Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-02-08
Major McCOnville Killed.

/ On Sunday at so the Teller received
dispatch that Major Ed. McConvill,
/ had been killed at Manila i'll battle. The
/ family and friends of the major were
! shocked by the news, and ii was too sad
to be believed. All night the city was
shut off from telegraphic communication
with the world. The suspense was terri
Bile. On Monday morning the report was
confirmed. The grief of Lewiston was
inexpressible, but with the distracted wife
the friends entertained hope that some
word of comfort might come later, that
there might have been some error in
the transmission of the news, that the
good brave man might yet be alive But
subsequent reports confirmed the awful
first report. Maj. McConville was dead.
No minute particulars of the battle had
been received. The latest report is that
the attack was made upon the outposts of
Manila by 10000 Filipinos and that the
volunteer forces, with the Idaho regiment
~ oii NlOcNi Joolkloll llltl litS onslaught
The Filipinos lost 4 900, while the Amer
leans lost killed and wounded goo men,
of these Idaho lost three killed and nine
teen wounded. Company B had seven men
injured, only two of whom, Sergeants
Scott and Keller, were from Lewiston.
Major McConville commanded the end
battalion. 1t is probable that he was in
command of the Idaho boys in this bat
tie. The onslaught of the enemy was
successfully resisted on Saturday night
and the enemy was again repulsed on
Sunday morning. The Americans
charged the strongholds of the Filipinos
on Sunday at 8 o'clock, and it was there
perhaps that Maj. McConville was killed.
1t is known that he would be eager for
such charge and his experience would
suggest him for such duty when the
highest order of bravery would be de
manded.
When the call was made Ed McCon-
vile who was in the government employ
as superintendent of the Lapwai school
was rendered the position of Major of
the Idaho volunteers. He Immediately
resigned and accepted the command.
He served through the civil war having
participated i'll many of the most inn
portant battles of the civil war in which
he served his country from beginning to
end being mustered out in Sept. 1865.
He again enlisted and served eight years
in the regular army having muclt active
service among the Apaches. Then
coming to Lapwai where he was muster
ed out i'll 1873. For short time he
taught school at Kanliah in connection
with the McBeth mission. In 1877 when
the Nez Perces broke out he volunteered
and was elected Colonel and had COM
mand of this force during the Nez Perces
and Bannock wars. After the close of
these Indian wars he returned to civil
life.
In October, 1873, Maj. McConville was
married i'll this city to Miss Viola c. Ar
ant, The family home has been in this
city almost continuously, although Maj.
McConville himself was engaged at Lap
wal for many years in the Indian school.
His family consists of wife and four chill
dren. Harry, the I7-year-old son, is now
i'll Manila, member of Company B and
regi1nental color sergeant. The bereft
wife, little daughters Alta and Ermett,
and little son Hugh are in this city.
Maj. McCQnville was Mason and a
Knight of Pythias. OF the latter order
he was colonel in the uniform rank. AS
citizen he was universally respected and
honored. As soldier he was our ideal
in his command he was an idol He was
born disciplinarian, but he had big
heart, In Manila he said to the BOYS
whom he knew and respected: Don't
salute me when there are no other officers
with me, am one of you and want no
homage because have commission. l
am no better than you are. Respect me
if deserve it, but you owe me no hom-
Iage" He was unasuming, but if any
| officer deserved homage it was Major
McConville.