Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-08
COL. JOHNSTON
Continued from page one.)

Continued from page one.)
from carcinoma abdominal involv-
ing all organs Pneumonia de-
veioped early Friday.
Under the constructive program
Of Col. Johnston, Fort Brown has
been transformed from a jungle
wilderness to one of the beauty
spots Of the Lower Valley. Where
four years ago there was a dense
impenetrable growth Of trees. there
now Is clear field OF pasture ground,
plowed farm land. an airplane land
ing field. and a three mile drive
along the bank Of the Rio Grande.
all accomplished by him without
additional appropriation by the War
department and with less funds
than were available before ne came
here.
Improved Post
IN addition to Identification work,
the Colonel inaugurated flood pro-
lection work along the horseshoe
bend in the Rio Crande. placing
pOntoon mats to catch silt. which
X permanently checking erosion Of
the river at the base Of the banks.
One Of his dreams was an air
plane landing field. and although
officials declared he lacked enough
space. Col. Johnston went 10 work
clearing away brush and provided
a place Of $50 acres on which a
hangar IS now available 10 ships.
Tho field proved n great benefit to
the city when the municipal field
was covered with water. 1t enabled
planes Of the Mexican Aviation
company and @. A. 4. lines to run
on schedule.
Opening the River Drive also pro-
vided SPACE for cavalry maneuvers.
formerly held on the outskirts OF
Brownsville. II Is practically Ger
tain that this beauty SPOT IN the
future will be known as Johnston
! Drive.
AmonE other things. Col. John
ston has had the peninsula bound
bv the s inside the fort cleared
and made into pasture land. ana
through filling up marshes has prac-
ticallv done away with mosquito
infestation. always a threat hereto
fore.
He has greatly besutified the
Grounds. particularly around the Of
ficars' quarter and in the spaces
between the enlisted mems barracks.
where flowers. shrubs, various trees
including grapefruit. and other
Y semi-tropical plants. have been set
out for ornamental end shade pur-
poses.
Helped Privates
Col. Johnston also provided FOR
the recreation of his regiment.
Semi-weekly band concerts are
regular occurrences and he was d.
rectly responsible for instituttng the
annual polo tournament at Fort
Brown which yearly attracts a great
deal Of attention. II is held eacn
January.
Col. .InhnSton's BODY will lie In
state at his quarters Sunday from
10 noon until : p. m. All organ
nations 0f the post will attend
the services.
Troops will form in prescribed
order at the coloneIS quarters
and viii accompany the body TO
the Missouri Pacific railway sta
ton. where the salute will be
fired and from where the remains
will be shipped tn Virginia.
The Masonic Rio Grande lodge
No. 81 will conduct pre-burial serv-
ices at Hinkley funeral parlor at II
a m. Sunday. which will be attend
ed by all regular Masons.
Col. Johnston was a member Of
Kingston lodge No. 1l8. Kingston
Mo: Abdallah Temple. A. A. o. n
NJ. s.. Leavenworth. Kan. and Army
Consistory No. I. Fort Leavenworth
Orient a. Kansas.
Col. Johnston was appointed u
the United States Military Academy
az West Point. June rs. 1887, anc
graduated with the class Of 1891.
From Sept. 30, 1891. TO April Is
1892, he was in the garrison at Fort
Grant. Ariz.: In 1894 he was assigned
to Fort Custer. Mont. where he
spent a large part Of his time keep
ing order during labor strikes: dur
ing the later part Of the same year
he was with the rifle team az Fort
Sheridan. Ill: he spent a large part
of the year 1895 at Fort Assini-
botne. Mont; from there he moved
over 70 Fort Custer where he re-
manned until Sept. I. 1895; another
short assignment at Fort Assini-