El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-20
GRIEF OF HIS MEN
Details Of Events During His
Last Hours At the Front
Of the Gallant
Fighters.

MANILA, Dec. 2O.-The attack on
San Mateo, in which General Lswton
was killed, was one of the most diff
cult OF the war because of the natural
defenseslof the town.
General Lawt ton started Monday
night for the Mariquina valley, after
his return from northern operations.
- The valley has been the insurgent
stronghold during the entire war.
Several times the American troops
have invaded it, but it has never been
held. The largest organized force of
Filipinos north of Manila is supposed
to be there under the command of Gen.
eral Geronimo.
General Lawtou, accompanied by his
staff and Troop 1, Fourth Cavalr Y, was
in advance of them in force. The
Eleventh Cavalry and one battalion
each of the Twentieth and Twenty
seventh infantry followed from La
Iona at midnight, General Lawton
having started at O'Clock.
Before day break the detachment bad
4 reached the head of the valley. San
|Maseo was attacked at 8 o'clock. For
three hours the fighting was hot.
General Lawton, wearing his big
white helmet and yellow waterproof,
walked.along- the firing line within
300 yards of the sharpshooters'
trenches.
He was. .oblivious to his danger, as he
at his feet. He laughed in contempt
as one of his officers warned him.
Back and forth he strode, directing
. the operations and encouraging his
men by sn occasional word.
Suddenly he stopped, clinched his
hands, reeled and attempted to stand
erect. ST am shot," he exclaimed.
For an instant longer he stood, bold
and defiant. Then he gasped and fell
into the arms of staff officer.
Orderlies rushed across the field for
surgeons. They came but they were
too late. The brave general swas past |
all mortal aid.
The body was tenderly carried to a |
clump of bushes and laid ou stretch
err. T he familiar white helmet covered !
the face of the general.
Almost at the same moment the
American troops rushed into San Ma
teo in a hail of rifle balls.
Colonel Lockett took command after
General Lawton fell. The Filipinos
were dispersed into thu mountains
after three hours fighting.
After the fight had ended six cavalry
men carried the litter bearing the life
Ioa tn linz bo ri ,
The staff preceded and the cavalry es-
cort followed. The troops fled bare
headed through the building where
the body lay and many tear
fell from the eyes of the men who an
hour before were risking their lives
with. reckless coz ten pit for death.
The roads are impossible aud the
could not be brought te Ma
nila today. Mrs. Lawtou and her
family are occupying the government 6
residence formerly occupied by the =,
Spanish general. =
A staff officer was wounded almost at ,
the same time that General Lswton {
engagement. l
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART. e
Monday afternoon, owing to the L
heavy rain, Gen. Otis ordered the pro- q
posed movement sagainst San Mateo
Gen. Lawton at once visit i
ed the palace, begging permission to a
proc eed, which was finally granted.
The fight was a small affair, intended a
TO clear the San Ma.eo district and es-
Eablish permanent garrison. Lawton
was unusually conspicuous on his
black horse. His white helmet and
yellow waterproof were for some time
1 target for Filipino sharpshooters be-
ore he was hit. His aides had urged l.
him to seek cover. 1
The brave commander was shot
'hrou gh the heart while bending over b