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 Hedrck and Inferred
Monday or Tuesday.
Hedrick, 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 keokulk county's dead
soldier.
Mrs. Morrison Arrives.
Mrs. Frances K 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,
and 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
tain Hunters troop when they went
10 i1o r n,,to nj ir1,f IA
Morning He Was Killed.
"The morning that he was killed he
started out with fifteen men to make
a scout thru the foothills to the south
of Penaranda as directed by his com
manding officer, Gen. Funston. DR..
\ Deaton, the assistant surgeon, went
with him and gives the following &C.
/ count of the fight:
II 1t was about $3.50 in the afternoon
Il and they had been marching along for
i an hour or two on plainly marked
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
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 a rice
! gulch just in front of him and he
headed straight at him, firing as he
went. Some of the troopers say that
the man fell wounded, and Mr.. Nor
risopsgffd1ng up to within ten feet of
fired twice again, both of the bull
rs 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
side behind the shoulder blade.
He fell from his horse and when the
sergeant got to him and asked if he
Z was hurt he said: Eyes, sergeant,
but was unable to say more. The ser
geant said, however, he knew the lieu
] tenant wanted to say, go in and fight
II IL out. The surgeon reports that he
could have suffered very little pain.
Il He died in very few minutes.
Died in Thick of Battle.
.It is a pleasure to me, as it must
be to you, to know that he died as ev.
cry soldier wants to, at the head of his
men in the thick of battle doing his
duty to the very last. No soldier can
ask for more and know that it was
as he wished it to be.
Mourn His Death.
ut has been my privilege to have
urge of his body and to have beer
se to do all the last sad rites.
re now .relinquished it to the care
his brother officers who are more
eyed than it is possible to tell a
~ IS. loss. Not only the officers of the
ss, . . cavalry but those of the
IL 81 y his fellow classmates ant
thos, snew him in other regi
s1nents, sTn the loss, not only tt
themselvess but to the service and the
country as well.
Honor Shown Him.
Needless to say that every honor
4 has been shown to him, not only il
u toYn here, but all along the route
rom Penaranda. The adjutant of thu
regiment will speak for all his broth
& .. ulncers."
Tropical Flowers on Casket.
Chaplain Walkley write: "By he
role effort, Lieutenant Dualey arrived
with the remains in time for embalm
h ing.
Tt was beautiful to witness the ten
der solicitude of his companions, thu
4 officers of the Fourth cavalry, tina
everything possible be done to mani
Il fest their great esteem for their lat
companion. Beautiful flowers wer,
sent to decorate the casket, togethe
with the American flag, emblem of tn
great nation, our own for which h
gave his life while charging tn
enemy as only brave man can.
1--WE held the service at p. M. i
the mortuary chapel and the field an
staff and many officers of the line c
the Fourth cavalry were present. TIL