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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's just after a midnight on August 13th, 1906, in Brownsville, Texas.

Mayor Fred Coombe races down the street in a horse-drawn wagon.

He's headed for the town's main strip.

The humid night air whips his face, and every now and then, he clutches his hat so it doesn't fly off.

As he approaches the center of town, he sees saloons shuddered and hotel doors locked.

Minutes before, men had been drinking together after a long day's worth, but now every window's

curtains are drawn, except for just enough to reveal curious, spying eyes. When Fred's wagon

reaches a group of huddled police officers in the street, he brings his horses to a stop

and hops down from the carriage. Fred pushes through the cluster of men and spots one officer

clutching his bloody arm. He asks what happened, but before the man can answer, Fred notices

something else, a body of a young bartender lifeless on the ground. Kuhm bows his head, removes

his hat, and holds it against his heart.

After a moment, he looks up and asks again, what happened here?

The men all rushed to speak at once, accusing army soldiers stationed on the outskirts of town.

The 25th Infantry is an all-black unit, and the police say they saw dark faces lit up behind the gunfire.

Fred is confused. The 25th Infantry is under a strict curfew tonight. He and their commanding

officer set the curfew themselves. Racial tensions in Brownsville are already high, and the

curfews in place to prevent violence.

Along the street, doors start to creak open, and men step out from nearby buildings.

...