East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-01-23
GENERAL OWEN
SUMMERS PASSES
REyERED OREGON SOLDIER
DIES SUDDENLY SATURDAY
Pneumonia Claims Famous Veteran
of Civil and Philippine Wars
Commanded Second Oregon-Won
High Praise.

Brigadier- General owen Summers,
commander of the famous fighting
Second oregon Volunteers in the
Philippine war, for many years Unit
ed States appraiser for the Port Of
Portland, one of the youngest veter-
ans of the civil war and one Of the
early-day merchants of this city, died
at his home at Fifteenth and Halsey
streets, at 1915 o'clock saturday
night, after an Illness OF pneumonia
lasting less than two days. He was
60 years Of age.
General Summers was in his usual
good health and attended regularly to
his duties at the customs house until
Friday afternoon, when he was
stricken with his fatal illness. His
condition soon became serious and,
although recovery was despaired of,
the end was not expected until with
in few minutes before he died. DR..
Sanford Whiting, the attending ply
sician, announced yesterday evening
that it would have been impossible
for General Summers to survive more
than As hours.
Soldier When But II.
Although a native of Canada, being
born at Brockville, ont, June Is,
1850, General Summers early life was
spent in the United States. AS an in
fant he came to Chicago with his par
ents At the age of Il he went TO La
Center, Ill, to attend school and while
there he and three companions, of
whom he was the youngest, ran away
to enlist in the army. He first was
rejected because Of his youth and his
deficiency in weight and height, but
securing the consent of an impro-
yised guardian" he was accepted. He
entered the service February l, 1865,
at Dixon, Ill. and was mustered into
company H. Third Illinois cavalry. He
took part in several important en-
gagements in Mississippi, Alabama,
Tennessee, Kentucky and the Caro-
linas. At the close of the war he was
sent on an Indian expedition against
the Sioux in Minnesota and Dakota
and was mustered out December II,
1865. afer which he returned to Lee
county. Illinois, where he resumed
farming.
Island Record Notable
But his most notable war record
was that gained during the campaign
in the Philippines. AS lieutenant
colonel in the First Regiment Oregon
National Guard he gained distinction
in military affairs and when the Sec
ond Oregon volunteers were organ
lied at the opening of the war with
Spain he was made colonel.
FIlipinos' Bullets Faced.
The regiment went into camp May
1 1898. and three days thereafter the
organization Of the field and staff
was made. on May "a the pen set
sail for the Philippines, this being the
first expedition to leave the United
States for war in a foreign country
Eight days later they arrived at Hon.
olulu. on June 20 they touched at
the Island of Guam and the next day
two companies disembarked and Sc
cured its surrender. On the last day
of the same month the ship bearing
the troops anchored in Manila bay of
Cavite and one the two following
days the men landed.
During the first few weeks they
saw little service, but took part ii
the siege around the walled city, re
ceiving the surrender Of $1,000 Span
ish troops there August 13.-For th'
remainder of the year the regimen
was stationed in the barracks at Guar
tel de Espana. Early in 1899 fight
ing around the city OF Manila started
the insurgents being driven from thei
trenches by General Summers me-
February 5. Skirmishes and battle
took place almost daily, General Sum
mers leading his troops into the thick
est of the fighting, himself facing tn
enemies bullets at times when expe
diency might have seemed the bette
part Of valor. The fighting continue
through the spring Of 1893, the Ore
gon regiment taking part in no les
than Sc engagements.
Great Praise Won.
While General Summers always ha
attributed much Of the glory that wa
won by the Second Oregon to bra1
cry Of his men, the correspondent
that passed between General Lawtoi
General Merritt, General Wheatc
and others in higher command, r
fees great credit upon him as lea'
er, as a commander and as patrio
The regiment sailed for home Mi
20, 1899. and was mustered out Il
following August I.
On the eve Of his departure fro
the Philippines, General Merritt wro
General Summers letter expressil
in strong terms his appreciation Of Il
manner in which he and his troo
performed the very difficult and de
cate duties Of acting as provost ma
shai and provost guard following Il
capituiatlon IF Mania.
General Lawton wrote in sinil
vein at the time the regiment was r
lieved from his command. 1t "
following the remarkable successf
engagements Of Mallabon, Maasi