Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-21

:
Sof his troops and was shot in the
breast and died Immediately. Lawton
started from Manila last night with his
cavalry and two battalions of the
Twenty-ninth and Twenty seventh in
.fantry for the purpose of capturing
San Mateo, where Gernomi is said to
have 800 insurgents.
Manila, Dec. 2o.-The particulars of
the killing of Maj. Gen. Henry Iawton,
which was briefly announced yester-
day, have been received.
General Lawton left home Monday
night, having returned from his north
ern operations Saturday to lead an ex-
petition through Mariquina Valley,
which has been an insurgent strong
hold throughout the war. The valley
has several times been invaded, but
never held by the Americans. General
z Geronimo was supposed to have there
the largest organized force north of
Manila, and General Otis wished Ito
garrison Mariquina.
The night was one of the worst of
the season. A terrific rain had begun
and is still continuing. Accompanied
by his staff and Troop !, Fourth cav
airy, General Lawton set out at 9
O'Clock in advance of the main force,
consisting of the Eleventh cavalry and
one battalion each of the Twentieth
and Twenty-seventh infantry, which
started from La Iona at midnight.
4. Led a De sperate Effort
With small escort he led the way
through an almost painless country, a
distance of fifteen miles over hills and
4 Through canebrake and deep mud, the
horses climbing the rocks and sliding
down the hills. Before daybreak the
command had reached the head of the
( valley.
~ San Mateo was attacked at o'clock
and a three hours fight ensued. This
resulted in but few casualties on the
American side, apart from the death
of General Lawton, but3the attack was
difficult because of the natural defenses
!. of the town.
&. General Lawton was walking along
, the firing line within 400 yards of q
sssmnll sharpshooters' trench, conspicu-i
Gus in the big white helmet he always
wore and d light yellow rain coat. He
was also easily distinguishable because
of his commanding stature.
1 The sharpshooters directed several
& close shots which clipped the grass
near by. His staff officers called Gen
\ eral Lawton's attention to the danger
\ he was in, bur he only laughed with his
4 usual contempt for bullets. Suddenly
his hands in desperate effort to stand
erect, and fell into the arms of staff
officer.
Orderlies rushed across the field for
surgeons, who dashed up Immediately,
but their efforts were useless. The
& body was taken to a clump of bushes
and laid upon a stretcher, the familiar
white helmet covering the face of the
dead general.
Almost at this moment the cheers of
the American troops rushing into San
Mateo We're mingling with the rifle
yolleys. After the fight six stalwart
cavalrymen forded the river to the
town, carrying the litter on their
( shoulders. the staff preceding with the
colors, and cavalry escort following.
Grief of the Soldiers.
Ri The troops filed bareheaded through
the building where the body was laid,
and many tear fell from the eyes of
the men who had long followed the
intrepid Lawton. The entire com.
mand was stricken with grief, as
though each man had suffered a per-
sonal loss.
Owing to the condition of the coun.
Z try, which is impossible so far as ve-
hicles are concerned, the remains
could not be brought to Manila today.
Mrs. Lawton and the children are liv-
ing in government residence former
~ occupied by a Spanish general. San
Mateo lies between high mountain
behind and broad, shallow stream in
front, with wide sandbars which the
~insurgent trenches and the buildings
command. The Americans were com-
PEELED to ford the river under fire.
IS 1t was while they We're lying in the
1 rice fields and volleying across prepar-
atory to passing the stream that Cen
eral Lawton was shot. All except the
officers were behind cover. A staff offi-
Ger was wounded about the same time,
and one other officer and seven men
were wounded.
After three hours shooting the Fill
ipinos We're dispersed into the noun
tains. Colonel Lockett took command
when General Lawton fell.
Deep Grief In Washington.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. Nothing
in the history of the Spanish American
war and the Filipino insnrrection has
caused so great a shock MS the news
OF the death of General Lawton. He
was the ideal fighting man of the ar
my, and comrades who were disposed
TO praise MacArthur's science, Miles.
executive ability, and Leonard Woods
genius for government, always return-
ed to Lawton with the declaration that
4 he was . fighting soldier, every inch of
him.
There are many here who were on
the firing line with Lawton before San,
tiago and in the rice paddles in Luzon,
and their description OF his method is
singulaplyt 1inaillmous. 1t was General
Lawton's habit TO get well TO the front
of his command, and in many eases