Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-08
An Escaped Trapper Claims to
have been an Eyewitness
Of Custer's Massacre.
Six Soldier Prisoners Burned at
the Stake.
Arrival Of the Sioux Comalis.
sion at Red Cloud.
The Indians there Afraid that
they are to be Massacred.
INDIAN aEws.

INDIAN NEWS.
MISSKAroLls, Sept. 1.-THE Pio.
neer-Press aud Tribune will 10 moro.
publish an interview with an old trap
per, named Rigcley, who has been ,
= long time in the Yellowstone country
! and claims to have witnessed the
Custer massacre, being prisoner ii
Sitting Bulls camp aud seeing every
movement of troops. He was taker
prisoner last March and kept in the
camp Of the Indians ever since until
the Custer massacre. He was treated
kindly. Hc says Sitting Bull organ.
lied not 10 tight but to drive the
miners from the Hills. Previous 10
Clusters attack, mounted couriers
from Sitting Bulls camp had for s
days watched his forces, It's division
into small detachnents being noted
with manifestation Of extreme delight.
Ambuscadcs were immediately pre-.
pared, aud while the Indians stood
ready for the attack, many OF them
clambered on the side hills overlook.
ing Clusters line OF march.
The comm snding eofficcr fell FROM
his sbosse 10 the middle of1ashe cp-
gagenent, which commenced ut | J a.
M, and did not last more than As
minutes.
After the massacre Of Clusters
force, the Indians returned TO camp
with s5s soldiers as prisoners, and
dellrious with JOY over their success,
these six were tied TO stakes at wood
pile in the village aud
ALL BURNED TO DEATH.
While the flames were, torturine
them to death, Indian boys fred red
hot arrows into their quircriug flesh
until dead
Sitting Bull was met after the
hghs, and he ,exultingty remarked he
had killed many soldiers and one
ID gencral, but didn't know who
he was
The squaws then armed themselves
with knives, visited the battle field
and robbed and mutilated the bodies
Of thezSnldicrs.
While the six soldiers were being
hurned. the Indians turned their ri.
tcntion to the force. evidently Reno's,
attacking the lower end OF the village.
Ridgley says Custer scommsnz lad
been slaughtered before gun was
fred by Reno's force attacking the
lowing end Of the camp about 2 3. IN
The Indians returned in the evening
aud said the men had fought Ike the
devil, but Ridgley says they didn't
make q statement of their losses.
They said the soldiers had been driv-
en- back twice, aud then piled .up
stotleA- aud the 1ttack was ulisucceSS-
ful. The prisoners were kept burn
ing over sn hour, but Rhgley was
not permitted to speak with them, SO
he is unable To stat = ho they wore.
sOne WAS noticeable from hix small
size and gray hair and whiskers. Re-
no killed more lpdi4ns than Cusscr,
v no fell in tho midst OF the 6ght, and
two Captains, believed to Be Gates
and Ksogh, were the hst 10 die. Z
lbesniEht alter the sassacre she
Indians were Wild with delight, many
drunk on the whisky stolcn from the
whites, and the squaws, who perform
sed the duty Of guards for the ,prisoa.
sers becaming drowsy, Rgeley and two
companions
RscAPEp,
securing ponies and began the long
journey homeward. Ths party ate
game aud laid in .he woods four days
to avoid the Indians; on the way his
horse stumbled, breaking Rigeley Is
arm; but the party finally reached Fl,
.Abercrombic md thence R,geley came
here. He describes Sitting Bull As !
half-breed, large size, very intelligent
with peculiar gait.
RED CLouD AGENCY, Neb., Sept
6, via Fl. Laramie; Sept. THE
Sioux commission arrived hero thi.
afternoon, having left Fort Laramie
on the 4th with Capt, Egan's cavalry
company as escort; saw no Indian.
on the way, and found everything
quiet At the agency, whichis in oharg,
of Lt-2Elting Gen. Mackenzie, com
mander of the district, was present tt
receive the commission, and said b,
would aid il by every means in hi.
power. There is quite large mill
tarv fDrcS, here apd the lnHfro~ <,
= depressed state of mind in eense