The evening times., 1900-02-09
GEN. HENRY w. LAWTON.

| me mental and physical characteristlcs
of the late Major General Henry w. Law
ton, both as soldier and a man, are de-
| scribed with mass of detail In an article
written by Franklin Matthews and pub
lished in a recent number of "Harper's
| Weekly" In this article the career of Cen
eral Lawton is analyzed and eulogized and
| described from his birth until he fell dead
with Filipino bullet through his heart at
| San Mateo. The article follows:
The people of the United States were
shocked on December 49, when cable
message from General Otis, in Manila, to
the War Department. announced the death
in action on the day before, at San Ma
teo, in the Island of Luzon, thirteen and
half miles northeast of Manila, of Ma
jor General Henry w. Lawton, the foremost
| fighter of the American Army. General
| Otis despatch closed with the words,
| Great loss to us and to his country.
For nearly forty years Lawton had been
| in the army, and no man wearings its uni
| form had done harder, more brilliant, and
more dangerous work. Until within year
and half the country scarcely knew him.
| The people had heard of him thirteen years
ago as fearless Indian fighter, but that
work was well-nigh forgotten. If it had
! been asked who it was, away back in the
eighties, had captured the devilish Apache
leader Geronimo, probably the most cruel
| crafty. and treacherous Indian this coun-
try ever had to deal with and punish, not
in nd dc of he
army could have recalled Lawton's name.
After he had taken FL Caney in the
Santiago fight of July 1, 1898 the country
rubbed its eyes and learned to respect and
| admire him as a military man OF broad
scope. clever tactician, persistent
fighter, a man of indomitable bravery and
will power-a real general. Later, when he
went to the Philippines, and like whirl-
wind swept the Filipinos before him,
scattering them like chaff, running down
and capturing their leaders until even
Aguinaldo himself. stripped of his escort,
family, and personal followers. was COM
PEELED to fee into the mountain Businesses
in disguise. then it was that at last the
American people found out Lawton, and
began to love him and estimate him at his
true worth.
''Lawton was only a soldier as he said
himself. in the presence of the President
10 an audience in Montgomery, Ala, after
the Cuban campaign had closed-but such
soldier, On the trail of a treacherous
foe he was a yeritable bloodhound. In the
presence of an enemy who would fight true
and brGxs h. linn hpa rra ad Ricb-
ard. With a conquered opponent he was
just, magnanimOus, and even gentle.
Fear in battle he never seemed TO
know. He did not scOrn the enemy's bull
lets; his mind was keyed TO a higher pitch.
He wanted TO win. Where the danger was
greatest there was Lawton on the outer
most edge of the fighting line. He braved
danger not because he was foolhardy, not
because he wanted to win promotion. and
probably not so much to set an example
TO his men, as because he could no other
thing and be himself
Perhaps the greatest tribute that can
be paid to I.awton is that he never order
ed the humbIest private to endure priva-
tions and dangers he did not share him
self. He always led his men. The wonder
was not that he was killed at San Mateo,
but that he was not Killed before. From
a military point of view he was fortunate
in his life and fortunate in his death. The
glory of dying in battle was his. He died
as he would have chosen TO die, had the
choice been his. He was only the general
officer killed since hostilities with Spain
and the Fiipinos began. and when the ia
tai bullet pierced his heart the clerks were
making out his commission as brigadier
general in the regular army. his country 5
reward for his faithful work a soldier.
Truly his death was great loss TO the
country
''Lawton was in his fifty-siXth year. and
since April, 1861 had been a soldier, with
the exception of a sort time after the civil
war closed. when he entered the Harvard
Law School, in doubt whether a commits
sion in the regular army would be made
out for him. He was a remarkable man
in appearance, a splendid target, and it
was strange that no bullet found him soon
er He was six feet three inches tall, and
he weighed more than 200 pounds. His
jaw was square his lips thin, his eyes
grey. his cheekbones prominent his fore
head high and narrow; his hair was tinged
with grey. and his mustache was nearly
white He was not handsome. but his
striking face displayed his characteristics
minutely. Thick as to his chest. long as
To arms and legs erect and straight in his
carriage he was supple as a youth. and mis- /
giant frame matched his courageous heart. /
He could go without food and sleep for |
DAYS, and there seemed no limit TO his |
tireless energy. He was OF violent temper |
when he was aroused. and he did not !
mince his words when angered. \ strict !
dsciplnarian. his men loved him and |
obeyed him implicitly. He was simply one |
OF them. They endured hunger and thirst, |
and even walked the shoes off their feet. !
because Lawtou wanted them to do so /
rather than give up. The Indians called !
him Man who gets -up-in-the ight-t to- |
fight" Charging Buffalo, and Mad |
Bear, and those names were eminently !
fit for him. He was big in frame. big in I
heart. and knew nothing, cared for moth
ing but devotion to his country and Ter /
arms
United States Senator Beve:id idge was
quoted, the day after Lawton's death, as !
saying that Lawton said to him one day
last summer, while at the front in the
e L suppose / shall be killed some day.
But that is part of soldiers profession l.
We who go to be soldiers of the Republic
this thoroughly
There was nothing showy in Lawton's |
manner of command. He did not like
dress parades. Senator Beveridge, who
was with him daily for several weeks in
the Philippines, says that when he or
dered the South Dakota Regiment into
action at Taytay he rode quietly across
the field and said to the colonel Get
your men into town. To the Twelfth
Regulars major he said, Get your men
On the move major!' Then he went With
them. When he saw his men in danger he
warned them, but took no thought OF him.
self. He had escaped so often himself that
It seemed as if he bore charmed lie: |
but he did not think of that.
Whenever possible, he did his own
scouting He wanted To 500 hirnsaIf u-boro |