The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-07-25
WIFE SENDS NEWS
TO SOUTH CAROLINA


News OF Maj. VI Buffers death
yesterday aGternc.n in Alpine, Texas,
at tie @a.&s Of civilian. reached
Columbia late last evening in the
form of a dispatch to The State. fol-
lowed closely by a telegram from his
wife to her husbands brother, F. W.
p. Butler, NJ. D., Of 1913 Pickens
street. Mrs Butler wired: 'Galbraith
killed tonight. As soon as possible |
shall start with his body for Wash
ington. via New Orleans
Mai. Buffers promotion to the lieu
tenant colonelcy of the Sixth cav
airy, squadron of which he has been
commanding at Maria, Texas, was an
nounced in press dispatches from
Washington under date of July II.
Alpine is few miles east of Maria,
at the junction of the Southern Pa
cifc railway with the K. c., M. & o.
The district is in the great bend OIL
the Rio Grande in southwestern Tex
as Below it are the Mexican states
of Chihuahua and Coahulia. Ell Paso is
about IT'S miles to the northwest.
Leaves One Son.
Mrs. Butler, formerly Miss Marga-
ret Howell, had only recently Joined
her husband on the border, after a
visit to, her old home in Nashville.
Mai. Butler leaves but one child, a
nine year old son, NJ. C Butler, Sd,
who is at a mountain resort in Ten
nessee.
Mai. Butler was son of the latt'
Matthew Calbraith Butler Of Edge
field, S. c., who was major genera.
Of the Confederate States army, SER
ved 1S years in the United States SEN
ate as a member from South Carolina
and was a major general OF voIun-
teers in the Spanish-American war.
One of his grandmothers was a sister
to both of the Commodores Perry OF
the United States navy. His mother
was daughter of Francis w. Pickens
the "war governor" Of South Caro-
lima.
Less than fortnight ago the fol-
lowing sketch of Maj. Buffers career
was written by. relative in Columbia
for The State.
Matthew Calbraith Butler was
born in Edgefeld, South Carolina
May 1, 1864, the youngest son of Gen
M C. Butler of the Confederate States
army. Calbraith, as he was called
was prepared for college at the Edge
field schools and was for a year OF
two a cadet in the Carolina Military
institute at Charlotte, presided over
by John Peyre Thomas. He. was {
student in Union college in Schenec-
tady, N. Y, when he received from
George d Tillman, member Of con-
gress, an appointment to West Point
He was graduated from the military
academy in 1888.
ellis first assignment was to the in
fantry, but he was soon transferred
to the Fifth cavalry, a regiment which
had great prestige and in which
Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney John
ston, Fitzhugh Lee and N. G. Evans
had served as officers. He passed
through the several grades from Sec
ond lieutenant in the Fifth cavalry
and the Seventh.
"His father, when he entered the
army, warned him against becoming
a rocking chair soldier He had al
ways followed the rule Of going where
he was sent and doing his duty as
best he could. He was detailed fo7
one year in Washington and was glad
to get back to the field. He has a
reputation for horsemanship and
while a first lieutenant was instruc-
tor in riding at West Point. He has
had more foreign service than an,
other oh4cer in his regiment
DR.. Butler will probably join the
funeral party en- route from Texas to
Washington. The interment presum-
ably will be in Arlington cemetery.
n