Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-12-28

La Iona at midnight. With a small
escort, he led the way through an al
most painless country, a distance of
Is miles, over hills and through cane
brake and deep mud, the horses
climbing the rocks and sliding down
the hills. Before daybreak the com
mand had reached the head of the
valley.
San Mateo was attacked at eight
o'clock and three hours fight en-
sued This resulted in but few casu-
alties 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 a small
sharpshooters' trench, conspicuous in
the big white helmet he always wore,
and 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 nearby. His
staff officer called Gen. Lawton's at
tention to the danger he was in, but
he only laughed with his usual con-
tempt for bullets. Suddenly he ex-
claimed: 81 am shot, cleRched his
hands in a desperate effort to stand
erect, and fell into the arms Of staff
officer.
Henry w. Lawton for nearly 40
years had worn the uniform of the
United States army. He arose from
the ranks, leaving behind him other
men as strong possibly, but less for
tunate. He was born in Ohio Sc years
ago. He was a country boy and got
only common school education-not
any too much of it. Emphatically he
was not a book man. Studying the
printed page was to him always task
and never a pleasure. His folk were
plain farmer folk.
Lawton entered the volunteer serv-
ice of the United States in April, 1861,
as a sergeant in company E of the
Ninth Indiana infantry, and was mus
tered out of the service in November,
1865, as colonel by brevet. He ID
had practically four years CT the most
tremendous war in the history of the
nations. He had been a participant
in a dozen pitched battles.
After the civil war Lawton was in
many Indian campaigns. His Indian
name, was "the-man-who-ge ts-up-be-
fore reakfast-to-fght.'
Lawton fought through the Santa
go campaign under Shafter, in COM
mand of division. After the insur-
rection broke out in the Philippines
he was sent there, early this year, to
take command in the field, under
Otis. who was to be chiefly busy in the
civil administration.
He was first in command south of
Manila. When the operations became
more serious in the north he fought
there with Macarthur. His great
campaign, however, opened the last of
October, when he started on the expe-
dition that destroyed the insurgent
army. He took his men through the
jungles of Northern Luzcn in a cam
paign from which they dropped exc
hausted. But he believed this would
be the most merciful and shortest
way to end the war and events showed
he was right.
Arizona aad New Mexico Statehood.
Washington, Dec. 20.-With the view
Of investigating the actual conditions
which prevail in the e1ritories of Ari-
iona and New Mexico, which are APP
plying Tor statehood, Senator Onoup,
the chairman of the committee on
territories, viii leave to-day for these
territories. In the party win be Sem
ator Clark, Of Wyoming; Chail man
Hull, of the house military commit
tee; Commissioner HERMANN of the
land office; Assistant Secretary of
War Meilzlejohn; Gov. Murphy, OF
Arizona, and Gov. Otero. of New Mex
leo.