The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-24
MAJOR GENERAL LAwToN.
His Magnificent Physique and Phe-
nOmenaI Fighting Qualities.
H. S. Canfeld. in chicago Times-Herald.

H. S. Garfield in Chicago Times Herald
The papers have given many short biog-
general of volunteers who commands one
of the divisions of Skaters army and
whose men were engaged in the desperate
assault of FL Caney. They have told of his
long years of service, of how he has
worked himself up through the lieutenant
cies to his present rank, and of the train
Ing given him by more than a quarter ct
century of experience; but of the gigantic
size, the phenomenal strength and activity,
the abnormal endurance, the utter fearless
ness and the inalfenable picturesqueness of
the man not word. l have the honor TO
know him well, and since like men whose
basic manhood has not been utterly refined
out of them. l like him.
LaWton reminds me always of Scotts
Norman baron, Front de Boeuf. He has
better morals. of course as well as a very
pretty taste in red wines and reed birds,
but he is as big as the giant slain by Rich
ard of the Lion Heart, is as direct in his
methods, and, in personal or general COM
of the primal man in him. What he thinks
he says. He has strong sense of justice.
but his temper is terrific. and he is not gen.
tie. 1t requires of subordinates the utmost
endeavor, and gets 1t. He asks no one 60
do work that he is not competent and will
ing to do himself. Naturally leader. he
goes first. and the more difficult or des-
perate the undertaking the faster he goes.
Upon the gray granite slab which covers
the moldering bones of Confederate of
ficer who sleeps on the magnolia petaled
upiands Of Louisiana is an inscription: He
never told his men to go on" That will do
for Lawton when he dies.
He is six feet three inches high He
weighs 210 pounds, and nearly every ounce
of ii is bone and blood and tendon and
muscle. He Is fifty-five years old and as
springy as q youth. His capacity to go
without food drink or sleep is seemingly
unlimited. "Macumazahn.' the Zulus called
open" Macumazahn Lawton will keep
them open for week at a stretch. when
necessary. and then walk, talk. eat drink
or fight dozen men TO a standstill- He
only rule of hygenie is a tub in the morn
ing He has taken no sort of care Of
himself. Yet so splendidly was he endowed
by nature that there is no peFceptible weak
ening of his forces. Apparently he is as
powerful and enduring as when / saw him
at first. That was more than ten years
ago. He had completed one Of the most re-
ance chronicIed in the long annals of the
AngIo-Saxon race, but he was as fresh as a
rose in the morning
He stood on the government reservation
at San Antonio surrounded by the tawny
savage band of Chiricahua Apaches whom
he had hunted of their feet. Near him.
taciturn but Of kindly visage. stood young
Chief Naches, almost as tall as he. In a tent
close by lay Geronimo, the medicine man.
grooming from a surplusage of fresh beef
eaten raw. The squat figures of the heredi-
tary enemies of the whites grouped about
him came only TO his shoulder. He lowered
among them, stern. powerful, dnEninant-an
whose war drum has been around the world
Clad In a faded, dirty fatigue jacket, a
greasy flannel shirt OF gray, trousers 50
soiled that the stripe down the leg was
barely visible, broken boots and disreputa-
bic sombrero that shaded the harsh fea-