Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1900-04-28
RENEGADE CALIFORNIAN.
He Is a Deserter and Fired the Bull
let that Killed Gen. Lawton.
A REMARKABLE STORY

date, several copies Of papers published
Ia Manila. Tbs following femarkAble
story OF the ASSASSINATION Of General
Law ton by renegade volunteer CALI
fornia soldier u clipped from the Free
dom.
Hamilton Howard. renegade and de-
sorter from the first California rogl-
ment, IL the man who planned The anu
buacado Tor General tawton and u IL
said upon goOd authority that he fred
the fatal rhOt. ic was made a major
Ia the lnaurgcnt army aa = reward.
The promotion OF - ragged Ameri.
can dosertgr TO the rank VI major was
effected With great celebration and =
feast in the inaurEcnt camp, while a
nation mourna the loss VI one " hor
beloved suns. America has suffered ut.
tie from traitors and when an example
0f this kind o. brought 10 light a nils
the American mind with disgust aud
loathlng that only she hangmaBs rope
can aHHuAEe.
Little is known OF this arch nend
Howard. lie came to the island a. =
mcmber OF the first California yolun-
teers, and IL reported 10 have deserted
while the regiment was stationed al
Cayitc. Ia the early days Of the span.
Ism war tlo was a drunken wretch.
aud the greater part VI his military ca
recr waa spent la the quart house.
sweating the booze out OF hia system,
liu found that the L3e Of a soldier did
not giye him sufficient opportunity 10
soak ia booHe, and he decided 10 skip
TO the iusurgent lines where there was
little discipline. Ho had heard that
commissions could be had for The ask
ms. and with the Intention Of making
military record Ia the insurgent
army and keep on good jas OF vino.
he struck out ana was soon Furnishing
vino Ia the rebel camp. lie was an OBJ
ject % curiosity az nrHt. but before the
nrst evenings entertainment was over
he was dead drunk. and every Filipino
ia the camp had some fun with the
drunken american. who would like 20
be an officer. His reputation was
spoiled the tirst night and his chances
OF becoming anything but a buck pri-
vate Ia the rear ranks became very
slim.
/ "A continuation Of his booking be-
came a nuisance In the camp, and he
was treated 60 an kinds VI Insults. and
sometimes he would show up IN the
morning after blg drunk all tattoood
with paint tnat the natives had daubed
over his body while he was uncon-
sctous. Tie went from bad 10 woree.
From a camp follower he became
common beggar. and went around
among the natives begging rica upon
which to live. n was In this condition
he found himself when the opportunity
presented Itself to make him famous
and secure Tor himself a commission
In the lnsurgcnt army.
"a party OF Pillars force occupied
san Matco when General Iawton made
his hard night march In that direction.
The news had been received az the
camp almost as soon an Il was possible
for q relay Of runners 20 take the In
formation from Manila 20 that point
The officer IA command knew that he
could not stop Lawton. and had de-
cided to retreat from the place. and
take up position further back Ina the
mountains Word flashed through
camp that a retreat would soon be or
dered. ana all the men we're packing
up their little wardr0Des preparatory
to moving. Al this junture the Amer
lean. covered with rags and dirt. and
for a wonder. sober. scratched on the
roof Of the commanders shack lie
was admitted Il was the renegade
Howard.
What passed between the command
cr ana Howard was not made pubic.
but there was no retreat ordered In.
stead small bodies ~ Hharpshootcra
were placed al different points com.
manding ID fur view OF the country
covered by the American advance.
Howard took charge Of the detachment
that occupied the stone houses and
nipa huta on the elevation near the
trenches across the river. They were
Instructed to pick OF the big general II
possible. and at the three places nhn-
ute description was given Of the Amer
lean fighter. This was all arranged be-
fore daybroak. and when the Amerl-
cans rosched the hin fronting the adj
vance the plans for shooting the gen
erhl had all been arranged. The sharp.
shooters Were t0id that the killing oi
this great general meant Independence
pronto
1T was wtth n desire 10 take IN,
generals life that they pumped theil
lead IN the direction Of the general ans
his stan. The range VI the men la IN,
lnaurgent trenches had been sci al 60
yards, and their IRE went high Oyol
the American line for they had sue
ceedci "a passing the line OF are ans
were within 800 yards Of the rinemen
The ping. ping Of the Mausor bulletl
nyln gnround the general and hls stat
Indicated tast the sharpahoOters wef'
plentiful Ia the vicinity OF the huta.
IL Was az this point that Howar,
: was Ia charge. and II Is said that HI
claimed the distinction OF iirinE the IA
D. tal shot he had plsnned the assassin
alton and every claim he made wa
recognized for they had aocompiishe'
their object the great I.awton va
D dead.
From bcggar. the fenegade wa
% soon the hero VI the inaurgcnt caml
Ne drank no more vino Tor the choices
4 wines were 40 his disposal. lie va
given a uniform. and when the matte
waa referred 20 General Del Pillar, h
{ being the highest ia rank. appolHte
2 Howard a major 81 artillery, subject q
A the approval OF Aguinaido when h
. could be Beard from. he now sport
a daahlng uniform. and n considers
p one o. the greatest strategists iu "a
4 army"
A Ssw Lodes ~ Hed Men.
4 iodnn ~ VSd Men has baeB organ