The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-05
rs THE MAN BEHIND THE
MULES WHO DOES THE WORK
N BOARD the big stock trans
port Kintuck, which sailed
j from this port yesterday for

!
Manila were about sixty men,
men who have handled mules and
horses for many years and who know
more about animals than does the av-
erage circus manager. Among them
were men who had faced death scores
of times against the Indians in the
Western states, men who had served in
the Cuban campaign and men who had
seen service in the Philippines.
Perhaps the most prominent among
them all, however, was John H. Sulli-
van, better known all over the West
ern states of America, in Cuba, in the
Philippines and in Alaska and on the
Mexican border as "Broncho john" on
account of his great love and fondness
for wild ponies, or. for that matter, for
any kind of animals.
i "Broncho John" has looked death in
the face more times than he has lived
months and he is now just little over
forty-two years old. The great pride
which he takes in his knowledge of
| handling stock and managing trans
portation might at first be taken for
ccnceit, but to one who has had much
acquaintance with expert horsemen,
daring scouts, Indian fighters, rangers,
cowboys, packers and other men whose
CdlllAS requires them absolute con-
fidence in their own courage and capa-
bilities, it is not conceit of any ordin-
airy stature but rather an honest, open
declaration of what he is and what he
can and dares to do.
/ One could listen to the stories that
"Broncho John" could tell and never
tire. His easy, gentle method of speech
is rich in expressions which smack of
No dc on I,n Lot,
and the long and danger-haunted TRAIL
expressions which bear the mark of the
camp fire, of the hunting of wild ami
mails, of the desperate fight for life
against the treacherous red skin, of
wounded and dying men in lonely and
desolate places far from the sympa-
thetic touch of fellow man: expressions
which are often full of the poetry that
! is begotten of a constant communion
with nature and animals who, unable
to make their wants and sentiments
known to man in language, yet speak
to him who understands in many ways
characteristic of themselves.
"Broncho John is transportation
agent aboard the Kintucl5 and has
charge of eight hundred horses and
mules on board. 1t will be remember
ed that the 9Kiatuck came here from
Seattle through very rough weather
and yet did not lose dp animal Sulii-
van deserved great credit for this as
well fas DR.. Bugbee, the Veterinarian,
and Capt. Hampton, the quartermaster
in charge of the transport, together
with all of the packers aboard the yes
sci.
Yesterday. under the supervision of
4Broncho John.'' the eight hundred
animals were put aboard the Kintuck,
to resume their journey to the Phil
ippines, in the short time of four
hours. This beats all records in this
port for loading animals.
i Bennett, the famous scout who took
his own life in this city only recently,
ywas well known by "Broncho John. -
The latter was very much surprised up
on arriving at this port to learn of his
old friend and comrades sudden and
self-inf1ieted death. Sullivan knew
Bennett in New Mexico in 1887, when
they, together with a body of troops,
were chasing Chief Mana; Chief Vic
toria had already been captured and
Chief Mana was leading the Indian up
rising. Chief Geronimo was yet to sue
coed Mana. Sullivan, in talking to an
Advertiser reporter, had much to say
: concerning Bennett, his bravery and
his kind-heartedness. Bennett was
known as Banter" There was an
other Bennett among the men who were
: seeking Mana, and, to distinguish the
, two, the Bennett who recently killed
himself here was called Banter
Banter was an exceedingly brave
man. said Sullivan, speaking of his
chum of twelve and thirteen years ago,
ole
member one time when we were chas-
ing Chief Mana when Banter, two
men by the names of Smith and Kelly
and myself were going ahead of the
troops, scouting. We were probably a
mile or thereabouts in advance of the
soldiers when Bennett suddenly refined
up his horse and, putting his finger to
his lips, cautioned. silence.
Whats up?' asked Smith 7 saw
!. the cactus move over there answered
Bennett; there are Indians hidden in
the cactus; no wind or bird or passing
small animal would move the cactus
, in that manner. We had better go
: back and put the soldiers on their
: guard
: What, showing the white feather
SO soon?' said Smith, jeeringly.
With that Bennett turned white and,
placing his hand on mis- revolver.
replied, restraining his temper
to the best of his ability: Say that
: again, Smith. and I will shoot you full
: of holes
: after that continued Sullivan,
I'VE returned to the troops and report
ed what we had seen We were told
to go back and not to report Indians
: until we had actually seen the red
5 skins. So we once more advanced and
: made straight for the cactus, intending
to pass right by. on the alert for any
shots from the cover. I realized, how
ever, that if there were indeed Indians
in the cactus they would save their
: fire for the troops and not pay any at
. tention to us as we passed. com
: n,unicated my idea to the other three
: and we determined that it. after We
had passed the cactus. we should heal
:, any shots fired we should immediately
y make for the rocks in the distance ana
: tprepare to defend ourselves This ar.
rangement was followed out We hae
: scarcely passed the cactus a mile and
: the soldiers had hardly got within
: range of the Indians in hiding than We
heard a succession of shots ring out