The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-08-05
BROKEN IN >PIRIT SMITH COMES
HOME
Author of Kill and Burn Order Which
transform. Island OF Samar iUto a
HowllnS Wilderness-He Shows His
Age Now

San FRANCISCO, Aug. --otaHuluS
on the bridge of the Thomas, eagerly
waiting with the ships captain for
glimpse of his native %hore, Gen.
Jacob H. Smith, tried by court
martial for having ordered tue island
of Ssmar transferred into bowling
wilderness, was, doomed this morn
ing to learn for the first that the
president had retired him from &C.
tive duty. The pilot boat which met
the Thomas just outside the Heads
at 2 o'clock this morning brought to
Gen. Smith the first news of the
presidents action.
In the falling light of a pinnacle
lamp the veteran read the message
that spprised him of his fate. An
hour later the dawn came and with
it the sight of land, but Gen. Smith
had retired to his cabin, where with
his wife and chief aide, Lieut.. j. Il.
Shields of the Twelfth infantry, he
discussed the outcome of long ordeal
through which he had passed.
Six hours later. when the Thomas
reached the quarantine station IN
the harbor, Maj. Duval of the trans
port service boarded the ship with
his secretary and was met by Gen.
Smith and Lieut.. Shields at the
door of the generals cabin. A
sealed document from the war de-
| psrtment was handed Gen. Smith.
It contained the official notification
of President Roosevelt's action, and
| upon reading it Gen. Smith retired,
overcome with emotion.
Gen. Smith was not seen again
until the United States custom house
tender, the Hartley, was ready to
take the general and his party
ashore. He denied himself to all IN
terviewers, who were met by Lieut.
Shields. Together with his wife
| and aide Gen. Smith proceeded tc
the Occidental hotel, repairing
thence to army hesdqu rters IN the
Phelau building, where he T. maineo
during the morning.
"Gen. Smith has absolutely moth
lug to say for publication" sa'c
Lieut.. Shields 70 representative o.
the Associated Press. "He is not a
liberty to talk and, furthermore, ha;
nothing to say. He has been hope
| full that the president would not
take action against him, and O.
course feels keenly the force OF th'
blow be has received. The genera
admitted to the courtmartial trying
him that he had issued orders which
in effect expressed his desire tha
the enemy, if obdurate and u0con
ouerable, be not spared-ln fact tha
the country be laid to waste and nc
prisoners be taken. The literal con
struction of these orders and thel
exact Interpretation made up the bul
wark of evidence against the genera
at the courtmartial There is nc
doubt but that Gen. Smith did no
mean all he said. He certaiuly die
not expect the action which the pres
ident has taken"
| Geu. Smith, who is wearing civil
lian attire, appeared exceeding!
nervous and worn. His 81 years arr
plainly read in his every action anc
his Intimate friends fear he is break
ing down under the severe strain tx
which he has been subjected jill re-
cent months.
It is not known when Gen. Smith
vii. proceed east. His sealed order:
require him to report to the adjntan'
general at Washington, and it Ii
likely he will lose no time in start
| ing for the national capital.