Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-12-28
HOW LAYTON DIED


Lawton, the hero of a hundred battles
was shot and instantly killed at tn,
head of his troops this morning, jus
as mis- men captured San Mateo. Gen
eral Lawton started for Manila las
night with cavalry under Captain
Lockett and battalions of the Tween
tieth and Twenty-seventh Infantry un
der Lieutenant Co lionel Sargent for tn,
purpose of capturing San Mateo, wher,
Geronimo was said to have 300 insur
gents.
General Lawton returned from hi!
northern operations Saturday. and yes
terday 1t was decided to lead an ex
petition through Mariquina valley
which has been an insurgent strong.
hold throughout the war. The valley
has been several times invaded, but
never held by the Americans. General
Geronimo was supposed to have there
the last organized force north of Ma
Mia, and General Otis wished to garri-
son Mariquina.
General Lawton was walking along
the firing line within 300 yards Of a
small sharpshooters' trench, conspicu-
GUS in the big white helmet he always
wore and q light yellow rain coat. He
was also easily distinguishable because
of his commanding stature. The sharp
shooters directed several close shots
which clipped the grass near by. His
staff officers called General Lawton's
attention to the danger he was in but
he oniy laughed with his usual con-
tempt for bullets.
Suddenly he exclaimed, II am shot"
clasped his hands in desperate effort
to stand erect and fell into the arms of
q staff officer. Orderlies rushed across
the field for surgeons, who dashed up
Immediately, but their efforts were
useless. The body was taken to a
clump of bushes and laid on q stretch
er, the familiar white helmet covering
the face of the dead General. Almost
at this moment the cheers of the Amer
lean troops rushing into San Mateo
were mingled with the rife volleys.
Manila, Dec. 20.-The circumstances
surrounding the heroic death of Major
o'clock Tuesday morning, show the
nobility Of his character.
When Captain Ethelbert l.. d.
Breckenridge was shot General Lawton
assisted in taking the young officer to
thought, offered sufficient protection.
Bullets rained about the tall form of
General Lawton as he exposed him.
self above the embankment. Officers
about him called the generals atten-
ton to the fact that Filipino sharp
shooters were aiming at him. They
begged him to be careful. General
Lawton resolutely replied: II must
see what is going on In the firing line"
He then started off and had traversed
about fifty feet, when he met his aids,
King and Fuller, returning. AS they
approached him General Lawton sud-
denly paled and clenched his hands.
What Is the matter, general" ex-
claimed King.
Il am shot through the lungs" re-
piled General Lawton. He pitched
forward with blood gushing from his
mouth. He did not speak again, for he
was dead.
General Lawton's staff officers were
grief-stricken. Their sorrow is so
great that they cannot talk.
Manley Lawton, the 12-year-old son
of the general, who accompanied his
father in the entire northern cam
paign, stood outside the gate of his
Manila home tonight, waiting for the
arrival of the body.
"How l dread to see my father
dead!" he exclaimed. The brave boy
was overcome with grief when the am
bulance with big cavalry escort thun-
dered down the street and came into
view.
Mrs. Lawton was packing up in
dazed way. getting ready to return
home with her dead husband. Every
one is fearful of the result If she
breaks down.
General Otis says he feels as IL by
General Lawton's death he has lost his
right arm.
PENSION FOR WIDOW.
Washington. Dec. Ex-senator Fair
banks today introduced bill granting
a pension of $1,000 year to the widow
of General Lawton.
Representative lands of Indiana in
troduced similar. bill In the House.
Mr.. Lands represents the district from
which Lawton's first regiment was re-
cruited.