The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-30

tial riaemen- were volieying across the
barren rice fields.
With the death of Col. Lisconi, Maj.
Lee had assumed command He recog-
nized at once that re-enforcements bring
ing more ammunition would be necessary
If the position were held through the day,
and the Chinese dislodged, so he ordered
Lieut. Lawton to return to the British
general for more troops.
Here was a situation to find. the cow
ard streak in a mans nature if he were
Lawtons. even though he had already
possessed of one; but it was not in Lieut..
been wounded in the head while making
the last ditch at the head of his men.
II didn't tell Maj. Lee had been shot,
though he says, because then he
wouldn't have sent me-
So without delay he climbed out Of the
trench and started calmly on his frightfui
journey across the swampy rice field that
afforded absolutely nothing in the way of
shelter.
Where are you golng?''s shouted
hundred voices in sudden alarm.
For reinforcements,'' he called back
lightly and continued briskly on his way,
while the cheer his comrades gave him
was lost In the rattle of volley aftertvol-
ley which the Chinese sent. after him.
Heroes there have been in other wars.
Heroes there were plenty in the -serrIed
ranks before Tien Tsin. but none was
given such task as this. If you. have
any imagination at all try to realize what
you would feel exposed to such a muir
derous fire with a thousand yards of
open field before you.
While Lieut.. Lawton looksi5the hero@in
every way. but does not consider himself
a hero in any way, this is what he says
he felt He is not the sort of a7man to
talk of his deeds at length. Like all
! true heroes he is modest, even if, as he
says he was not absolutely fearless.
Above all things he abhors talking for
publication but his words, though sue
cinct, are graphic.
My constant thought was where
would it hit me- he says ''for 1T seemed
absolutely impossible that should get
across the field unseathed.5 We were in a
bad place. 1t was my duty TO get rein--
forcements to help us out 1t would new
er do to be accused of cowardiee. The
whole idea of so-eal1ed fearlessness on
the battlefield, in a nutshell, is pride.
Pride impels you to go forward to what
seems certain death, even when a re-
luetance to give up your life in an ap>
parentiy foolhardy undertaking makes
you hesitate. 1 went
1T is an officers first duty to inspire
confidence in his men.
81 felt sure 1 would be hit, and kept
wondering where 1t would be, I didn't
want to be shot through the heart That
meant instant death-and I didn't want
| to die recklessiy at all-for I had seen
soldier, as strong and rugged and rudy
! heart and almost on the instant his
tanned cheeks had become CHASTITY put
| ty coior. The thought sickened me as 1
| went
! He oot bis rai,,foroay,a ptc-eoroo pr;+
! ish and American marines--6nd started
! back. Near the huts at the cross roaas
! in the rice field from where the morning
advance had been made, their command
er halted them.
''It would be sheer madness to take m Y
men across that field he said Every
man jack of them would be killed be-
fore we got half way over"
All right" answered the lieutenant,
but I've got to report to Mai. Lee
Then the reinforcements deployed fur
1 Their down the road to the right to stop
the deadly fire on the right HANK while
! Lawton returned to the river Almost in
stantly Chinese bullets began to hiss
about them
Immediately Maj Lee sent his orderly,
Private Pickett, of Company c., and
| Private Wilson c. Price, of Company +,
to his assistanee-and there are two men
who deserve the highest creGit. They are
! heroes both Price. who has been recon-
| mended for the medal of honor, stayed
I with him through the rest of tie day ard
| in the face of the heavy Chinese rifle
fire dug a trench and traverse with only
| his bayonet and tin plate for pick and
! shovel In order that the lieutenant might
! have a breastwork to protect him. Mean
time he sent for Mai. Lee and made his
report, apologizing for his failure to stand
up and salute with the explanation tina t
/ he wasn't feeling very we'll. This little
joke from a man every one thought WAS
! really done for infused new courage into
the men and everybody laughed and set
| tied down for the rest of the afternoon 8
| grim work with new ZeSt
He had just been dragged into the
traverse Price had dug, when a bullet
struck him in the right foot. The Chi
nese knew they had wounded officer
/ ard were bent on finishing the job. for
/ they kept peppering away incessantly at
| the little mound Price had thrown up
with such infinite labor. and once the
lieutenant would surely have been killed
were it not that Private Won Schlick, who
| had already been wounded tTice-once in
the arm and again in the shoulder-was
| lying directly between him and the Chi
| nese sharpshooter who fired with such
| deadly aim, for the bullet struck him in
the left cheek while he was lying fiat on
| his back. That made Won Schlick mad
| and he started to rise, but every body
| yelled to him to lie down. Then another
bullet struck him in the shoulder and
! getting madden than ever; he got up and
| walked about a hundred feet to an angle
in the trench for protection.