The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-17
He eesvseo 70 msss VITA raE orHea HORSES:

Billy. There are parts of his
career that may be open to crit
icism, but those who knew him in the
days Of his power are disposed to over
look those qualities Of his character
which made Of him at times an OBJ
nOXious tyrant. Billy's sway extended
over q people including two races. Both
the cOnquering Americans and the in
surgent FilipinOs bowed meekly be-
fore his autOcratic will. Billy was
American born and reared but it is not
on record that he ever displayed any
partially toward his white cOmpatri-
OTIS. on the contrary, it was to the
persuasions of the Filipino children
that he showed himself most anne
nable, but then, it must be remembered
there were no American children in
Nigan at that time. When his old MAS
ters death first raised Billy to auto
cratic power, he-but let me begin my
narrative in its proper chronological
order
Gen. LawtOn's advance against the
northern division of the insurgent Fill
ipin0 army will always be remembered
as a firm, vigorous campaign, temper
ed by a spirit of humanity unusual in
the histories of past marches of con-
quest. LaWtOn's forbearance and keen
sense of justice toward the conquer
ed. forever endeared him in the hearts
of those who fought him.
This has nothing in particular to do
with old Billy, except that Lawton
rode him throughout that northern
campaign, and he became so identified
with the American general that he
came in for a certain share of the re-
spect accorded his master by the ma
tives. At that time Billy was such
gentle old beast that the children could
pat his long, solemn face, and Billy
would nibble bananas and tufts of
grass from their little brown hands
The American commander might be
holding a very important consultation
with his aids in the plaza, when sud-
denly old Billy would spy group of
children coming up the street and then
the discussion of campaign plans would
be mOmentarily interrupted by the
general finding himself carried off into
the approaching crowd of Juveniles.
When Gen. LaWton was recalled to
Manila and Young continued the ad-
vance, it was found inadvisable to take
Billy back to the coast for two reasons.
First, the general must return by rail-
which to carry Billy, and then Billy's
period of active field work was nearly
at an end. Already we'll on in years.
the vigorous campaign through trop-
zeal swamps and jungles had taken
the remaining elasticity out of his old
limbs So it was decided to let him go
on with Young's Third cavalry as a
sort of camp follower.
7 a hod al ell
good-by at the railway station. Take
good care of the sergeant" were his
last words
Thus Billy ambled along in the wake
Of the advancing army, nibbIing here
and there by the wayside, dropping be-
hind often, but always showing UP
morning and evening when barley ra--
lions were served out. In this way he
reached Nigan, where Young establish
ed his permanent headquarters as mil
1tary governor Of the northern prov
inces.
Some months after this came the
news of LaWton'S death at San Mateo
For days the flags were half-masted
and some of the insurgent leaders even
sent in notes Of sympathy. There was
genuine mourning all over the land.
In Nigan especially the sorrow was
deep, for the men there had fought
under La%ton. Their thoughts turned
towards old Billy, who had carried
their dead leader through the worst
campaign of the war They united
him from the picket lines and led him
out into the plaza. and there gave him
an honorable discharge from active
service, to come and go as he might
please about the town, on government
pension. Billy looked a bit bewildered
at first, but presently started off to ex-
pIore the street, and as he passed the