The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-05-24
HONOR MEMORY
OF SCOUT BENNETT

A movement has been started which
will probably result In having the body
OF Frank Il. Bennett. the famous Indian
scout who killed himself at Camp Me
Kinley nearly seven years ago. ex-
humed and buried in one OF the nation
al cemeteries. The first mover In the
matter was Manager Bruce Hartman
OF the Sanitary Steam Laundry. who
served In the army with Bennett and
was his close personal friend.
MIR. Hartman took the matter UP with
Major General Ennis, L. $. A., who
was In command OF the troops at Camp
Mckinley ut the time of BENEFITS
death, and who Is now on the retired
list. General Ennis knew Bennett well
and was aware of the many brave and
notable services which he had perform
ed for his country during his many
years of service. In answering Mr..
Hartman's letter he stated that he had
taken the matter up with the COM
manding officer at Camp Mckinley,
Major Van Vliet, and also with the
depot quartermaster, Captain Hum
on both these gentlemen and tell them
what he knew of the services of Scout
Bennett. This will be done in the near
future by Mr.. Hartman.
General Ennis also stated that he
would take the matter up with Cen
eral Chaffee, under whom Bennett
served for some time and who was per-
sonally very fond of the scout
Benefits body is at present in the
soldiers plot in the Nuuanu ceme-
terry; in spite of the fine record which
he made, there is nothing to distin-
guish his grave from that of a soldier
who might have died a month after his
enlistment. Memorial Day some of his
friends in this city have always been
careful to see that special flowers were
placed on his grave, but. with the ex-
ception of this personal tribute from
those who knew him, there has never
been any attempt to show him the
honors which he undoubtedly de-
served.
In speaking of the matter to an Ad-
vertiser reporter yesterday, Mr.. Hart
man said:
Il am taking this matter up on ac-
count of the friendship which 1 had for
Bennett when we served together and
on account of the fact that I believe
that he has never received the share of
honors which were certainly his due.
AS a scout he was without superior,
as his record shows for itself. AS a
soldier none better could be found, and
he never served in a campaign, and
he was in the army for over thirty
years, without winning the praise of
his superiors.
THAT / am not alone in this opinion
can be seen from an extract from a
letter which was written by General
Chaffee, and which was found in Ben
nett's effects after his death. In
speaking of the services which he had
seen Bennett perform, General Chaffee
said that he was one of the bravest
men whom / have ever seem A COM
pliment like that coming from General
means a great DEAL, for he has
probably seen as many brave deeds as
any man in the service.
II have not yet had time to see Major
Van Vliet or Captain Humphrey, but
will very soon, and have no doubt that
they will do everything possible to see
that this tardy honor is paid to so
brave a man. 1 was a sergeant-major |
in the army at the time of Benefits |
death and knew him very well. He
was a quiet man, who did not thrust |
himself forward, but was man whom
everyone was fond of.
1.-THE circumstances of his death were |
very sad and the less said of them the |
better, as it does no good to bring up |
these old sores. The story was given
wide publicity at the time and there
was a great deal of talk over the mat
ter"
Bennett entered the service in 1867, |
and from that time till 1885 took part |
in the many Indian wars which were |
Of frequent occurrence in the West. He |
was an associate of Buffalo Bill, Wild |
Bill Hickok, Jack Stillwell and Amos
Chaplain. With them he took part in
many a battle. sometimes in the Da-
kotas and sometimes across the Amer
lean boundary in Mexico, when after
ong pursuit the redskins would cross
the Rio Grande, thinking that no one
would follow them.
Bennett was among the few men
lucky enough to read their own obitu-
irles. This happened in 1885, when
Leslie's Weekly published an article
eling of his death and illustrating the
story with his photograph. This oc-
'urred through the fact that he and
me other companion were attacked by
indians while on a scouting expedition
o locate Geronimo. the celebrated In
liam fighter who was afterwards cap
ured by party of whom Bennett was
. member. The two men were at
acked from ambush and the first vol
ey killed both horses and also Ben
ett's companion. He managed to find
lis way to shelter and having plenty of
stood the redskins off till
aylight when they disappeared. In
he meantime some woodchoppers had
ound the body OF the scout who had
zen killed and of the two horses and
o had taken the story In of the death
( the entire party and this news was
emit on to New York, whore the obit-
AIRY was published.
The circumstances which lead up 10
death We're very peculiar I
Ie had been the lover OF cara ,
chnelder, the cook for the Paul Neu-
ANN family Of this city, and only four
avs before his body vas discovered
he WAS found dead I'm her room, tho