The morning call., 1893-05-07

stricken down in that way. l cant see why
in the world she did not get out of town
when II was known that the man was dan
gerous."
'It WAS fortunate for him that he shot
himself, too," broke in Ensign Boyden.
''Tha, is a wild country up there. and Cap
tain Bennett was thought a great deal Of.
Hoskins would have been lynched by the
people In short order, sure as you were
born"
Ida May Bennett was born in Ell Dorado
County, Cal, in 1868, 10 she celebrated her
thirIeth birthday last summer. Some of
her relatives Lave died of consumption. and
fears have been felt concerning her health
OF late, as she was plainly overtaxing her
strength.
About month ago she took short rest
AT one of the army's retreats, aud one of her
sisters wrote to Lieutenant Wagner asking
II she knew whether or not Ida was sick
She stated in the letter that if Ida was
taking rest that meant she was sick, be-
cause she never would give up work until
positively incapacitated for its continuance.
She graduated at the Normal College, San
Jose. and Immediately began teaching In
the public schools in the southern part of
the State. making her headquarters at the
home of Mrs. GoodseIl, her sister.
Lieutenant Wagner was also public
school teacher at the time and lived at Mrs
GoodselPs. Here is where the two girls
formed an intimacy that has resulted in O
lifelong friendship.
Miss Bennett was a member of the Pres
byteran church and especially active in
church work Her energy and tact ma
teTlally assisted in augmenting the con-
gregation and popularizing her special
church in the community.
She also about this time canvassed San
Bernardin0 County and collected funds to
establish library for the benefit Of the in
mates of the County Hospital. The library
OF ha TINA Nit Ia tIat
she raised and is kept up to-day.
About three years ago she became greatly
Interested IN the undertakings of the Saliva
ton Army and visited Los Angeles for the
| purpose of looking into the work. 1t was
| against the wishes of her family that she
| should cast her lot with the army. and be-
| Ing thoroughly imbued with the idea of de-
| voting her life to the service of the II
| mighty, she prepared to 90 TO Siam as a
| Presbyterian missionary.
She was on her way TO that distant shore
| when she came to this city little less than
three years ago. and again paid attention to
the doings of the army. She then decided
to join and did so.
She went through the course OF training
at the barracks in the old Adeiphi Theatsr
and was made lieutenant to assist Captain
Edwards at Corps No. on Mission street
near Fifteenth, where she remained from
December. $780, to Febru ary, 1891. She
was then sent to Seattle, where she was
promoted to the rank OF captain. From
there she went to Vancouver, where she
had signal success converting the United
States regulars stationed there. A few
months afterward she was deleg gated to
take charge at Helena, Mont, and after
ward was stationed al Butte, Mont, whence
few months ago she was removed 10
Spokane.
Her career in the North Pacific Division
of the army has been made up OF a series of
triumphs. and her death falls like an over
shad0wing pail on the community where she
was very widely known. She was called
the General OF the North" by her fellow
soldiers on the coast.
AT the end of the present month 800 Off
GERS and upward are to be moved to different
places from where they are now. This is
customary at specified periods In the army.
Captain Bennett had been ordered to Port
land, Or, and was making preparations to
go there when the fatal pistol shots were
fired into her breast.
The peculiar position a fpretty girl Ioccu-
pies In her public work in the Salvation
Army lays her open to the possible assaults
OIL eranks, who are not prevented from fall
ing IN love with the lassies if they choose to
do SO. In small burg in the British Isles,
some years ago, they were Obliged to smug-
gle two Salvation Army girls out of the
town IN the night to evade some men who
had fallen in love with them.
a local instance of mans importantly In
similar direction occurred in this city.
not long ago. A man who was enamored of
damsei who wore a halleluiah bonnet
pretended to be converted aud got as far as
the training-sehoot at the Mission. so that
he could see and talk to the object of his
affections. She was almost frightened to
death, but he was summarily dismissed
from the army-in short, forcibly kicked
Out, and that was the end Of 1t.