The Washington herald., 1910-01-07

An OLD Friend of Kit Carson, In
dian scOut-Lived I'm Every Presi-
Dental Term Except Three.
Maj Gen. Daniel H Rucker, L. S. ~
retired, died yesterday at noon in his
ninety-seventh year
The whole history OF the United states,
from the time Gen. Robert E. Lee re-
ported at the Military Academy at West
Point as cadet, TO the last skirmish in
the Philippines, was in his keeping
Characterized by the utmost simplicity,
private funeral services will be conducted
at the home OF the late warrior, 1894 JEFF
ferson place northwest. Monday morn
ing az Il o'clock.
IBterment I'm Arlington.
Interment will be in Arlington Neither
the officiating clergyman nor the pallbear-
ers have been selected. The funeral will
not be conducted with military honors.
Gen Rucker died Of kidney trouble.
A boyhood chum Of Gen. W. 7. Sherman
anu AaiA4Ei -iil-4dW VI aAlbAa4tA great civil
war commander. Gen. Phnp Sheridan,
Gen. Rucker was an old friend Of Kit
Carson. Indian scout and frontiersman,
whose story has found a place in school
readers for sixty years and more.
Had Gen Rucker lived until April Is
he would have been ninety-eight years
old
T. te bo-71-, ,,ro,,ob1a sEo. Tho y,,f1ft,,-,,
/ records OF the world viii disclose the
name OF another officer whose span Of
service has been equal 10 that OF this
! American veteran.
Gen Rucker was born in 1872 only
thirteen years after WsshiRgtons death
/ He lived in the administration Of every
| President except the first three-Wash-
ington. Adams, and Jefferson. In his
| boyhOod the contemporaries Of Wash
ington in the military service and in
statecraft were TO be found in every
community in every one OF the then
States OF the Union.
Older than Queen Victoria.
Gen. Rucker was seven years older
than Queen Victoria and only two years
younger than President -afts father.
/ He was only three years younger than
! Lincoln. Gladstone, and Charles Darwin.
and was forty-seven years old when Oar
win startled the world with Origin Of
Species" more than fifty years ago.
When he was born the first shot had
not been fred in the war Of 1872 He
was three years old when the tide OF
NapoIeons fortunes was checked by
Wellington at Waterloo. He was a curl
Gus boy Of twelve years when Daniel
Webster delivered his first Bunker Hill
| grafton. and with the maturity OF a few
more years must have listened with in
| terest when his elders discussed Web
ster's reply TO Hayne. He was fifteen
years old when Blackhawk took the
warpath. and had Joined the United
States army Cby appointment OF Presl-
dent Andrew Jackson seventy-two years
+ ago, before Osceola, the Seminole. had
been driven 10 bay in the Everglades of
Florida. When the late Gen. o. O. How
ard. the last OF the civil war command
ers, was born, Gen. Rucker was a youth
OF eighteen.
Saw Great Transformation.
Not only had he observed the march OF
events in the military and political life
Of practically the entire past OF thk
| country. but he witnessed the develop
ment OF transportation facilities from the
old-time stage coach and canal boat tc
the modern railroad, the Luslatnia, and
/ last OF all the airship. Meanwhile had
/ come about the complete transformation
/ of the mode Of life made possible 10y
/ the application of scientific principles &c
common, everyday problems And so the
contrast Of conditions az the beginning anc
the end OF this veterans career nigh,
be continued indefinitely,
When Gen. Rucker was little more thar
| q boy he went 10 Michigan from his birth
place IN New Jersey. His father urged
| him 70 go into business, but the son saw
| something Of army life at a Michigan
post, and. on the advice Of Gen. Brady
he applied for appointment as a second
! lieutenant in Uncle Sans service. His
| earliest duty was with the First Ora
/ goOns. then stationed At Fort Leaven-
( worth, on the extreme frontier OF civiliza-
/ ton. Young Rucker rode 200 miles TO the
/ fort on horseback alone, against the ad-
vice Of every plainsman who knew OF
/ his intention.
Lieut.. Rucker was ordered into the
heart of the Cherokee country, and there
he campaigned until the Mexican war
broke out, and the First Dragons were
ordered TO form a part Of Gen. Zachary
Taylor's expedition.
Fought At Buena Vista.
Young Rucker took part in the battle OF
Buena Vista, where he distinguished him
self by an act of personal gallantry on
the field. OF the fighting at Buena Vista
Gen. Rucker would not talk. ut was al
( in the days work" he used to say.
The civil war broke ont while he was
| in the Southwest. and Gen. Rucker was
summoned to Washington, where ne was
put to work in the Quartermaster's De
partment. He wanted TO go to the front
! but because Of his experience in this
particular kind Of staff duty, he was
/ told he must stay and help to straighten
out the supply department.
! While still a young man. serving on
! TIC W tSttt AitAiNiSAr llt MAJ iitO MISS
1 Flora Coodey who was a half-blOod
! Cherokee Indian, her father being a
wealthy ranch owner. Four children
were born, three sons and one daughter.
All the boys died at an early age, but
the daughter is still living But that was
/ a very long time ago, as may be judged
/ from the fact that being left a widower,
/ Capt Rucker. as he was then. took a
second wife, who was Miss Jane Cur
/ tbs, in 1850. One of the daughters of this
marriage made him the father-in-law Of
Gen Philip T. Sheridan by espousing
that famous cavalry officer.
Protested Against Declaration.
After Gen Rucker celebrated his nine