The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-30

head. The surgeons pFophesied his
death before the following morning
he lay in the hospital for nine months,
however, before ultimately recover
ing his strength and regaining his
faculties. a large scar on his shoulder
shows the mark of bullet as il plOwed
its way through the flesh, and the lead
yet remains in the scouts body, whne
in his side is a reminder of the red
mans unerring aim.
IL would be difficult to name a trail
in Indian Territory, Northern Texas,
New Mexico or Arizona, which Capt.
Bennett has not followed in his pursuit
of his chosen calling as a scout on the
frontier. He carries the highest rec
concentrations signed by Generals
Crook, Miles, FOrsythe, Mckenzie,
Colonel Morrow and other noted army
leaders against the Indians, which
speak in the highest terms of his un
questioned ability and daring. His
career has run almost parallel with that
Poet Scout"
1t is not often that a man has an OPP
portunity to read his own obituary and
also see his photograph as he appear
ed Just previous to his death, yet Mr..
Bennett has experienced this novel
sensation.
1T was in 1885," said Mr.. Bennett.
referring to the incident which led TO
the report of his death being telegraph
ed East; and Republication Of his pho
tograph and obituary in Frank Leslie's
Weekly of June 27th, 1885. Il have
been in q number of scraps during my
life. but that one down in Arizona was
a little the closest shave OF all. Old
Geronimo had broken away from the
White Mountain Agency and was head
ing toward the Mexican line. l was
notified by courier TO locate the chief 5
whereabouts and / started at once from
camp TO reconnoiter the country and
look for Indian signs. One man &C
companied me. As We approached a
rocky gorge we advanced without any
hesitation, having seen no evidences OF
redskins in the neighboThOOd.
Just as we were fairly of the plain
a yolley OF rife shots burst from be-
hind the rocks. My horse quiyered and
as he fell my companion and his horse
sank in the agOnies of death. / saw at
a glance that / could do nothing for
my comrade, and before my horse
touched the ground l sprang from the
saddle and took refuge behind the
rocks on the left OF the canyon. Six
bullets had passed through my cloth
ing without drawing blood. With a
carbine and two revolyers, / was able
to keep the blOOdthirsty devils al bay
until dark. Every time saw anything
ike an Indian projecting from a rock
1 let fly, and they served me with the
same kind OF medicine. AS soon as II
was dark I crawled from rock 10 rock
being then on an equal footing with the
enemy. Eight miles away found sew
eral prospeCtOrs in camp. We went
back to the scene OF the fight, but they
had left the canyon. In the meantime
/ party OF wOOd-chOppers had passed
along the trail and found the dead man
and the horses. L was from their re.
port that the announcement Of my IN
timely death was made"
/ Speaking OF the sufferings which
/ scouts and plainsmen had 10 endure
during the early days OF the opening o.
the great West, NJ. Bennett said:
zone incident will never die in n!
memory. On a trip in the middle o
summer from Camp Supply 70 one o
| the forts in New Mexico, l lost tn
trail and wandered for three days OF
the desert without a bite 10 eat or