Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-13
GENERAL SHAFTER
CALLED BY DEATH
SUCCUMBS TO AN ATTACK OF
PNEUMONIA
Aged Veteran Makes a Brave Struggle,
but Efforts Of Medicine Men
to Save Him Are In
Vain
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
BAKERSFIELD Call Nov. 12-Major
General William Rufus shafter, U. s.
A., retired, died at 12:45 p. m. today at
the ranch of Captain w. K. McKitt-
rick, his son-in-law, 20 miles south of
this city, after an illness of seven days
duration, despite the best medical at
tentlon in California.
While returning from the polls last
STuesday he contracted severe chill
which augmented slight indisposltlon
and necessitated confinement to his bed.
DR.. T. w. Mitchell, the local family
physician. was at once summoned.
The patient failed to improve and DR..
A. Shafer was called in for consulta-
tlon. Intestinal obstruction was dis
covered but 1t was determined that this
was a secondary affllction brought
about by an acute attack of pneumonia.
Wednesday and Thursday no improve
ment was noticed and Friday afternoon
DR.. M. H. Herzstein of San Francisco
was communicated with.
Unable to depart at once DR.. I. W.
Thorne was dispatched in DR.. Herr
STEMS stead. DR.. Thorne arrived early
Saturday morning and together with
the local physicians diligently watched
theh patient all that day.
1ntheafternoon a slight rally was de-
tected and relatives and physicians
were extremelyhopeful but the change
was short lived. At 10 o'clock a sinking
spell seized the veteran. Dr. HerzStein
arrived shortly after midnight Sunday
morning and after being hurriedly
driven to the generals side a consulta-
tion was held with the other physicians
in attendance.
Too Weak for Operation
1t is stated that DR.. Herzstein deemed
an operation the only means of relief
from the intestinal obstruction, but the
condition of the patient would forecast
nothing but fatal results in such an at
tempt. DR.. Herzstein, accompanied by
Dr. Thorne. returned to San Francisco
by the first train, all hope of saving the
gallant hero being abandoned.
Left in charge of DR.. Mitchell the bat
tie against desperate odds began and |
through it all the aged veteran bore up
as he has done In other campaigns |
Always cheerful and hopeful. his mind |
clear and cognizant of his critical con-
dition. the patient remained conscious
until o'clock this morning.
Pure oxygen, sent from San Fran
cisco, performed great work in keep
ing life, but after midnight and early
this morning a constant weakening was
discerned.
DR.. Mitchell and the trained nurses
labored untiring, but the valiant war
general, doomed to defeat in his last
and greatest battle. lapsed in uncon-
seiousness at 8 o'clock and remained in
that condition until death.
AT his bedside were relatives who
kept constant vigil throughout the
long night. Captain and Mrs. w. H.
McKittrick, son-in-law and daughter,
Miss Edmons, niece, and Captain
James N. Shafter. a brother. were at
his side when the end came.
William Rufus Shafter was born at
Galesburg, Mich, October 16. 1885. At
the outbreak of the Civil War he en-
tered the Seventh Michigan infantry.
He participated in the battles of Fair
Oaks, Savage Station, Glendale and
Malvern Hill.
He was appointed major September 8.
1852. He was taken prisoner at Thomp-
sons Station, Tennessee in March, 1868
and exchanged in May of the same year
He was made lieutenant general June
5, 1858, and became colonel of the Seven
teenth United States colored troops
April 10, 1864; brevet brigadier general
of volunteers for gallant and meritori-
Gus service.
He was mustered out of the volun-
teer service November 2, 1866. He en-
tered the regular army and became
lieutenant colonel Of the Forty-first in
fantry January 26 1867.
He was assigned to the Twenty-fourth
infantry April IA, 1862 Colonel of the
First infantry March 4. 1879, and briga-
der general May 3, 1897
On the breaking out of the Spanish
American war he was given command
Of the army modified for the invasion
of Cuba.
His first decisive 'ove was the land
ing of 10000 men in Cuba in about
twelve hours without an accident.
He conducted the military operation,
resulting in the surrender of Santiago
de Cuba.
After the war he commanded the de-
partment of California and Columbia
in 1S99-1901, and was retired June 8,
1901.
INTERMENT TO BE. AT