The morning news., 1899-12-31

sique, and ready to cope with any and all
emergencies.
Il remember as on instance once during
one of Gen. Mackenzie's expeditions
against hostile Indians, l think in 1874
we started out over the plains After be-
ing out considerable time the supplies be-
came low, and Cen Mackenzie sent for
Lawten to so back to Fort Griffin after
more. Lawton told him he would have
to make thirty-five miles day
with the empty wagons in going In TO
get back by a certain date. Two com
panies of infantry under a senior cap
tain, were detailed to escort the wagon
train, and before starting Lawton, then a
hrst lieutenant, was by written order
placed In charge of the marching aud
halting of the train. over thirty-five miles
day was mode in going in, and by rid
ing ahead with his sergeant, Lawton. on
the last day had his requistion made
out, the rations ana forage piled up really
for each wagon when the train came In
To Fort Griffin BY doing this half day
IN time was gained over the usual method.
ON the return trip heavy rains set in.
and, to use common saying, the bottom
dropped out of the prairie. The wheels
went down to the hubs in places and they
mad to double team, and nearly all the in
fantry escort was employed i'm pulling on
the wagons with ropes Day after day they
moved forward by taking half the train
mile at time, and then going back
for the other half. Lawton made better
time than was expected and mis- last
malt was only half days march from
Gen Mackenzles camp.
soon after going to sleep that night a
courier from Gen. Mackenzie reached
Lawton, and Informed him the command
was out Of rations, and for him to reach
camp as soon as possible the next day.
LaWton as once woke up the wagon mas
ters and had the teams hitched and then
told the senior capitals of the informa lion
in Gen. Mackenzie's note and told him the
train would move in twenty minutes. The
captain told Lawton he was crazy. the
men were worn out. and he would go no
further that night The train moved with
out the infantry escort and lust before
day, while nearing camp an Indian at
tack was made on Gen. Mackenzes COM
mand. From the nature of the firing Law
ton could tell which was the Indians
and which the troops, so by making de-
tour approach he was able to get TO the
opposite side of the camp from the In
dams. When near the camp Lawton took
his sergeant and rode ahead of the train
to enbghten the camp of their arrival. In
a few moments Capt. John Lee Fourth
Cavalry, called out loudly: Is that you,
Lawton" Lawton replied, Yes Lee said:
It's lucky I heard you talking. num-
Der of guns were bearing on you, and you
would have been a dead man In a few
minutes more
In this way he took che train in, and
when approached by Gen. Mackenzie for
not waiting for daylight. said he wanted
to get In in time to give the command
breakfast. 1 relate this to show the de-
termination of the man, and this is char
acteristic of his acts as a soldier
The last time l was with him i'm a
campaign was during April and May of
this year. 1t was in the Philippines dur
ing the advance on Santa Cruz and Isl.
dro. There was no trouble in taking The
towns, and had we been supplied with
men to garrison them and with quick
transportation, the rebellion would have
been broken"