Q. From your experience as a military man, do you consider that it was a prudent move to go into the round-house with the troops at that time?
A. It is very easy to see mistakes after they are made. I can say, however, on general principles, it seemed to me at the time, as it has seemed since, that the first thing to be done was to disperse the mob. Until that was done, there was no safety in going into the round-house. That the troops needed rest, there can be no question. Standing in the sun, many of them had fallen from sheer exhaustion and the heat of the sun. Several of the men were lying about there, and they were applying water to them, if they could get it. There was complaint from all quarters that the men were exhausted, and some seemed to be sunstruck. In that condition, they needed rest, and their commanding officers wanted to give them rest, but it was evident that the mob must be dispersed before there could be much rest for them.
Q. Was not the mob already dispersed?
A. It was on the crossing, but they were continually gathering.
Q. They were re-assembling?
A. Yes; and some were very demonstrative and very violent.
Q. Did you see General Pearson in the round-house, after you retired there?
A. Yes; he was in the telegraph office, which was immediately adjoining the round-house. A building some four or five feet from the round-house. I think they called it the dispatcher's office. It was the office where the wires centered. It was a square building, directly opposite Twenty-sixth street. I saw General Pearson sitting at a desk writing, when I entered.
Q. In this telegraph office, adjoining the round-house?
A. Yes.