Evening star., 1900-05-26
DROPPED FROM THE ROLLS
MAJOR ROCKEFELLER NOT HEARD
OF SINCE APRIL, 1899.
Reported by the Filipinox That He
Had Killed Himself Case of
Capt. Bonneville Recalled.

The name of Maj. Charles NJ. Rockefeller
of the 9th Infantry who disappeared in the
Philippines in April 1859. has been dropped
from the army register, and Capt. w. w.
McCammon. 4th Infantry, has been pro-
NOTED to the vacancy thus created.
Maj. Rockefeller's name had been re-
tained on the rolls of the army for more
than year, in the hope that he would turn
up all right. but such was not the case.
Shortly after his arrival in the Philippines,
In April 1899. he went out to inspect out
posts one night and was never again seen
by his comrades. For some time 1t was
supposed he had been assassinated and his
body thrown into one of the wells or pits
In the vicinity of camp. Every effort was
made to discover his whereabouts or to re-
cover his body, in case he had been killed.
but to no avail. About two months after
his disappearance reports were received
from southern Luzon that American Of
hcer was held as prisoner by the insur-
gents, and from the description given it was
believed to be Maj. Rockefeller. Again, in
January rescued Spanish major reported
In Manila that he had seen Maj. Rockefel-
Ter in northern Zambales, and another
Spanish officer reported having seen him a,
short time before In southern Luzon. All
these reports were inconclusive, but caused
renewed efforts to be made. with a view to
determining whether or not Maj. Rockefel-
Ter was alive and in the hands of the in
surgentS.
ROckefeIIer's Suicide Reported.
AT the time of the delivery of the four
teen American prisoners by the insurgents
they were asked by the officers to investt-
gate and If possible discover what had be-
come of Maj. Rockefeller. Maj. Ganzales,
an insurgent officer, who subsequently came
in with a flag of truce. stated that the ma
5or had been captured, but he was of un-
sound mind, and had subsequently COM
mitted suicide, and that the insurgents had
no reason to pretend that he was still alive
Some of the prisoners said they had been
shown the spot where the major was buried
These various reports were not considered
conclusive at the War Department. and SO
Maj. Rockefeller has been borne upon the
rolls for more than a year. Although his
successor has been nominated there is no
doubt he would be restored to the army
with all his rights, should 1t hereafter be
discovered that he is still a prisoner in the
hands of the insurgents.
Capt. BonneviIie's Case.
This case brings to mind a very celebrated
one, which happened in the army many
years ago, when Capt. Bonneville was cap
tured by the Indians and remained in their
hands for several years. This was before
the day OF railroads in the west and even
after he escaped it was long time before
he reached military posts where he could be
identlhed Congress restored him all rights
IN the army, and gave to him all the back
pay which had accrued during his captivity
At the time Of his disappearance Mai.
RockeIeller was serving captain of the
9th Infantry, but his promotion had already
taken place as major of the 9th Infantry
He entered the service as a private of the
7th New York in 1861, and was mustered
OUT as a hrSt lieutenant of the 17Sth New
York Infantry in April 1866 In 1867 he en-
tered the 9th Infantry, and continued with
that regiment for more than thirty years.
During the war with Spain Maj. Rockefeller
accompanied Gen. Grant to Porto Rico ana
served through the Porto Rican campaign
prior to going to Manila with his regiment