The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-20
Details of the KILLING.

Manila, Dec. 10, 1880 p. m.-Major
General Henry w. Lawton has been
shot and killed. General Lawton left
home Monday night having returned
from his northern operations Saturday
to lead an expedition through Mariqui-
/ ma valley, which has been an insurgent
stronghold throughout the war. The
valley has several times been invaded,
but never held by the Americans. Cen
eral Geronimo was supposed to have
there the largest organized force north
of Manila, and General Otis wished to
garrison Moriquina. The night was
one of the worst of the season. A ter
rifle rain had begun and is still contin-
uing. Accompanied by his staff and
troop I, Fourth cavalry, General Law
ton set out at 9 o'clock, in advance of
the main force, consisting of the Elev-
enth cavalry and one battalion each of
the Twentieth and Twenty in
fantry, which started from La Iona
at midnight.
With a small escort he led the way
through an almost painless country, a
distance of fifteen miles, over hills and
through canebrake and deep mud, the
horses climbing the rocks and sliding
command had reached the head of the
valley San Mateo was attacked at s
o'clock, and three hours fight ensued.
This resulted in but few casualties on
the American side, apart from the
death of General Lawton, but the at
tack was difficult because of the nat
ural defenses of the town.
General LaWton was walking along
yards of small sharpshooters trench,
conspicuous in the big white helmet he
always wore and a light yellow rain
coat. He was also easily distinguished
BILE because of his commanding stature.
The sharpshooters directed several close
shots, which clipped the grass near. His
staff officers called General Lawton s
attention to the danger he was in, but
he only laughed with his usual con-
tempt for bullets. Suddenly he eX-
claimed, II am shot" clenched his
hands in a desperate effort to stand
erect and fell into the arms of staff
officer. Orderlies rushed across the field
for the surgeons, who dashed up imme-
diately, but their efforts We're useless.
The body was taken to clump of BUSH
es and laid on 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 vol
leys After the fight six stalwart cav
alrymen forded the river to the town.
carrying the litter on their shoulders
the staff preceding with their colors
and a cavalry escort following. The
troops filed bareheaded through the
building where the body laid, and many
a tear fell from the eyes of men who
had long followed the intrepid Lawton.
The entire command was stricken with |
grief as though each man had suffered |
a personal loss.
Owing to the condition of the coun-
try which is impossible, so far as vehi- |
cles are concerned, the remains could |
not be brought to Manila to-day. Mrs. |
Lawton and the children are living in a
government residence formerly occupied |
by a Spanish general. San Mateo lies
between a high mountain behind and a
broad shallow stream in front, with
wide sand bars, which the insurgent
trenches and the buildings commanded.
The Americans We're compelled to ford
the river under fire. 1T was while they
were lying in the rice fields and volley-
ing across preparatory to passing the
stream that General I.awton was shot
All except the officers were behind COW
er. A staff officer was wounded about !
the same time and one other officer and
seven men were wounded. After three
hours shooting the Filipinos were dis
persed into the mountains Colonel
Lockett took command when General
Lawtor fell.