Evening star., 1934-05-01
GEN. SCOTT, INDIAN
FIGHTER, EXPIRES
Humanitarian Was Noted
for His Efforts to Pacify
Tribes.

Mai. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, soldier and
humanitarian. who helped develop
America in war and peace during
colorful period of history, died last
night at Walter Reed Hospital in his
81st year.
Gen Scott was removed to the Army
hospital two months ago from his
home at Princeton. N. j., where he
had spent his final years of retirement
near a COLLEGE rich in the tradition
of his family.
The soldiers wife and one of the
three daughters. who survive. were at
the bedside when death occurred. The
War Department announced today
Gen. Scott will be buried in Airing
ton, the time to be determined later.
Gen. Scott, who became an Indian
fighter almost as soon as he was grad
uated from West Point, plunging into
the Sioux expedition Of 1876, remained
active late in life. lie was chairman
of the New Jersey State Highway
Commission in 1882 when the Pulaski
Skyway was dedicated at Newark.
This was one of Gen. SCOTS last pub
lie appearances.
Held Final POw-WOw in 1881.
AS late as 1881, however, he called
his friends and former foes of l3
Indian tribes into a final powwow at
Browning, Mont, where he made a
@f Il
mans sign language for the Library
of Congress
Gen. Scott was the only white man
to master the sign language and
devoted much patient effort to COM
piling his knowledge. This phase Of
his character typified his relations
with the Indians at time when the
war-like tribesmen received scant
consideration at the hands of other
leaders.
AS a young Army officer, Gen.
Scott participated in drives against
the Sioux and later the NeZ Perce and
Cheyenne Indians. These expeditions
on the plains we're followed by active
duty in Cuba, the Philippines and on
the Mexican boroer.
Named Chief of Staff.
In 1914. President Wilson advanced
Gen. Scott to chief of staff, a post he
held until September, 1917.
While chief OF staff it fell to Gen.
Scott to advise the Secretary of War
as to who should be selected to COM
mand the A. E. F.
He himself would have been will
ing to give his life for such a COM
mand," friends of Gen. Scott said,
"bur he recommended instead the
selection Of Gen. John ]. Pershing.
What this decision cost him cannot
be told
Started Army Gardens
During the World War thousands
OF war gardeners remember Gen.
Scott as the man who inaugurated
the first Army war gardens at Camp
Dix, N. j., which he commanded.
Charles Lathrop Pack, an old friend
of the generals, gave 100000 war
garden primers to the American peo-
pie and provided Gen. Scott with
garden tools and seed for distribution
to the soldier gardeners who culti-
waited some 1900 acres at Camp Dix.
Gen. Scott was a great believer in
providing this light. outdoor occupa-
ton for convalescent soldiers.
A native of Kentucky, where he
was born September %. 1853. Gen.
Scott was a descendant on his moth
er's side of Benjamin Franklin. In
June, 1880, he married Mary Merrill,
daughter of Gen. Lewis Merrill. They
had five children
Gen Scott's service as chief of
staff extended from November. 1914.
to September %, 1917, when he
reached the statutory age of Ga He
actually remained in service for
year and half afterward in other
capacities.
Headed West Point.
Gen. SCOTS long career included
terms as commandant of West Point
Far from ready to settle down upon
his retirement from the Army, he
offered his services to the State of
New Jersey, his boyhood home and
the scene of much of his World War
service.
In 1928, at the age of 10, he was
named chairman OF. the highway
Commission by Gov. George S. Silzer.
He served in this post for 10 years,
supervising a program OF modern
highway development which cost
$3.50 100000 One of his last public
appearances was at the dedication
two years ago of the s1e,OcooOo
Pulaski skyway, the elevated approach
to the Holland Tunnel from Newark.
Through all his later years, Gen.
Scott continued vigorously his re-
searches and writings on the Indian
sign languages. In 1880 he was COM
missioned by the Library of Congress
to compile a record for all time of
this curious mode of expression.
In the following year he set up
headquarters in Browning, Mont, and
summoned from near and far his old
friends, the chiefs and braves of l3
tribes, for pow-wow. With them