The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-25
JACK HURLEY i:
GETS PENSION

Jack Hurley, well-known Indian
figure on the streets of Blackfoot
one time scout under General How.
ard, has come into his reward for
being the white mans friend He
has just been allowed pension OF
$40 month dating from March 4
1917. .YE t#
Word Of this good fortune and
justice for the old scout reached the
Idaho Republican today in letter
from Representative Addison T.
Smith, thru whose efforts Hurleys
application was finally acted upon
favorably by the commissioner of pen
sions at Washington, D. c.
Hurley is seventy-seven years old
and much in need of this help.
In the early autumn of 1919 the
matter of pension for Jack Hurley
was taken up with Mr.. Smith by the
Idaho Republican, assisted by num-
Der of Hurley's good friends in
Blackfoot, Hamilton Wright, John
W. Jones, John Early and w. A.
Beakley, all of whom freely gave OF
their services in the task of gather
ing the basic information upon which
to rest the case.
Under the direction OF Mr.. Smith
at Washington all the necessary le-
gal forms were filled out, with the
exception of army records to show
that he served. Jack Hurley told
his story several times and it was
recorded in affidavit form, and the
Indian agent at Fort Hall, Mr.. Asch-
meier, secured even further docu-
ments to substantiate the claim that
a pension was due for actual service
as a scout. With the affidavit story
and personal Identification of the old
Indian furnished from Blackfoot it
remained to Representative Smiths
active and interested cooperation
to carry the application thru the
proper channels to successful COM
pletion, which, according to his let
ter received today, he did.
Under the terms of the pension
rs granted, Hurley will receive more
than $500 back pay, besides the reg
llar $40 each month for the re-
nainder Of his days.
In 1877 General Howard organ
zed military expedition to SUBJ
lue the warlike Nez Perez Indians,
who, led by Chief Joseph, had been
,ausing much disturbance in north
'rn Idaho. The general had need
If a troop of Indian scouts and re-
;ruited them from among the friend
y Shoshones of southern Idaho,
'mong whom was the young and
sturdy Jack Hurley. When Chief
Joseph shad been chased into the
astnesses of what is now Yellow
tone national park, General How
Ird dismissed his Indian scouts and
Hurley returned to his home on
he Fort Hall reservation. 1t was
good many years before he knew
!nything about pensions, but some
ears ago several attempts were
made by his friends here to obtain
omething for him, without avail.
later pension rulings have made
ecognition easier. and now in his
eclining years, old, worn out, his
light failing, but cheerful always,
ack Hurley has won the standing
t United States army veteran.
The old scout performed many
indy services for the whites back
n those early days which are not
ecorded. He tells of a time when
e interceded with some dad In
ians" and prevented them from
an aisolated band Of
ettlers. AS he expressed it, he has
ways been friend Of white man,
'hite woman, white girl, white boy"
For some time, just about year,
has been Jack Hurley's regular
abit to come into the Idaho Repub-
can office every week or so and
lquire "My paper come yet?" and
has always been reluctantly an
wered in the negative.
The papers have not arrived, but
le assurances of Representative
NTH go long way, and it will not
. very long before they will come
ccompanied by treasury check
IT one heap big bunch Of back pay.
The old scouts many good friends
>Blackfoot will rejoice with him
his day Of triumph.