman's knots for th' sSsuPad" Blacks Newport Middle
 i ream was coashed thiv III tt qll, Hherwiye lilly Hpll, Yalss
 1azlous drop kicker. < #