The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-20
DECEMBER 20, 1899.
DEATH OF MAJ. GEN. LAwroN.


front of San Mateo, yesterday, it meant
the passing of one of the ablest and
bravest fighters of the United States
army. By one of those strange fatali-
ties in the lives of men like Lawton, it
so happened that President Mckinley
had within very few hours of his
death ordered the adjutant general to
make out Major General Lawtons com
mission as brigadier general in the
regular service. The president had
hesitated in his selection as between
Generals Macarthur and Lawton, and
had selected the latter.
1t was Lawton's one ambition to win
the stars of a general in the Philippines.
Had he lived to have received the honor
that came too late, the entire army
would have rejoiced and said in the
words of Lawton's favorite motto,
"Palmam, qui meruit, ferat." 1t would
have been the united voice of the
American people and a fitting tribute
to the career of such a man.
The Anglo-Saxon race is the fighting
race of the world and in the great con-
flicts of all history. this curious compo-
site race has, from it's cradle, been the
conquering race. 1t may be that it is
that curious pugnacity that lies dor
mant in all Americans. 1t grew
in our war with Mexico; it
increased in that greatest of conflicts,
the civil war; it has developed in
the war with Spain. In this latest con-
Aict there were three young men who
came in the United States army who
were notable acknowledgements Nc
Arthur, Lawton and Brigadier General
Charles King.
Major General Lawton, like the other
two, was born a soldier. 1t was the de-
light of his youth to organize his young
comrades into military commands. A
pale, slender youngster, he made up for
his lack of blood by indomitable energy
that has grown with his growth and
become greater with his strength.
1t was when Lawton was sent to the
Apache country late in the sos that he
began to show what he was made of.
Naches, Eskimenzeo, Geronimo and
other war chiefs were raiding Arizona
to within ten miles of it's capital and
leaving throughout the territory a
broad trail of blood. Lawton was given
a free hand with a good cavalry and a
lot Of Indian scouts. In a year, two of
the war chiefs and two of the subj
chiefs were dead, all killed in action.
Naches was captured and Geronimo was
taken. Eskimenzeo was also taken. Ari-
IONA was then as safe, so far as In
dian depredations were concerned, as
California. Then Lawton moved his
sphere of usefulness north. Satanic and
Yellow Hand Comanche war chiefs,
paid a high compliment to that nble
soldier. I'm, him like Injun," said
Satanic to General Sherman, pointing
to Lawton. The general of the army
answered, ST think you are about right.
Lawton is more like an Indian than any
white man ever saw"
Twelve years ago Lawton asked for
change of service, and he was made as
sistant nspector-general in thequarter-
masters department. In less than a
year he was promoted to lieutenant
colonel. When the Spanish American
difficulty began, Lawton saw his oppor-
tunity and improved it. In Cuba and
the Philippines, he used to excellent
purpose the tactics and strategy which
he employed so well against Geronimo
in the Apache land. Strangely enough,
the leader Of the insurgents at San
Mateo was Of the same name as the
old Apache chief.
General Lawton was a striking man
in his personality,s and looked what
he was-a king among men. Knowing
neither hunger nor fatigue in the ex-
element of battle, he would never stop
until he had run his game to the earth.
Had he lived, Aguinaldo would surely
have been his captive.
The best epitaph that could be placed
upon his monument would be the COM
pliment so often paid him in army cir
Giles: "A man better fitted for his du-
ties could not have been found on the
roster of the army of the United
States"