The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-22
DOESN'T ADMIRE SHAFTER
Burr Mcintosh Says the General De-
parted from the Truth in His
Official Report-Saw Fight
ing at San Juan Hill.

Burr Mcintosh. who is now filling
ar engagement at the Lyceum. is one
of the men who can tell interesting
stories about the fighting before San
tiago. He was there in the capacity
of newspaper reporter and had the
privilege of getting a snap shot with
his camera of the first shot fired
against the block houses on San Juan
hill.
He was with group of officers close
to the point where the Grimes battery
was stationed at El Poso hill when
General Skaters adjutant observing
that General Lawton, who was some
| distance away, seemed to have some
heavy fighting on his hands gave the
order to bring the guns into action.
This order was at once transmitted
TO Captain Grimes and by him to the
man at No. l gun. Mcintosh trained
his camera on the gun and succeeded
in getting a very satisfactory photo
graph.
From his position on FL Poso hill,
two miles from San Juan. Mcintosh
saw the fighting as it progressed. He
was with Generals Sumner and Kent
and by staying with them. If the plan
OF battle agreed upon had been car
ried out, he would be in the thick
Of the fray most Of the time.
1t was found impossible to carry out
the prearranged plans and the desper-
ate assault on San Juan mill became a
necessity for the troops who We're to
form 8 juncture with the men Of Sum
ner and Kent. He was therefore COM
| PEELED to content himself with the view
of the fight he obtained through a
| field glass much to his regret. 1t was
an impressive sight he declares and
one he will never forget.
While near Grimes battery when it
was in action a shell from q Spanish
| gun came screaming towards the point
where he stood with an ominous. hiss
| ing sound. Fortunately it passed over
his head and exploded a short dis
| tance in the rear injuring two Cubans.
| Had it exploded while passing over
where he stood, Mcintosh, Colonel AS
| tor, Richard Harding Davis and n
number of others who were standing
| close together watching the conflict
| would undoubtedly have been killed.
Mr.. Mcintosh declares with much
| emphasis that General Shafter was not
| able to cope with the necessities of
| the hour before Santiago and that in
\ addition to his manifest incompetency
( he was bore of the most obnoxious
| type.
| He says that General Shafter got
| away from the truth in his Of
| fetal report when he said he per-
| sonally rode to the camps of Gen
| erals Sumner and Kent and saw that
! the men of these commands were
properly intrenched in compliance with
! his orders.
on the day in question General Shaf-
| ter and several of his staff were rid
! ing towards the position of the above
| troops on FL Poso hill. General Shat
| ter halted the members of his staff at
the foot of the hill, rode little more
| than half way up himself and then
| for some reason turned his horse. rode
| back and joined his staff and they gall
| loped off. There was some firing going
on at the time on the other side of
| the hill. That was General Skaters
| only visit to FL Poso and then
he did not even get glimpse of his