The sun., 1917-08-25
RIOTOUS NEGRO
TROOPERS HELD
FOR II DEATHS
Posses at Houston, Tex.
Capture III of 125 Men
in Shooting Affray.
STORY OF THE MUTINY
9th I. s. Infantryman
Says 1t Was to Avenge
Slain COmrade.
r, |
SOLDIERS ORDERED AWAY
White Victims Mutilated by
Bayonets After Murders
on Roadway.
STORY OF THE MUTINY
SOLDIERS ORDERED AWAY

HousroN, Tex, Aug 2l.-Fear q fur
ther clashes between white men and
negroes abated tonight when II was
learned that orders had been received
for the immediate removal from Houston
Of the negro soldiers Of the Twenty
fourth United States infantry. who last
night precipitated a riot which resulted
In the death Of seventeen persons. the
wounding Of more than a score and the
terrorization Of the community. or the
lsy negro soldiers involved in the riot
all except eight have been accounted for.
while scores Of military and civilian pa
trolls tonight are searching the district
for the futigives.
Blanket charges OF murder we're nled
tonight by District Attorney John
Crocker against thirty -four Of the SOL
dIers held in the county fail as . result
Of the rioting. This was the first move
Indicative of an attempt BY the State OF
Texas to retain custody Of the soldiers
rather than turn them over to the army
for punishment
Six Hundred Soldiers Disarmed.
Meanwhile the 500 soldiers OF the
negro battalion were disarmed at Camp
Logan Flanked by full battalion Of the
Nineteenth infantry under Col Millard
p Waltz and three companies Of the
Coast Artillery from Fort Crockett the
negro soldiers were marched. four
abreast, to the parade grounds. where
their arms were stacked. Army trucks
then loaded the rifles and ammunition
and conveyed them to the camp store
house. where they we're placed under
heavy guard.
All the soldiers not involved in the
shooting were being entrained tonight
10 be removed to Columbus. n. NJ. Capt.
L. 8. Snow. commanding the battalion.
said late tonight that the action Of
the negroes was practically mutiny."
Major-0en. George Bell, Jr., will ar
rive tomorrow to take charge OF the
situation, relieving Brig. Gen. John A.
Hulen. appointed commander by Gov.
James e. Ferguson when the State Ex-
ecutive declared tho city and county un-
der martial law. Hulen's appointment
later was confirmed by MaJor~Gen.
Parker, in command Of the Southern De.
partment.
The riot was q climax to minor
troubles between the negro military po-
lice, who were guarding Camp Logan.
the mobilization camp for tho llli-
nois National Guard. The rioting started
about o'clock. Stealing company am
muntion. about 1875 of the negoes seized
their rifles and left the camp, starting
toward the city, shooting indiscrim-
inately.
Police Heroes sacriAce Lives.
Warning Immediately was given. and
mounted police officers sought to halt
the mob. sacrificing their lives in vain
efforts to drive the soldiers back.
illinois suardsmen encamped at Camp
Logan soon arrived on the scene, but
only in time to throw a Gordon between
the negroes and crowds Of Houston citi-
sens who had armed themselves and
quietly gathered to oppose the raiders.
The negroes then took to the open coun-
try in Night, some returning to camp.
where they were placed under guard.
Others hid In buildings and bitches In
nearby roads.
Two squads Of armed citizens sworn
In as deputy sheriffs. each squad with q
captain in command. aided the military
forces during the day in the search OF
the San Felipe district for negro stras-
slers. As fast as . negro soldier was
tody Of either tho civilian authorities or
under guard at Camp Logan.
While the armed forces devoted the
daylight hours to this work commanding
officers under Gen. Hulen arranged for
protection Of the camp through the
night The additional force Of approx
mately 500 men from Fort Sam Houston.
detailed from the Nineteenth Infantry.
arrived during the afternoon and was
disposed Of to the best advantage.
Earlier IN the day q detachment OF
Coast Guard Artillery from Fort Crock
ett Galveston. arrived and relieved che
Illinois National Guardsmen, who had
been on patrol duty throughout tho night
without rest. and those with the fresh
troops from San Antonio. assumed full
control.
All Sales of Liquor STOPPED.
sentries placed on street corners in
the business district in the morning were
gradually Withdrawn until only . few
streets where racial trouble might do
velop were under guard. Much OF thi.
sentry duty during the early hours Of
the day had been left to Texas National
Guardsmen, who. lacking arms, wsrt
supplied with shotguns and rifies from
the stock Of hardware stores. Saloons
we're closed, and all clubs Obliged to OBJ
serve military orders against the sale ol
liquor.
At Camp Logan building activities
were at q standstilL workmen beinl
refused admission through the suart
lines established around the camp
ir the resident district Immediately ad
jacent to the camp site many home'
were deserted during the afternoon.
Indignation over the outbreak wa
Particularly expressed because OF tn
savaseness displayed by the negroel
toward the white police ofsicers VIII
we're slain and whose bodies In nearly
every instance had been hacked will
bayonets Among the Illinois Guards
men also much feeling was evidenct be
cause OF the mutilation Of Capt. Josepl
Mates, one of the hrst to be slain b!
the rioters. Because of this feelinl
Gen Hulen at noon ordered the publ
rnorgues In which the bodies were he'll
to close their doors to all except imme
date relatives Of the victims.
Funeral arrangements for the victim
Of the riots were made during the after
0oon.
story Of Riot By soldier.
An afIidavit before military authori
ties by Leroy Pinkett, private In ! Com
pany Of the Twenty fourth Regiment
which participated In the rioting. Eivin
what ne sale was a complete story o
the trouble, was made this afternoon.
is az foliows:
Yesterday about . p. N. We hsar
that Corporal Baltimore of our compan
had been shot BY special o6aesrs (whit
A. IL. 4 u s.t.i = $500 49, 4. I ,.iii ,5s.l.