Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
ALL LOVED LEWIS.
Touching Tributes to a Hero Who
Fell Before Santiago.
Was WELL KNOWN IN WASHINGTON
Letters Receiveda by His Parents
DescribingeHis End.
BODY TO BE BROUGHT HOME

Mr.. Morgan D. Lewis, formerly proprie-
tor of Wizards Hotel, whose gallant son,
Lieut.. Louis H. Lewis OF Company G Of
the 9th Infantry, United States army. was
killed at Santiago. has received many let
tiers of apathy, as well as descriptive OF
his boys peerless heroism and the esteem
i'll which he was held. Maj. Eugene A.
Coffin, a relative. is now on his way TO San
tisgo to secure the body of Lieut.. Lewis,
and will bring It to the United States as
soon as transportation can be arranged.
Secretary Aiger wrote letter to Gen.
Shafter on the subject. which Maj. Coffin
will present when he reaches Santiago.
Among the many letters received by the
Lewis family is enc from Miss Maude
Hathaway Lee, daughter of Maj Lee. 1t
was written July 90 from Madison bar
racks, Sackete's Harbor N. Y, where the
9th Infantry was stationed before going to
the front. Miss Lees letter is as follows:
Beloved and Admired.
my Dear Mrs Lewis: Our hearts have
been filled with sympathy for you all in
this heartbreaking loss that has come to us
as well as to you, and in our sorrow over
the loss of our friend we can feel deeply
for you and what this sad and awful war
has brought into your home. Mr.. Lewis
was man beloved and admired by all,
from his men to the officers and ladies of
mis- regiment, and his bright, cheerful man.
ners have endeared him to every man, wo-
man and child in the 9th
To me he has been loyal friend and
comrade for two years, and there will al
ways De a tender place in my memory for
him, place dedicated to him which can
never be filled by any one else.
IN long letter from Mr.. Rethers Harry
r. Rethers, second lieutenant. 9th Infan-
t.y), written on the 9Th of July, before San
t1ago, ne told me few particulars of Mr..
Lewis death which feel you might like
to know Of. I will copy the letter word
for word.
His Death and Burial.
we marched on, coming to the San
Juan river. where General Wyckoff stood
waded In the stream up to our breasts In
places, and barbed wire stretched across
the bottom OF the river tripped many up
Suddenly there was perfect rain Of bullets
coming from overhead in the dense growth
OF trees. and General Wyckofr, CoIon.l
Worth and Colonel Lpscomb shot, and dear
Lou shot through theHheart and lived only
fifteen minutes. - Lieut. Darrah and
I went out to bury Lou. I felt as though 1
wanted to do it, although it was bitterly
haru. We were fired at by the sharpshoot-
efs In the trees, and we had a detachment
OF men to fire anthem and keep them at
nay while we did all that there was to bs
done. The firing became SO heavy we had
to scurry back to- the trenches and come
out at night to finish and to locate General
Wyckon's grave. I can't give you any more
details as to my dear boys death. for can
neither think nore write about it yet. and
simply can't realize its
Mr.. Rethers and Mrs Lewis had lived to-
gcther SO long" eontiaues Miss Less let
ter. that they had become almost like
brothers in their admitting affection for
each other. On board the transport they
changed around 30 asy to share the sams
stateroom. because as Mr.. Rsthers wrote
1t seems more like horde for Lou and 90
be together My father wrote how shocked
he was to hear Of Mr.. Lewis being killed,
and said he was such an efficient bright Of
fcer and such an exceptional man that 1t
was doubly sad that his career should be so
suddenly ended. TO him all honor, rever-
ence and loving remembrance. 10 you my
deepest sincere sympathy and love, dear
Mrs. Lewis"
CIassmate's Tribute.
Mr.. Lewis also received a letter from
Second Lieut.. Briapt Fl. Wells, I'd United
States Infantry. written July % at Fortress
Monroe. Va. "On the first day of July"
wrote Lieut.. Wells. "as my regiment was
hurrying along what is known in the Cuban
country as 'Hells Lane on its way to the
'front.' L saw by Inc Side OF the ROAD, with
his face turned up to heaven your son. He
was dead, and, turning him over, tears
coursing down his cheeks, was Lieut.. ]. c.
Macarthur. I'd Infantry, whom ! hastily
Joined. The three of us--Louie. Macarthur
and myself-were classmates at West
Point, where everybody loved Lewis L.
H 1t was raining bullets in that terrible
place. and the regiments We're moving for
ward rapidly; SO the services we held over
your poor boys body were as short as they
were affectionate. The next day I was
wounded myself, and on the way back
from the front to the hospital 1 had the
men carrying me stop where 1 had last
seen Lewis, but he was gone. Some one,
am sure, had given him burial. 1 inclose
a pocket book, which Macarthur took out
of your sons blouse
War is terrible, and upon you it has
fallen with great force. But surely 1t must
be a satisfaction and g comfort to be the
father of one who loved his country I'M
selishly, whose disposition was sunshine
around those who knew him, and who in
spite of the bright future before him. had
he lived. was not afraid to die whore duty
called him"
The manner In which Lieut. Lewis met
his death is described in letter written to
his father by Capt. James Regain who
commanded Company G. He writes that
Lieut.. Lewis was by his side leading the
company and greatly enthusiastic, when
suddenly Capt Regain heard an exclama-
ton, and, turning, saw Lewis falling fer
ward on his knees.
"Oh. Lewisr calculated Regain. Are
you hurt?"
The lieutenant tried to speak. but his
head fell forward on his breast.