The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-05-21

Movement to Exhume the Body
and Find II More Fit
ting Grave.

A movement has been started which
will probably result in having the body
of Frank f. Bennett. the famous Indian
scout who killed himself at Camp Nc
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.
Mr.. Hartman took the matter up with
Major General Ennis, L. S. A, who
was in command of the troops at Camp
Mckinley at the time of Bennett
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
y.
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 distir-
guish his grave from that of soldier
who might have died a month after MS
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;
II am taking this matter up on ae-
count of the friendship which / had Tor
Bennett when we served together and
on account of the fact that L 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
soldier none better could be found, ana
he never served in a campaign, ana
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
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 Chahee
said that he was one of the braVest
men whom I have ever seen A COM
pliment like that coming from General
Chaffee means a great deal, for he has
probably seen as many brave deeds as
any man in the service.
Il have not yet had time to see Major
Van Vliet or Captain Humphrey, puit
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. l was Sergeant-ndJor
in the army at the time of Benefits
death and knew him very we'll He
was a quiet man, who did not thrust
himself forward but was a man whom
everyone was fond of.
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 great deal of talk over the mat
ter
Bennett entered the service in 1851,
and from that time till 1885 took part
in the many Indian wars which were
of frequent occurrence in the West. lie
was an associate of Buffalo Bill, Whd
Bill Hickok, Jack Stillwell and Amos
Chaplain. With them he took part IN
many a battle, sometimes in the va
kotas and sometimes across the Amer
lean boundary in Mexico. when after q
long 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 obltu-
aries. This happened in 1885. when
Leslies Weekly published an article
telling of his death and illustrating the
story with his photograph. This oc-
Cured through the fact that he ana
one other companion were attacked by
Indians while on a scouting expedition
to locate Geronimo, the celebrated IN
dian fighter who was afterwards cap
tured by party of whom Bennett was
a member. The two men were at
tackled from ambush and the first vol
lev killed both horses and also Fen
nett's companion. He managed to una
his way to shelter and having p.enty OF
ammunition. stood the redskins of TIL
daylight when they disappeared IN
the meantime some woodchoppers had
found the body Of the scout who had
been killed and of the two horses ana
so had taken the story in of the death
of the entire party and this news was
sent on to New York, where the ooit-
uary was published.
The circumstances which lead up 10
Benefits death were very peculiar
He had been the lover OF cara
Schneider. the cook for the Paul Neu-