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

Frank p Bennett, the famous scout
Of the United States Army for more
than twenty years. the friend and COM
panion of such noted plainsmen and
Indian fighters as Buffalo Bill, Wild
Bill (Hickok), JACK" Sullwell, Amos
Chaplain, "Old" Jones, and in fact near
ly all the scouts who made thrilling his
tory during the Indian campaigns from
1867 to 1885, has been familiar figure
on the streets OF Honolulu for nearly
suit, wearing a cowboy sombrero OF
large proportions and brim, and top
laced tan boots, his appearance on the
streets has caused passers-by 70 take
more than a casual glance at him. But
few knew that beneath that sOmbTero
was a man whose history has been q
checkered one, and beset from early
manhood by all the peTils Of Indian
campaigning and frontier life.
He is a handsome, blue-eyed man,
already past the half century side of
life. His hair and mustacne are tinged
with gray, and a suspicious tremor in
his voice, gives evidence Of the effect
of the life Of exposure and hardships,
of dangers from wild men and savage
beasts, 10 which a large part Of his life
has been subjected. Mr.. Bennett is
modest and unassuming in his manner,
and when first approached upon the
subject of his experiences by an Ad-
vertiser reporter, was inclined to be
reticent. a few questions relative 70
his former friends in the scout service,
however, soon put Linn in a smiling and
reminiscent mood, and were be TO tell
all the incidents which have passed
under his notice while on the frontier
enough material could be gathered to
fill a large-siZed volume.
Since annexation the scout has been
stationed in Honolulu in charge Of the
transportation department ~ Camp
Mckinley. under Colonel Ruhlen. Gil
mate and time do not change the old
scouts ways and he is content and bet
ter satisfied 20 wear his broad brimmed
sombrerO OF the plains, the eaTmark Of
the frOntiersman, than 10 don the more
civilized Panama hat. a stranger pass
ng him in the street would not imagine
that this unasSuming man has sent
many a redskin 10 the happy hunting
ground, and led in many fierce fOray
in the mountains and plains e the
great west.
His career has hardly been less
readable than that OF Buffalo Bill or
Kit Carson. aud he also, like them, has
been an integral factor in assisting to
redeem a wide expanse OF country from
the rule Of the tomahawk. He has fol-
lowed the Indians OF all tribes from Da-
kota TO Mexico, his last great eXper-
fence being in connection with the cap
ture OF the noted Apache chief, Zero
nimO.
Born i'm Minnesota when the region
west OF the Mississippi was still the
home Of the wild buffalo and savage IN
dian. he became. as a mere lad, an
expert hunter and q sharpshOOter
whose bullet seldom failed TO 90
straight 20 It's mark. Few living per-
sons have passed through as many
thrilling experiences. A hole, the size
of a ten-ceut piece on the side Of his
head, maks the spot where an Indian
came nearly ending his career. This
was at Fort Lyons, Colorado. just after
| the troops had whipped a large band
Of Northern Cheyenne indians. After
the fight the scout went out among the
dead and wounded. One OF the wound
/ 81 savages feigned death, and await
ling an opportunity when the scout was
of his guard shot him through the