The Washington herald., 1906-11-13

Bakersfield, Cal, Nov. I2.-Maj. Gen.
William Rufus Shafter died at i2.5
O'Clock to-day at the ranch Of his son-in-
law. Ca9t McKittrick, after an illness Of
one week.
The remains win be taken on Wedues-
day evening ID san Francisco. where the
fgntsal, with full military honors. VIII BE-
held al the Prpsidio
Gen. ShaftCT contracted the cold which
led to his death as he was returning from
voting last Tuesday. lie was compelled
to take 10 his bed. and an examination by
his physicians showed that he was suffer
ing from an acute attack Of pneumonia
Wednesday and Thursday showed 10
Improvement, and on Friday afternoon
Or. Hertzstein. of san Francisco. was
summoned. He was unable 10 go. but sent
another physician. Later there was a
slight rally in the generals condition.
This encouraged his daughter and other
relatives. but it was brief
Career Was EventfuI.
William Rufus Shafter was born at
Galesburg. Mich. October IS. 1875. His
father was d farmer and the boz. spent
his early years at the hard tasks Of a
farmers son. His early education he
gained at country schools in the winter
when there was TO work to do at home.
Shafter taught school three years be-
fore the outbreak OF the civil war. When
the war came he entered the Seventh
Michigan Volunteers as a first lieutenant
He served with distinction throughout the
70 .,.,---.-.,rr4f.-,r--
Nineteenth Michigan Infantry. lieutenant
colonel and colonel OF the Seventeenth
United States Negro Regiment and was
brevetted brigadier general in March.
1915, for meritoriOus service in the field.
Mustered out Of volunteer service in
November. 1865. Shafter entered the reg
ulary army rs a lieutenant colonel in Jam
uaTy of the following year. In March. 1851.
Silafter received a Congressional medal OF
nonor for distinguished service IN the
battle OF Fair Oaks. He was assigned TO
the Twenty-fourth Infantry as its colo
Eel IN 1869. and for many succeeding years
ne saw hard service in the Indian cam
paigns in the West
In Cuban Campaign.
He became brigadier general in 1897
and was assigned to the command Of the
Department Of California. When the war
with Spain came. Gen. Shafter was s-ade
a major general OF volunteer and was
sent to Cuba in command = the American
forces OF invasion.
Gen. Skaters army landed nj Sihonav
ana thenceforth he cO-oDerated with Ad-
mlral sampson, i'm command OF the feet
on Santiago, for the reduction of tile cjtv
and received the surrender of the Spanish
commander. Gen. ToraL After Santiago
had caoitulated there were some hsrsb
criticisms Of Shafter and his strategy. ana
for time it appeared that the SampSon-
Schley controversy would be duplicated b,,
second quarrel over the cCnduct of the
lana campaign. The gist of the criticism,
passed upon Skaters campaign was thai
II had been clumsily done and at a loss
greater than the exigencies OF the prob
lem warranted.
After the close of the Spanish war Gen.
Shafter resumed his command of the De-
partments of California and Columbia. re-
naming In the service until June 80. 1901.
when ne retired. Since that time he had
been living on his ranch at Bakersfield
Cal.
Gen. Shafter WIS a member of the
United Spanish War Veterans. the First
Regiment. District of Columbia Volun-
teeTs, having served under him in the Fifth
Army Corps Department Commander
Mitchell last night issued the regrets of
the department TO Capt. McKittrick and
his wife, who have many friends in Wash
ingtOn.
Army to Accord HOnOrS.
The news of the death of Gen. Shafter
was received too late for Official action By
the Var Department yesterday. Orders
will probably be issued to-day providing
for a military funeral, the appointment of
palibeareTs, and the arrangement I'm detail
OF the Obsequies.
The Army and Navy Club Will also take
suitable action
Newest Winter Fabrics from Abroad.
SUitings & OvercOatings in distinctive pat
terms. Ell. Snyder & Co., ,Tailors,1111 Pa.av