The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-28

Capt George Fl. rortsnn. First Washing
ton volunteers. the hero Of the charge at
Pastg. Manila, and the recipient OF special
commentator from Gem King for gallant
conduct. received his death wound while
leading his company across bridge In tho
very face OF the insurgents trenches.
Details OF the death of the intrepid hero
as told In letter received In this city yes
'erday by his widow from First Lieut.. Matt
II. Gormiey, Eirs, Washington voiunteera
are here published for the hrst time. the
only other news regarding Capt. Fortson's
end having been In the brief eablegrams
announcing. first. that he was mortaiiy
wounded. and later. that he was dead.
II all occurred at $3.50 o'clock on the MORN
Ing of March S The insurgents had ad-
vaneed during the night close up to tho
Washington volunteers line and intrenched
themselves Their position was discovered.
The order came for Capt. George II. Fort
son TO take his company out and form 4
line Of skirmishers beyond the main iine.
In order to do this II was necessary to cross
bridge.
The fearless captain and HIS brave follow.
ers obeyed the order without a moments
hesitation. They realized that in the dark
ness there might be thousand treaeherous
Eilipinos ready to shoot them down, but
they had been ordered TO the front. and
they oheyed.
DEATH IN LEADEa HAIL
Thrre-fourths OF the length 81 the bridge
had been passed when suddenly the roar
en- bullets poured In on TIE gallant WASH
yvpS Hsav frut F4uht -, faff TAA t,xa,
gents had crep, up from their trenches
and prepared to sweep the bridge from both
sides.
Capt Fortson fell. shot through the body,
ana Sergt. covington also fell with a bull
let In his thigh Before the troops re-
covered, from the shock OF seeing their be-
loved leader stricken, a second volley swept
across the bridge. ana Private Patterson
was shot through the right hip.
The boys picked up the wounded and re-
tired TO the other side Of the bridge Capt.
Fortson was shot through and through.
Internal hemorrhages set in and he soon
died. But he was us brave In the shadow
OK death IA he was when he led handful
OF soldiers against 600 Falip!nos. He died
with his wIfa's name upon his lips. When
daylight came the rebels were driven back
down to the prisafes, moufned the cap
taia's death. He had a host Of friends. He
had won the respect Of all
They placed his body In a niche in Paco
cemetery, and as soon ~ possible II will
be sent home 10 his wife in Seattle
The letter to Mrs. Fortson from Lieut..
Gornley was written at Pasig. March n.
and mailed at Manila the next day. II
came In care OF George r. Frye. Mr.. Fort
sons father-in-iaw. The letter says:
LIEUT.. GORMLEY's LETTER.
"It Is hard to commence this letter.
You have long sinca learned OF your
and our terrible loss. and I feel that you
would like to learn some Of the cfrcnm-
stances connected with our captains death.
"our hearts are sore and our minds
aazed. ard IL in hard to write connsc,edly,
but will endeavor 10 describe the action
during which George received his Wound.
we we're ordered out st 2.se o'clock In
the morning. March Is. ami informed that
the insurgents were approaching ard In
ircnch.ng then3ss.ves just outside our
lines
capt rcrtscn was ordered 20 take his
cornpany across a bridge taat formed part
Of c,u. line. and TO fern line Of skirnish-
e-s t. rfgh. and ieft in front Of our main
line
'sfie led the company across the bridge.
bal when only three-foarths az the way
had been crossed hard os insurgents,
who had cresst up from their trenches.
poured two volieys into Us from our r!gh.
ard left front
COURSE OF THE FATAL BULLET.
..As the nyxt xoIley George fe'l shos
through the eso-ty. Sefgs. Covsagion alsp
fcii. shot through the upper thigh.
''As TIE second volley Private Patterson
was saat through the rip We immediate.
~ picked up STIR wounded and fell hack
70 the main lsns 20 await daylight. whsn
the febaas we're attacked ana routed.
George was shat ~ TIE right of the pit
OK the stomach The bullet Fargsa down
ward. tearing she iiser sssa emerging from
the hack fast above the hip t3se. He
nle9 internally. fafs being II. immediate
cause 81 his asssn.
"Hss died bravery. Ike the true man and
gallant soldier he was. h.s only thoughts
and only worry be!ns Tor you.
The whole command. from Gen King
10 sbe prswateS. are srrSsfs4l AMI d8wn.
hearted. as Gssrxe had made acsss Of
friends and gained sass respect Of all 4
srver. nahlsr man never lived.
We aavs placed nss bs5y IN . niche -