, 1882-10-27
Resuuiescat in Pa3e.
LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN F. HANCOCK, Ind
INFANTRY, U. s. A.

A few weeks ago a young otli-
Ger of the army came to Port
Townsend TO take charge of the construc-
tion of the new military telegraph line
from Port Angeles to Cape Flattery, at
the mouth of the Straits of Fuca. Mod
est and unassuming he made but lew ac-
quaintances among our citizens, but his
soldierly bearing and gentlemanly de-
meanor won the respect and regard OF
all with whom he came IN contact. On
Saturday, the 14th inst, the late Lieut.
b. f. Hancock, of whom we are writing,
caught severe cold, which by the Mon
day following, developed into pneumo-
MIA of severe type, Though receiving
the unremitting attentions OF three sur
geons of the army. who fortunately hap
pened to be Fort Townsend, and the
constant care of the officers of the garri-
son, he continued to grow wor e, and at
three o'clock on the afternoon of Friday,
the 10th inst, he quietly entered into the
rest of the beyond.
His funeral was held on Sunday after
noon, and was attended by large num-
Der of our citizens and the friends of the
deceased together with the officers of the
Revenue steamer Oliver Wolcott, and
coast survey schooner Ernest, and the
members of the garrison at Fort Town
send. The services which were very I'M
pressive, were conducted by the Rev, j.
B. Alexander, of the ST. Paurs Episcopal
Church. those who attended the funer-
al will not soon forget the sad scene. A
week of gloom and rain had given place
in the afternoon to bright sunshine,
broken only by few tieecy clouds. The
heavy southeast gale of Sunday morn
ing by noon quietly died away and was
succeeded by slight westerly airs with
intervals of dead calm. hepall. l.bearers
consisted of Capt S. p. Jocelyn, Capt
Thomas II. Bradley, and Assistant-Sur-
geon Owens of the army, and Lleuten-
ants Biondi, Morrisey and Cook OF the
Revenue Marine Service. The massive
and elegant coffin was decked with bo-
quets of exquisite flowers and beauti-
ful wreath of evergreens and immortelle.
The first services were held in the open
air on the broad piazza of the hospital
building at the Fort, then out over the
parade TO the music of drum and fife the
sad possession moved, from the sight of
broad waters and snowy hills into silent
shadows OF evergreen woods to the for
est bordered little graveyard of Fort
TowRsend. Again the Chaplain's voice,
the grand heart lifting prayers of many
years of sorrow and comforting, the
musket volley, the bugle call that seemed
to reach away in the still air to heights
unknown. No more affecting scene can
well be imagined,
Lieut.. Hancock was nephew Of Gen
eral w. s. Hancock, and gave promise Of
being well worthy of his relationship
with the distinguished hero whose family
name he bore. His whole heart was in
his work and profession. In the last hours
OF delirium in his sickness his broth
er officers would catch broken utter
ances regarding the telegraph line and
contracts made or to be executed. All
his mind being in the work entrusted to
him the duty that lay before him.
To his relatives and friends the SYM
pathies of this entire community are
extended. They have the satisfaction
and comfort of knowing that this young
officer strove ever to do his duty in life,
and no higher motive of action remains
for us i'll any sphere.