The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-22
LAWToh KILLED
AT SAN MATE0.
stor WILLIE WALKING ALONG
FIRING LINE BEFORE CHARGE
A Contempt for Isullctt-Showed hy Lnu,b
when member OF Staff Wrrncd Him Of
Danger OF Exposuro--FirSt General
Ohlccr Lost In Cub, or Iuzon

Manila, Dec. l0.-Alaj. Genera
Henry W. Lawton has bccn sho
and killed, at San Mateo. Ho WA
standing in front of his troops, wa
shot in tho breast and died lmmo
diatoly.
Gen. Lawton loft home Monda,
night, having returned f..".
northern operations S"'''...."
lead an expedition through M 49, -,
na valley, which has bccn an insur
gent stronghold throne;,t63lLes'1 'ee war
Tho valley has several limos boon in
yaded, but never held by the Amcri
caus. Gen. Geronimo was supposed
to have thore tho largest organized
,force north Of Manila, and Gen, Otis
wished to garrison Mariquiuu
The night was one OF the worst of
the season. A terrible rain had be-
gun and is still continuing.
Accompanied by his staff and
Troop l, Fourth cavalry, Gen. law
ton set out at 8 o'clock in advance of
tho main force, consisting of the
Eleventh cavalry and one battalion
each Of the Twontieth and Twenty
seventh infantry, which started from
La Iona at midnight, With u
small escort, he led tho way through
IN almost painless country, dis. .
tance Of Is miles, over hills and
through canebrake and deep mud,
the horses climbing the rocks and
sliding down the hills. Before day
break the command had reached the
head of the valley.
San A1ateo was attacked at s
o'clock and a three hours fight en-
sued. This resulted in but few cas-
ualtles on the American side, apart
from the death Of Gen. Lawton, but
the attack was difficult because of
the natural defenses Of the town.
Gen. Lawton was walking along the
firing line within 800 yards of n
small sbarpshooter's trench, con-
spicuous out in the big white hel
met he wore and light yellow rain
coat. He was also easily distinguish
able because of his commanding
The sharpshooters directed several
close shots, which clipped tho grass
near. His staff officers called Gen.
Lawton's attention to the danger he
WAS in, but he only laughed With his
usual contempt for bullets.
Suddenly he exclaimed: 81 am
shot," clenched his hands in a dos
perate effort to stand erect, and fell
into the arms Of staff officer.
Orderlles rushed across the field
for surgeons, who dashed up imme-
diately, but their efforts were USE
less. The body was taken to a clump
Of bushes and laid upon stretcher,
the familiar white helmet covering
tho dead General.
Almost at this moment the cheers
of the American troops rushing into
San Mateo were 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. The troops filed bare
headed through the building whore
the body was laid, and many tear
fell from the eyes or mon who had
long followed tho intrepid Lawton.
The entire command was stricken
with grief, as though each man had
a personal loss.
Owing to the condition of the
country which ID impossible so far
as vehicles are concerned, the re-
mains could not bo brought to Ma
Mia today. Mrs. Lawton and the
children are living in government
residence formerly occupied by the
Spanish General.
San Mateo lies between a high
mountain behind and q broad shall
low stream in front, with wide sand
bars which the insurgent trenches
and tho buildings command. The
Americans were compelled to ford
the river under fire. 1t was while
they we're lying in tho rico folds and
volleying across preparatory to pass
ing the stream that Gen. Lawton
was shot. All except the officer
was wounded about the same time,
and one other officer and seven men
we're wounded.