, 1876-09-16

he said he did't know the combination,
and made his escape out the back door,
shot through the shoulder. While this
was transpiring within, the citizens had
collected and two Of the robbers were
killed The robbers did not get into the
vault nor did they find the cashh RS
driver. While three men were engaged
IN the bank the Others stood ON the street
threatening to shoot anyone who in,cr-
ftred. About 400 men pursued the rob-
bers and their capture is considered Ger
tain. The impression seems to be that
they are members of the famous Younger
and James gangs.
.MINNEAP' LIS, Sept. THE Pioneer
Press anil Tribune will to morrow pub.
lish an interview with an old trapper
named Ridgley, who has been long
time in the Yellowstone country, and
claims to have witnessed Clusters mas
sacrc, 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 In
dans ever since. Until the Custer mas.
scre he was treated kindly. He says
Sitting Bull organized, not to fight the
whites, but to drive the miners from the
Black Hills Previous to Clusters at
tack, mounted couriels from Sitting
Bulls camp had for eight days watched
his forces. Their division into small de-
tachments being noted with maniiesta-
tions OF extreme delight. Ambuscades
were Immediately prepared, aud while
the Indians stood ready for an attack,
many ot them clambered on the side hills
overlooking Clusters line OF march. The
Indian camp was divided by bluff, the
point OF which ran toward the Rosebud
and in the direction of one OF the avail
able lords on the river. To reach their
camp by this ford, Custer followed their
trail down to the waters edge. There
were but 25 tepees visible to Custer, but
there were seventy.flve donble tepees 6e
hind the bluffs not visible. Custer at.
tackled the small village, and was i'm.
mediately met 10y 1900 or 1000 Indians
in regular order of battle. Every move.
ment was made with military precision.
Rldgley says he stood on the side hill,
which was not mole than one and half
mile distant. Custer began the fight in
ravinc near the ford, and fully halt of
his command seemed to be immersed at
| the first fire. Then the s0l1iers retreat
ed toward the hill in the rear, where
they were SHOT down on the Way with
astonishing rapidity, the commanding
officer falling from hls horse in the mid
die of the engagement, which commcnc'
ed at IL A. NJ, and did not last over As
minutes. After the massacre of Clusters
| force, the Indians returned to camp with
six soldiers as prisoners, and dclirious
with joy over their success, these six
men were tied to stakes ut wood pile
| in the village and all burned to death.
While the flames were toFturing them to
death, the Indian buys fired red hot ar
rows into their quivering flesh until they
were dead. Sitting Bull was met after
the fight, and he exultantly remarked
that he had killed many snldiers and one
damned Gen, raj, but did not know who
he was. The squaws then armed them
selves with knives, visi ed tue battle field
and robbed and mutilated the bodies of
tue soldiers. While the six soldiers
were being burned, the Indians turned
their attention to the force, evidently
Rcno's attacking the lower end of the
village.
Ridgley says Clusters command had
been slaughtered before shot was fired,
Reno's force attacking the lower end of
the camp at about p. NJ The Indians
returned in the evening and said the
men had fought like the devil; but
RidgIey says they didn't make any state.
ment OF their losses They said the sol.