The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 16
409 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Smyth and John B. Cresson, and Captain Schmidt of the State
Ranger force, together with two companies of State militia,
The Belknap Rifles under command of Captain Hal Howard,
and the San Antonio Rifles, commanded by Captain J. F. Bader,
arrived in Laredo at 9:50 on the morning of April 9 and took
over the town. The militia were met at the train by Lieutenant
Beaumont B. Buck, representing Colonel Bernard of Fort Mc-
Intosh, and offered camping ground at the local post, but Gen-
eral Roberts desired a more central location from which to
make his investigations, and declined the tender with thanks.3
General Roberts quartered his men in the old courthouse, and
subsistence was furnished by the two hotels of Laredo. The
militia remained in charge for two days, General Roberts making
an investigation into the condition of affairs, and on the 11th of
April returned to their home stations, a promise having been
exacted from the leaders of each party that no further hostili-
ties would be permitted. Captain Schmidt was left in Laredo
with his ranger force for some time after the withdrawal of
the militia, to assist the local authorities in preserving order.8
Amid these scenes, youth was still irrepressible, and romance
will forever bloom. Among the "kids" of the Belknap Rifles was
a tall young soldier who was assigned to patrol the west side
of Jarvis Plaza. While he walked guard, a little girl with long
curls came over from the house across the street, and a friend-
ship was formed between the two. Ten years later in Mexico City
this curly-haired young lady became the wife of the soldier.
He was the late Dr. Willis E. Lowry of Laredo. She was Miss
Josephine Steffian.37
The "war" correspondent, Charles M. Barnes, a grand old
man full of reminiscences in later years, covering the "front"
for the San Antonio Express, secured many interesting details
of the riot. He interviewed Colonel R. F. Bernard, an impartial
participant, who said:
I had been expecting this trouble for some time, but
I had no right to speak. I knew that the peace officers
of the municipal government and the county govern-
ment were arrayed against each other, and were the
leaders of the respective parties. I could not espouse
the cause of either side. I also was cognizant of the fact
3San Antonio Express, April 10, 1886. Report of Adjutant General,
supra, pp. 48-49.
86Report of Adjutant General, supra, pp. 48-49.
87Statement of Dr. Lowry to the writer.16
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/22/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.