Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-06

own wild game In his native wild
haunts. Does II matter whether fear
or policy constrained Geronimo to sur.
known to him? The fact remains that
the boldness of this white man, whose
unimportant rank the Apache well
knew, In coolly walking into his den
for talk struck the savage soul In q
way to subdue 1t. He abandoned his
pedestal Of savage pride and ugliness
and isolation and began to talk. Then
all was over. The soul of the white
lion lorded 1t over the gathering of
savage breasts.
When conspicuous soldier is cut
down at the front as Lawton was, the
first thought Of the public is that It
was due to bravado and reckless expo
sure. Els boldness In entering the
Apache lair unarmed and unattended
smacks of the same thing until one re-
members that every man of caliber
knows his own place and powers.
When the modest lieutenant was asked
for the particulars of his entrance into
Geronimos camp and how the Indians
received him, he said, "They didn't
show any emotion"
"What did you say to them?'
Nothing. l just nodded their fash
ion and sat down on log by the side
of Geronimo. He grunted. but we all
sat for long time, perhaps half an
hour. Then Geronimo said something
to the others, who were perhaps trying
to make up their minds what to do
with me. There was another long
pause; then another Of them grunted.
~ let them talk. By and by Geroni-
mo asked me what was there for.
told him to take their surrender He
grunted. The others caught his mean
ing, which was mine, aud one by one,
as they comprehended, each grunted.
Then we all thought a long time.
Somebody grunted again, and Geroni,
mo translated 1t into decent English
for me. They wanted to know what
my terms were. l said had no terms
to offer; Just surrender, that was all. ;"
F.! SIT took hours to arrange IT. but final
ly Geronimo asked who they were to
surrender to. ] told them to General
Miles. was glad they were going to
surrender, you know, for that would
make 1t safe for me-"
General Lawton is the most brilliant
victim claimed thus far by the bullets
of our foemen since the outbreak of
hostillties In 1893. And he was the
first to head grand attack against
the enemy's lines around Santiago.
Some power behind the scenes selected
him to do the initial fighting of the
campaign, and his sponsor was un.
doubtedly Miles. for at the time of the
Geronimo affair and since Miles lost
no chance to praise his gallant and
stalwart subordinate. He was promot-
ed to the rank of brigadler general
from that " lieutenant colonel over the
heads of mfny colonies and given COM
mand Of a division of troops. although
he had never handled full regiment.
El Caney. he said himself. was planned
by General Chaffee, who commanded
one of Lawton's brigades and was u
master hand at scouting.
Lawton said that he adopted Chat
fees ideas entire. Shafter said thar
Lawton was given his Way about han
ding FL Caney and that he decided to
dispose of the enemy there before tax
ing the right wing forward to the at
tack Of Santiago proper. as Shafter in
tended he should In connection with
the other divisions Of the corps. Ei
Caney was taken after an all day fight,
In which the Spaniards showed
strength which General Chaffee said
rstopished him. The strength Of the
Spanish position lay in the configura-
tlon of the ground, detached foothlll
crowned with stone fort, numerous
blockhouses and cluster of buildings
loopholed for rlhemen. The difficulty
was to make dash against 1t in force
sufficient to prevent the escape Of the
enemy without having the assailants
In danger of shooting into one another
or of getting in the pathway Of the FIRE
OF their own batteries. os
Lawton had but four guns of CO.
pron's battery and with these attempt
ed to raze the stone fort. But In order
to get the troops into position to hem
in the Spaniards and to dash forward
at the right moment when the fort had
been reduced 1t was necessary to fire
with caution. The result was that the
stone fort held out until the middle of
the afternoon. When 1t had been ST.
fenced, the troops under Chaffee and
some from Colonel Miles brigade
charged gallantly and carried the cta-
del. All this while Lawton haG re.
mained by Capron's guns, directing the
discharge or the Withholding of the
/ fire.
Soon after noon and when the other
divisions were fighting hard at San
Juan hill General Shafter sent a Sec
ond urgent message to Lawton to leave
El Caney for the time and march for
ward to the attack on Santiago, The
aid who carried the order found law.
ton at Capron's battery, some distance
short of the scene where the infantry
was fighting. After reading 1t Lawton
smiled grimly and said: ut is too late.
The men are charging"