Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-04


glorious fighter. The author
of standard works on ethnology, his contri-
buttons to knowledge of the Indian mind
Indian ways and Indian languages have won
recognition in the halls of learning. In 1910
Princeton conferred on him the L. H. D. de-
gree. General Scott's grandfather, by the
way was that great theologian, DR.. Charles
Hodge, who helped make Princeton famous
and his brother had been prominent mem
ber of the faculty for years. 1t so happened
that Woodrow Wilson president of the
university at the time Hence 1t is that the
signature at the bottom of the diploma and
the one at the bottom of Scott's commission
as chief of staff Identical.
One of General scott's minor accomplish
ments is swimming. and there are several
stories to go with this simple statement. At
West Point, which he entered in 1871, Scott
and a classmate named King undertook to
swim across the Hudson River. On the way
back Kings strength gave out. Scott took
him on his back and brought him safely
ashore with great difficulty, and at the risk
of his own life. General Wagner commended
the young man in the presence of his fellows
describing the incident as "one which will
always live in the memory and the applaud
ing recollection of your classmates and
its principal actor is told in the army by the
older officers A band of Crows in the spring
of 1888 were performing in southeastern
Misunderstanding live stock, shooting their
rifles promiscuously and painting themselves
hideously First Lieutenant Scott stationed
at Fort Mead, Dakota, two junior officers
ninety men and fifty pack mules were or
dered to round up the savages. The scout
ing party found the Little Missouri River
bank full from the April freshets. 1t was
twenty feet deep and 45O feet wide and con-
tanned logs and other driftwood. Scott asked
for volunteers to take line across the river
Two men undressed, but, finding the water
ice cold Immediately returned to the bank and
put on their clothing. Scott then ripped off
his uniform. tied a pieced rope around his
naked waist and swan the river. An old
wagon bed was used as a float, and thus the
whole party crossed in safety. The Indians
were located Scott talked with them in the
sign language. and they meekly agreed to
return to their reservation.
Scott Gets Acquainted
Born in Kentucky in 1853, he was grad
uated from West Point in the class OF 1875
That summer Custer had gone out with his
regiment the famous Seventh Cavalry, as
part of General Terry's column, in the expedi-
tlon against the Sioux. Custer and fve COM
NAMES of his command were cut OFF and wiped
out to the last man on the Little Big Horn
River In Montana. Scott and number OF
other graduates of his class were hurried
West to take the places in the regiment of
those killed. He joined his regiment at Fort
Abraham Lincoln. on the Missouri River in
Dakota Territory, and he, with fve other
officers slept their first night in the room
formerly occupied by Custer, Then to the
held Through all the Northwest country
the Indians were in arms. The Seventh was
sent down the Missouri to disarm and paeify
the Indians 1t was bitter, trying work. mix
ture OF pacific and warlike measures; here a
tribe TO be won to peace by palaver; there to
he whipped into doelity. AS his fellow officers
tell 1t. Scott had not been in the field twenty
four hours when he became fascinated by
study OF the Indian, and particularly of the
Indian sign language. He was forever talk.
T ing with the Indian prisoners. learning from
them gaining insight into their mental
processes
His early campaigning days were spent
among the Indians Sometimes he was ight-
ing them but most OF the time he was gov
erning them. he was successful at both
hard rider, good shot, lndefatigable ana un.
swerving in his ways. the indians came first
. fear him end then 70 respect him Some
how q other they Iearned Il this straight.