The San Francisco call., 1897-12-07

and subsequently took a thorough course
in studies of engineering and architect
ure. After some experience in railroad
work in New England be became q divi-
sion superintendent of the Chesa peake and
Ohio canal. He was also an engineer of
the work CT building the Cum bsrland di-
vision of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, and attended the celebration of the
com pletion of the road to the Ohio River
at Wheeling in 1852.
Major Bender came to California TO
serve as assistant engineer at the Mare
Island Navy-yard. Later on he was en-
gagged an engineer in the building of
the Western Pacific Railroad. He held
for six years the office OF Deputy Surveyor
General of California. He was very well
known in Sacramento and ALWAYS enter
tanned great liking for the people of that
city. He lived there when life was full of
sunshine and good cheer
- "A man of refined tastes and superior
literary attainments he found charming
and cCneenial associates in a coterie COM
posed OF Newton Booth, Lucius H. Foote,
Albert Hart, Lauren Z Crane, Mrs. Dunn,
Mrs. Glover and Mrs. Mcneil.
At the solicitation of King Kalakaua
Major Bender went to Honolulu, accept
ing the appointment OF Chief Engineer of
Public Works OF the Hawaiian kingdom.
His duties there were agreeable and his
Impressions of the islands delightful
About four years ago ajor Bender was
knocked down on the street by horse at
tached TO street railroad car. He was
taken from the corner of Market and
Geary streets TO the Bohemian Club. The
doctors found that his spine WAS Injured.
The railroad people manifested the deep
est interest in the welfare of the patient
and were kind enough TO give the crippled
man $500 TO pay for his loss OF time.
Under the guise of friendship, the rail-
road agent to whom the case was assigned
obtained from Major Bender his
memoranda of the accident and a list of
the witnesses of the occurrence. The
ma jor never again saw his list of wit
nesses. 1t dawned on his mind that he
was crippled for lie and would never be
able to walk again Damages could not
| be oblained from the railroad company,
| as the good Samaritan employed by the
corporation to look after the patient had
| smu gled the sick mans papers. AS the
| spinal trouble grew worse the eyesight of
the patient began TO fail. Three years
ago arrangements were made to give tb e
ajor a room and care for life in the
| Crocker Old Peoples Home. He had
| there every comfort that could be be-
slowed. Kind friends visited him, read
| to him and told him what was going on
in the world outside. Month by month
his affections increased. year or so
| later he became stone blind. Thus
| paralyZed and siGhtless, he lay in bed for
more than year, until death came as a
! happy release.
Major Bender was one of the founders
of the Bohemian Club, and during the
! first decade of the clubs life contributed
| to many of its literary functions He
was man of varied accom- plishmen IS,
who had intimately known many men
and women eminent in music, art md
| literature.
His sense of ironical humor did not de-
sert him in his distress. One day he told
| some of his friends of the Bohemian Club
who were visiting him OF a marvellous
stroke of good fortune that had come to a
man In a room on the floor above him.
| When asked to explain Inc nature of the
good fortune, the major replied: "Why,
| he died last night"
| Funeral services were observed at the
| home yesterday afternoon. The remarks
| OF Rev. Mr.. Mckelvey, chaplain OF the in
sltution, were tender and beautiful irib-
| utes TO the accomplishing spirit which
Major Bender evinced in all the trials OF
mis- declining years. III. Nj. Bosworth,
organist, rendered acceptable music.
General Hough ton, Raphael Well, Henry
| Marshall, Sidney NJ. Smith, Mr.. Walker,
| Colin NJ. Smith, Theodo ore Payne, Warren
| Payne, Clinton Palmer and others escorted
! the remains TO the unGertakers s. The body
Will be buried III the Stock ION cemetery
Alongside the graves OF his wife and son.