Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-09


Target For the Enemy-FiIIpinos
Called Him the "sOIdier of the
Night"
The United States senator from Indi-
ana, Albert ]. Beverage. was an init
mate friend of the late Major General
Lawton and campaigned with him in
the Philippines for several weeks last
spring. Senator Beveridge, who is at
the Holland House. was walking along
the street when he heard the first news
of Lawton's death, says the New York
World The senator was almost over
come by the shock. 1t was several
hours before he would consent to speak
of his dead friend, and then he was
constantly interrupting with such re-
marks as But it cannot be true"
What a lossw What blow" Said
Senator Beveridge in answer to ques-
tons:
"Lawton was like Napoleon'S mar
shals. He was not simply brave, but
had so little self consciousness in the
hour of battle that he was literally I'M
the target for the entire fire of the en-
envy. He simply did not know he was
being fired at because his mind was SO
engaged in studying out what should
be done. He rode an enormous black
horse and wore a practically white
suit. with great gray SLOUGH hat. He
had come to be known to the Filipinos
as Custer used to be known to the In
dians. and whenever he appeared with
in range they directed their fire on
him. They feared him more than any
one else.
He was tall. at least feet inches.
slender. rawboned and fighter in ap
pearance. He looked much like the
type of western soldier which Rem
ington draws. He had brown eyes.
alert and penetrating. His manners
were direct and to the point, and he
used few words. / recall the day he
ordered the advance of the South Da-
kotas at Taytay. There was nothing
histrionic or dramatic about it at all.
1t was n matter of business.
HE simply rode across the field,
found the colonel and said. Get your
men into town there Then, turning,
he galloped over to the Twelfth regu-
lar infantry and. dismounting at ex-
actly the point where two of our sol
diers had been killed few minutes be-
fore. called up the major who was in
command and said in a quiet. business
like voice, Get your men on the move,
major
1.-The charge was ordered and exc
cuted beautifully. Lawton then char
liz Al
saddle and galloped into Taytay before
most of the charging soldiers had
reached there. At the top of the hill
beyond Taytay our advance line was
firing upon the Filipinos who had been
left by General Pho del Pillar in the
rayine below. They were returning
the fire with vigor. Lawton deliber-
ately rode TO the edge of the hill and
drew up there. the target of the whole
fire. He staid until he had estimated
how many had been left behind.
"A bullet struck perhaps four or five
feet away, and General Lawton turn
ed to his companion, with smile like
that of a child. and said: Huh, If
that gun had been elevated a sixteenth
of an inch. it would have got you or
me- He then Immediately rode on to |
the firing line.
81 have seen him ride after the re-
treating Filiplnos far in advance of
his line and with nothing before him
except what is known as a point
that is, four or five of the private sol |
diers advancing ahead. The chances |
were overwhelming that some shot |
from ambush would strike him. On |
one occasion he discovered an earth |
work across the road through which |
the Filipinos were retreating before |
his point saw il. He warned them |
quickly of their peril, but rode on him |
self ahead OF them and through the |
which. as his luck had il, |
did not conceal a squad of the enemy.
II spoke to him once about his |
strange unconsciousness of danger.
You are certain to be killed sooner or
later 1 said. i suppose l shall be-
he replied in his simple, matter of fact
way. I have worked out the law of |
averages as applied to my case, and
the chances of my being killed every
time | go into action are now very
many as against the single chance of
my escape. But this is n part of the
soldiers profession. We who go to be
soldiers of the republic understand this
I shall never forget his
words or his manner.
why, l had long letter from him
only a few weeks ago. am very
much grieved indeed. and my sympa
Thy with the gentle woman who was
1is wife and with her children do not
know how to express"
Did his men like him.
They idolized him, OF course. rs
nvst be the case with every man OF
lis quality. 1t comes TO me now that as
his men were resting by the roadside
Ind we were riding along ! heard such
expressions as Here comes the old
nan. God bless him. He was the idol
If the men. partly on account of his
deal bravery and also on account of his
for their comfort and his
cfra sDdura uCp If all fhp Ha rdSlfFlS" |