The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-12-23

tii'ti II Ot'UIittl. II was tIiIItiN HIItN-
pcctcd. Custer had, however felt from
the beginning of his career Il full con
viction that he would win distinction in
the war. In his open and frank way
he had often spoken of il 10 his brother
officers ut their long. freight talks. He
had receive, good deal of ridicule on
this point from his comrades
At the battle of Aldie, Lieutenant
Custer may be said to have almost alone
turned dcIca. into one of our most bril-
liant cavalry victories. His biographcr
SAYS
One evening, eleven days after Allie.
when Custer returned to headdua,tcrs.
after long ride, in which he had been
posting the pickcts of the entire corps
for the night. he was greeted in the
largo tent, where the staff was wont to
gather at night, by the salutations:
Halo, Gencmlr " How are YOU.
General? Gentlemen, General Gus
ter Why. General, congratulate
Won, You are lookingNcll, Gcncral"
The greetings came from all quarters of
the tent. whore staff officers were loung-
ing. smoking, chatting. laughing and
telling stories. They impressed Custer
as being merely continuation of the
usual -naturcd banter on the subject
of his aspirations. and. further. as being
carried little too far However. he
had always been noted for his control
over a hot and hasiy temper. and he was
not going TO allow his comrades to
laugh him ont of it ON this occasion.
Still il was with some bitterness that he
answered:
You may laugh. boys. Laugh as
Tong as You please, but riN be gen
cral yet, for ali your chaa. Won see If
| don't, that's all.
tie WAS greeted by Il universal shout
OF laughter in answer 1t seemed as If
ms tormcntors were determined to irri-
tate him into an explosion. and they
nearly succeeded. for his Llue ewes be
gan To- flash. and he looked around as if
seeking some one on whom To fix "A
quarrel. His old friend Yates after
ward, Brevct Iicutcnant- Colonel. and
Captain IN the Seventh |. $. Cavalry.
and one of the little band of heroes who
tell with Custer. whom he had been
himself The means of putting on Pleas
anton staff. came to his relief with n
few words:
" LooI' on Ne h,5ie. oH .frj}o,r. 7HeIre
not ctrtj"y.' He pointed to the table
IN the tent, and there. in the midst. Law
large, official envelope. and on it was
written. Brigadicr-G General George 4 .
Caster. /. $. Vols"
The reaction was instantaneous. and
the Noung fellow was completely over
come. \ moment later and all his old
comrades were gathered around him in
real earnest. congratnlating and shaking
hands. while Custer. too much over
powered to speak, coull only smile
family, turn very pale find his eyes full
o; tears. and sink down in Il chair. feel
ing very much as If he was going to
make Il fool OF himself and cry. How
ever. he rcgalned his sclf-control in n
few moments. and was able to thank his
comrades. who were really in earnest
tins time. and after a while was permit
ted IL read ihc orders which accom-
panied his commission and which 1i-
rcrtod him to report to General Pleas
anton for instructions.
OF the interview between Plcasanton
and himself it is unnecessary to speak
Ii was marked on one side hv great
kindness and good sense. 4 few months
later. Custer writes homo about Pleas
anton. He has been more like a father
to me than Il general and this was in
deed the trnth. There must, however.
have been something peculiarly mag
netlc about Custer to have attracted to
himself. as he did. the enthusiastic al
lection OF three men of such very diff
teroni characters as his three successive
u 1l.la t,.f' ln1l Il.
scientific soldier hind-hcartcd to fault.
SLOW. mcthodical and cautious Pleas
anton. arlld. sarcastic. cXacting. an cX-
eellcnt cavalry chief. Int generally fail
ING 10 attract any affection from his
Snhor"lnatos. and a martinez in his dis
Vlr!ine; sheridan, fiery. impctuous. nm
trlnS. and rcmorsclcss in tie amount
oi WORK he oNartcd from his troops. All
these three men loved. admired and
trusted him entirely. ana il was nothing
but ms traNsccndoat ability which
forced them 10 do SO.
thE CRIMINAL CA>AlN lsaA>unEs. -
One OF the most remarkable races ti,ai
ever inhabited the earth is now extinct
They were known as the Gaunchrs. and
were III" ahorigincs of the Canary ISL
and~. IN the sixteenth century pest
icncc. shaver! and the cruelty OF the
s'paniarls succeeded in totally cxtci-
minatiaS them They are described as
having been gigantic in stature. but of
a singularly mild and gentle nature
Their food consisted of barley. wheat
and goats milk. and their agriculture
was of the rude>t kini. They had a re
llNinn Ml1inh Inn 1rht fhn,., :, f,,tn,.. .tntn