Evening star., 1902-02-15
GEN. LLOYD WHEATON.
Anecdotes of the Brave Officer Whose
Soldiers Idolize Him.
From the Chicago Tribune.

FROM ~" Chicago Tribune.
Gen. Lloyd Wheaton, whose frankness in
EXPIRE ssing his opinions has stirred UP a
number OF senatorial critics, will not lack
Tor defenders. Practically without excep-
tton The men who have served under him
whom they fnndly call Dad" Wheaton.
would fight for him to the last ditch against
any odds. Even among the general officers
OF the United States army. including so
many men of dauntess courage and splen-
did character. there are few who rank with
W Wheaton, IN personal popularity among the
enlisted men. In appearance he is the
, Ideal soldier, tall and straight as pine
tree. His thick hair is jet black and the
lower part of his face is covered with a
black beard, set off by pair of long and
hercely pointed black mustaches. On horse
back especially he looks the part of q pirate
klnS. and his voice Is a deep bass OF tre-
mendous power that can be heard at great
distances.
1t is a favorite joke with the soldiers in
the islands that "Old Dad needs no staff
because he can make himself heard half a
mile without straining himself. Most en-
dearing of all, from the standpoint Of the
common soldier. Gen. Whs alton never spares
himself. and many a little outpost hard
pressed by an overpowering force OF the
nlssers. has been inspired by the roaring
command Of "old Dad''-"C;o in bows, Go
in!'-whiie he himself, riding like a CEN
taur. led the charge far in advance of the
advancing column. Even his presence is
inspiring. In many a hot skirmish. when
the men have become tired and scattered
his tremendous voice. believing in the dis
tance. has had the effect Of a trumpet cali
or the arrival of a regiment of reinforce
ments
Brace up. boys" the call will go across
the scattered lines, here comes old Dad"
and then rusheS into the fight the big bay
horse, topped by the big fierce man, with
his black beard, and all is over but the
shouting.
Enlisted men returned from service In the
Islands tell all sorts of little stories of
Gen. Wheaton. For instance there was the
night after the landing at San Fabian. Six
gunboats had gone down the coast to
cover the landing of lot of men under
Gen. Wheaton. who were loaded on a cou-
pie OF army transports. While the gun
boats shelled the town Wheaton got his
men into launches and other small boats
and waited for the first chance to get
ashore. Once or twice his eagerness led
him to push ahead within range of the gun
boats fire, and each time he had to face
about and retire, much to the amusement
or the men, bobbing about on the swell in
their little boats. Finally the party landed
under hot fire from the insurgents, and
rushed the town. After pickets had been
thrown out and all arrangements made for
guarding against q night attack. Gen.
Wheaton started to turn in, with the idea
OF catching few hours sleep. He and his
square and opened the door leading into the
corner room. AS they did SO a couple of
privates, who had already laid down to
sleep on the floor, rose speedily, came to
attention, saluted and started to leave the
room.
Here you.' roared ''Old Dad" in his
terrifying voice, 'you boys need sleep Just
as much as do. Lie down again and go
to s,eep."
So the commanding general and couple
of prlvates went to sleep side by side on the
floor. But early in the morning. before any
one else was awake, Gen. Wheaton got up
and went out all alone on a accommodating
tour. He closed the door. and it locked be-
hind him with a spring lock. Several times
during the night stragsiers had come
pounding on the door, and had been ordered
away by the somewhat sulphurc orderly
1t happened that the orderly had Just got
into sound sleep when the general re-
turned and knocked for admission. The
orderly, who had no idea that Gen. Whea-
ton had gone out. woke up hot and angry.
With all the resources of his picturesque
vocabulary he cursed the man who had dis
turbed him and ordered him to go away
under awful penalties. Now, you clear out
OF here and let sleep, or TH come out
and kick your head off, he roared.
"All right. sergeant" sounded the deep
voice Of "Old Dad" "all right III clear
out. But won't you please let me have my
field glasses first?"