Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-06-11
George Bent Will
Direct Scouts At
McCredie Camp

Whenever the history of the Sa.
lem Boy Scounts shall be written
more than one long and interesting
chapter must be devoted to the an
nual Boy Scout summer camp OF
1921, and the man who is to hold
the position of camp director of
that wonderful group of young
citizens who will compose the per-
sonnel Of the camp on Salt Creek
for this year. George w. Bent,
who holds the position of disciplin-
arian Of the Chemawa Indian
Training school, together with
that of athletic coach, and physic-
al director, and who, according to
tradition is chief of the Cheyenne
Tribe of Indians, has been selected
by the Salem Council, Boy Scouts
of America, to serve as the camp
director Of the summer camp for
1921.
The story of Mr.. Bent's ancestry
of which he is justly proud, is
given by George Bird Grinnell, at
one time editor of Forest and
Stream, a popular outdoor mag
azine dealing with the historical
setting of the West.
Mr.. Bent's great, great grand
father, Silas Bent, was born in the
colony of Massachusetts in 1894.
He was educated for the bar and
came to st. Louis in 1904 at the
time when the government of
Louisiana was turned over to the
American authorities. There he
served as a judge of the superior
court and there he resided until
his death in 1927.
All of his seven sons were quite
prominent in the history of the
country one serving with Perry
in Japan, Others being prominent
IN the Indian trade for the Amer
lea Fur company, and one being
well known attorney of St. Louis.
Mr.. Bent's grandfather and father
established Bent's Fort, or Fort
William on the upper Arkansas, ,
near the present city of Pueblo.
Colorado, and claim the distinction
OF being the first permanent white
settlers in that country. The
grandfather of Mr.. Bent married
Owl Woman, daughter of White
Thunder, chief of the Cheyennes,
about 1885. One of the sons of
this first marriage was George
father of Mr.. Bent of Chemawa.
His father also married into the
family of the chief of the Cheyen-
nes, which gives the present
George w. Bent the distinction of
being in line for chieftain of that
tribe.
During the time of his boyhood.
Mr.. Bent lived at Fort William to-
gether with his father and grand
father, who were close friends of
Ceran st. Vrain and Kit Carson.
lie was educated at Carlisle and
Institute, located at Law
renee, Kansas, and Quaker
school located at Wabash, Indiana
AT the time the Salem council .
maze oVertures to Mr.. Bent to sec-I
ire his services as director of the
summer camp, he had already re-
'elVed not less than six offers for
Ike positions, some of which car
led small fortunes in salary. But q
VIZ Bent has seen much of Salem
scouts and decided that he would
appreciate the opportunity of Civ
ng Salem boys the old Indian lore
'nu games of. the old pioneers. +
dr' Bent is well schooIed in camn-
ratt and woodcraft, and is well Z
Die TO assure Salem Ccouts
wonderful season at camp.
Besides being well versed in tho
ctivlties of tribal customs. Mr. )
'ent is an accomplished musician. 4
no mas manufactured many of
ne instruments like those used in Y
ne ceremonials of tribal festiyi-
es of long ago. a
Mr.. Bent will entertain tho !
couts around the campfire at t,
amp in the dress of the chief of o
'e Cheyennes-a wonderfully C;
= eeous apparel used on festive D.,
with the games :"
ID stories and tribal lore of an W
lcient day. a,
Mr' Bent will be assisted in the
ork OF directing the camp by one