The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-09
GEN. CUSTER'S LAST FIGHT.
non ms IROOPERS uERE 4MBUs-
CIDED iND hTLLLD.


Thr story of mn o. TrnDper who saw the
Bnttie White u PRISONER with sitting Bull
-siN soldiers Tortured at the stake.
MiXNKAPoL1S. MINI. sept. s.The Pio-
nee, Pr,ss end T,lIne pubiishes an interv lie W
with al old trappeg named Rid -ely, who has
been fer d long slime Ia the leiiOws;one coun-
Try snd claims TO have witnessed the Custer
mlssacre. being prisoner in sitting Bllfs
csnp and seeing every movement Of the troops.
liz was taken prisoner last March and kept In
the camp of tho indians ever since. until the
Custer massacre. Ge was kindly treated while
there. lie says sitting Bull organized, not to
Gsnt the whites. but TO drive miners from the
hills. Previous 20 Casters attack, mounted
couIlers from sitina B.lrs camp had for eight
DAYS watched his forces, its division into sua all
detachuents being noted with manifestations
Of extreme delight. Anbuscades were imme-
dlately prepared, and while the Indi ms stood
ready for an attack. many Of them csmbered
on The side Of the hill overlooking Clusters line
of march. The Indian camp was divided by a
bllr. point OF which ran toward the Rosebud,
and ia the direction Of one of the available
fDf.s Of the river to the camp; by this ford Gus
t.r followed their trail down 10 the waters edge.
There we're tut twenty-fv tepis visible to Gus
tfr. bus ihCre we're seventy-hys double tepis
bchiLi the bun not visible.
Cus er attacked the smaller, and was imme-
outor of battle. Every movement VS. made
win niutRrY precision. htcgely saws he stood
on the side Of the btil. where he mad complete
view oi the bttle, which was nos more th u
mile ana half dist ut. Cls.er began the heht
In the 70 me near the ford aud fully bali OF his
command seemed 20 be unbofsed at toe drAt
ffe. Then tie soldiers retrested and were shot
down with astOnishing tpidits. the command
ing Uncer fhiitAg from lis horse IN the middle
oi the engagement, which commenced al IL
=. ~, md did not last more tn1u nfty-hve min
utes. After the III nassacfe II CusteT's forces, the
Nn a a "a
prisoners, aLd dslirDus With ioy over their sue
ces.. These SIX were tisd to stakes at a woodpile
IN the village. and were burned to death. WniIc
the Il. IS were tort ifiuz them to DEATH tue
ludian BOYS nrec red hot arrows into their quiv.
eIns hesl until tney died. si ting Bull was met
siter toe hxht, aud he e2ultingly remarked that
he had killed many soldiers ana one damned
Gener Il, though le did not know who he was.
be squaws tben armed themselves with knives,
visited the battlefield, and foboed and nlutiiated
the bodies OF the soldiers.
" bile tue soldiers were being burned, the
Ind ans turned their attention TO a force, eyi-
dentrg Eenp's. attacking the lower end Of the
village, Ridgely says Clusters command had
been slaughtered before shot was nred by
Renos fOfct. which attacked the lower end Of
the camp about 2 O'Clock T.. NJ. The Ind ms re-
turned IN the evening and said the men had
fought Ike the devil; but Ridgely says they did
not " axe a statement Of their losses. They said
they pied " stones. and tre attack was unsuc-
cessful. The prisoners were kept purning for
over an hour but Rijsey was not permitted
10 speak with them; go We are unable 70 state
who they were. Quo WAS noticeable from his
tnAl SIZE and gray hair and Nhiskers. Reuo
Killed moe ludiaos than Custer, VINO fell 10 the
nsidst Of the hsht, and twS Captains, believed
10 he Yates nnd keogh, we're the laet TO die.
The nignt after tho massacre tue Indians were
wiid with delight, and many were drunk on
Nllskey stolen from the Wllies. ne sQuAws
performed the duty % guards for the prisoners,
aud, becoming drowsy, k.dgsly md Two COM
panlOns escaped. securing ponies, and began
their long journey hOmeward. Inc party ate
game. and laid In the woods four days to avoid
Ihe Indians.
On the way his horse stumbled, breaking
Mdsely's arm. but the party nnally reached
Fort Abcrcromtte, and thence hdcely came
OF large size, aud veiy Intelligent, with pecu-
lar gait.