The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-15
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.


Prisoners Burned at the Stake by
Sitting Bull.
MiNSEAPoLIs, MINI, September s.
The Pioneer Press and Tribune to-day
publishes an interview with an old trap
per named Ridgely, who has been long
time in the Yellowstone country, and
claims to have witnessed the Custer
massacre, being a prisoner in Sitting
Bulls camp and seeing every movement
of the troops. He was taken prisoner
last March and kept in the camp Of the
Indians ever since until the Custer mas
sacre. He was treated kindly He
says Sitting Bull organized not TO fight
whites but to drive the miners from the
mounted couriers from Sitting Bulls
camp had for eighteen days watched his
forces, its division into small detach-
ments being noted with manifestations
of extreme delight. Ambuscades were
Immediately prepared, and while the IN
dians stood ready for attack many Of
them clambered on the side-hill over
looking Clusters line of march. The
Indian camp was divided by bluff,
the point of which ran toward the Rose
bud and in the direction of one of the
available fords on the river to the camp
D., g, e. Il f,Ii
down to the waters edge. There were
but twenty five tepees visible to Custer,
but there were seventy-fve double tepees
behind the bluff and visible. Custer
attacked the smaller village and was
Immediately met BY 800 or 1000 In
dians in regular order of battle. Every
movement was made with military pre-
cision. Ridgely said he stood on the
sidehill, where he had d complete view
of the battle, which was not over a mile
and a balf distant. Custer began to
fight in a ravine near the ford, and full.
ly half his command seemed to be I'M
hoIs sed at first fire. Then the soldiers
retreated towards him in the rear and
were shot down on the way with aston
ishing rapidity, the commanding officer
falling from his horse in the middle of
the engagement which commenced at
eleven A. NJ. and did not last more than
forty-fve minutes. After the massacre
of Clusters force, the Indians returned
to the camp with six soldiers as prison
er+, and were delirous with Joy over
! their success. These six were tied
to stakes at a wood pile in the village
and were burned to death. While the
| flames were torturing them to death,
| Indian boys fired hot arrows into their
quivering flesh until they died. Sitting
Bull was met after the fight, and he ex-
ultingly remarked he had killed many
soldiers and one damned general, but
didn't know who he was. The squaws
then armed themselves with knives, Wis
tied the battle field, and robbed and mu-
tilated the bodies of the soldiers.
When these soldiers were being burn
ed, the. Indians turned their attention
to force, evidently Reno's attacking
the lower end of the village Ridgely
SAYS that Clusters command had been
slaughtered before a shot was fred by
Reno's forces attacking the lower end
| of ho ha
the evening and said the men had fought
like the devil, but Ridgely says they
did not make any statement of their
losses. They said the soldiers had been
driven back twice and then they piled
up stones and the attack was unsuccess.
full.
The prisoners were kept burning ovel
an hour, but Ridgely was not permitted
to speak with them, so he is unable tc
state who they were. One was noticea.
BILE from his small size and gray hail
and whiskers. Reno killed more ind
ians than Custer, who fel! in the midst
ofthe fight, and two Captains believed te
be Gates and Keogh, were the last tt
die. The night after the masscre the
Indians were wild with delight. Many
were drunk with whiskey stolen from
the whites, and the squaws performed
the duty Of guards for the prisoners
They becoming drowsy Ridgely and two
companions escaped, secured ponies ant
began their long journey homeward
They laid in the woods four days t,
avoid the Indians. On the way tn
horses stumbled, breaking Ridgely'
arm, but the party finally reached For
Abercrombie and thence Ridgely cam
here. He describes Sitting Bull as
half-breed of large size, very intelligent
with peculiar gait.