Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-19
GEN. LAWTON KILLED
A Fearless Soldier and Brave Indian
Fighter Slain By a Fill
pino Bullet.
AFTER A SECOND GERONIMO
His Time Game Just When He Was About
to Be Made a Brigadier General in
the Regular Army for His
Services.

Manila. December 19.-General Will
liam Henry Lawton has been shot and
killed at San Mateo. He was standing
in front of his troops, and was shot in
the breast, dying Immediately.
General Lawton started from Manila
last night with the cavalry under Cap
tain Lockett and battalions Of the Goth
Colonel Sargent, for the purpose of cap
turing San MateO where Geronimo was
said to have 300 insurgents
Washington, December 19.-Up to
o'clock this afternoon the war depart
ment has received no word of General
Lawton's death except that conveyed in
the Associated Press dispatch, which
was given Immediately to the war Off
cials. The presidents first intimation Of
the loss Of this brave officer was given
him by the Associated Press. The dis
patch was sent to the white house while
the cabinet meeting was in progress,
and was received with expressions If
regret. 1t was learned at the depart
ment that instructions had been re-
ceived last night from the president to
prepare General Lawtons commission
as a brigadier general i'm the regular
army to fill one of the existing vacan-
ces. LaWton was a native of Ohio,
and won his commission by signal gal
lantry during the war between the
states.
General Lawton was an ideal western
soldier. He was native of Ohio,
and entered the ranks of the volunteers
at the beginning of the civil war as SER
geant of Company E of the 9th infan-,
try, was frequently promoted for gal
liant service, and breveted a colonel at
the end of the war. In 1866 he entered
the regular army as second lieutenant
of the 41st infantry and as he was ad-
vanced made himself record as an In
dian fighter. He was stationed In New
Mexico for several years, and it was he
who hunted old Geronimo into the
Sierra Madre mountains and compelled
final surrender. The people Of Albu-
querque presented him with a testimo-
nial. He was known at various military
posts, including Santa Fe, by citizens
and was exceedingly popular. For his
long and arduous service he was, when
the Indian campaign ended, given an
easy berth in the war department SER
. vice but when it became evident that
there would be war with Spain General
1,awtonJ was tha first tn ask tO he de-
tailed for the campaign, and was ap-
pointed a major general of volunteers.
He did gallant service in Cuba, and
when it became apparent that strong,
active leaders should be sent to the
Philippines to crush the rebellion he
was one of those whose application was
granted. He was popular among his
men, and with utter disregard Of his
own safety in battle, was always to be
found in the front ranks.
General Lawton was stationed in San
ia Fe as captain in 1890, and again in
1897 and the early part Of 1898, when he
was inspector general of the depart
nent of Colorado for New Mexico and
Arizona, with the rank of lieutenant
colonel He made many friends while
here, to whom the news of his death
will come as personal bereavement.
Solicitor General Bartlett and Colonel
George w. Knaebel spoke Of him this
afternoon as most gallant officer. Mrs
Lawton and children are at present at
Oakland, Cal.