Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-12
He FELL FIGHTING
Widow of Lieut.. Morrison Tells of
Husbands Death.
GETS LETTER FROM LIEUT.. HAIGHT
Lieut.. Morrison Lured to His Death
BY a Flag of Truce-Remains Win
Be Brought to Hedrick and Inferred
Monday or Tuesday.


Monday or Tuesday.
Hedlick, March S.-The body of
Lieutenant John Morrison, Jr., who
was killed in the Philippines, will
reach this place either Monday or
Tuesday, when the funeral will be
held. Company F, of Oskaloosa, has
been invited to attend, but no word
has been received from them and it
is thought the services will be under
the auspices of the Masonic order.
Great preparations are being made to
fittingly honor keokuk county's dead
soldier.
Mrs. Morrison Arrives.
Mrs. Frances X. Morrison, widow of
the late Lieutenant John Morrison,
Jr., who gave UP his life while serving
his country in the Philippines has arriv-
ed in this city, and has given out the
details concerning the death of her
husband, which occurred January IS,
md whose body is expected to arrive
here soon for burial.
Letter From Companion.
From letters received from Second
Lieutenant Haight of my late hus-
bands troop in the. Fourth cavalry,
and Chaplain Walkley, in Manila"
said Mrs. Morrison, 81 have learned
\ how he was killed. He was in Cap
tain Hunters troop when they went
to Manila. Lieutenant Haight wrote:
/ Morning He Was Killed.
THE morning that he was killed he
I started out with fifteen men to make
II a scout fb,,,1 no fcotbi11c fo tho oo,,tI
of Penaranda as directed by his COM
handing officer, Gen. Funston. DR..
Deaton, the assistant surgeon, went
with him and gives the following &C.
/, count of the fight:
1t was about $3.50 in the afternoon
and they had been marching along for
an hour or two on a plainly marked
H trail when just in front, across small
wooded gulch in some open rice fields,
he noticed some white flags flying and
near them several groups of men. He
was riding just behind the first two
men. After looking at them for min
ute or two he handed his glasses to
\ the sergeant who was just behind him,
telling him to try and make out what
the groups of men were, peacable citi-
\ zens or soldiers. While the sergeant
was doing this Mr. Morrison rode
down into the gulch and up on hill
k on the other side. Turning around
/ he cautioned his men to draw pistol
and follow him mounted He setting
his horse at gallop, rode straight for
the white flags.
Shot in Right Breast.
There was one man behind rice
4 gulch just in front of him and he
q headed straight at him, firing as he
Went. Some of the troopers say that
the man fell wounded, and Mr. Nor
K risopsffdirg up to within ten feet of
lss.ilAff tired twice again, both of the bull
Us taking effect, but just before he
nally fell, the man raised up and
ed point blank, the ball hitting Mr..
prison in the right breast and
rcing his heart, coming out on the
..-t side behind the shoulder blade.
y He fell from his horse and when the
sergeant got to him and asked if he
\ was hurt, he said: Eyes, sergeant,
but was unable to say more. The SER
1 ,geant said, however he knew the lieu
\ tenant wanted to say, go in and fight
h 1t out. The surgeon reports that he
II could have suffered very little pain.
He died in very few minutes.
Died in Thick of Battle.
4 ut is a pleasure to me, as it must
Z be to you, to know that he died as ev-
4 cry soldier wants to, at the head of his
Il men in the thick of battle doing his
duty to the very last. No soldier can
ask fur more and know that it was
as he wished it to be-
Mourn His Death.
1T has been my privilege to have
arge of his body and to have been
se to do all the last sad rites. ]
re now yrelinquished it to the care
his brother officers who are more
eyed than it is possible to tell al
SSass. Not only the officers of the
- cavalry but those of the
a. 8 his fellow classmates and
thos Snew him in other regi
ments, rn the loss, not only tc
country as well.
Honor Shown Him.
Needless to say that every honor
has been shown to him, not only in
u toYn here, but all along the route
+ f.anA .Penaranda The adjutant of the
regiment will speak for all his broth
II % ofncers."
Tropical Flowers on casket.
4
Chaplain Walkley write: "By he
roic effort, Lieutenant Dualey arrived
y with the remains in time for embalm
4 ing.
1T was beautiful to witness the ten
der solicitude of his companions, the
officers of the Fourth cavalry, thai
everything possible be done to mani
fest their great esteem for their late
companion. Beautiful flowers wert
sent to decorate the casket, together
with the American flag, emblem of the
great nation, our own for which he
gave his life while charging the
enemy as only brave man can.
1--WE held the service at 8 p. m. IL
the mortuary chapel and the field ant
staff and many officers of the line o
s the Fourth cavalry were present. TIL
1 { . n