The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-09-14
BURNED AT THE STAKE.

OCAONAD "A AAA~@ bSA1AAA~s
Terrible Fate of six of Clusters Men who
Were Captured by Sitting Buil--The story
of the Little Big Horn Fight told by One
Who Saw 1t.
The Minneapolis 73'i5uaae publishes
an interview with the first living witness
OF Clusters massacre who has made his
appearance in civilization. This in
terestlng parsonage is an old trapper
named Rldgely, who has returned to his
home near Minneapolis, and who relates
the most thrilling narrative of adven-
lures, having been captured on the plains
by Sitting Bulls warriors on the 1st of
April, with several comrades, two Of
whom were killed. The survivors were
taken into the presence of Sitting Bull
and questioned as to whence they came.
They promptly replied from Fort Garry,
whereupon the chief Immediately order
Aed them to be released from their bonds.
and afforded them the freedom of the
camp onthe ground of their being British
subjects. Ridgely says Sitting Bulls
only aim in mastering his warriors
was to drive the miners out of
tie Black Hills, and he had no
idea of meeting the soldiers until the
United States forces appeared on the
Yellowstone, and for eight days previous
to the fatal precipitation of Custer,
mounted couriers from Sitting Bulls
camp observed every movement of the
approaching army. 1t was with mani
fest delight they discovered the enemy
dividing their forces, and immediate
preparations were made to draw then
into ambuscades. The Indian camp wa
divided by high ridge, which extended
in a southerly direction from the Rose
bud, the north end sloping down nearl,
to the bank of the river near ford
/ From this hill the Indians watched
Custer coming up through the vale.
following their trail. AS Custer az
preached, he only observed twenty-fiv
tepees, which were on one side of til
ridge, but behind the point of the ride
were seventy-fve double tepees, All
when Custer commenced his attack
the small village he found himself su
rounded by 1900 to 1000 warrior
ranged in order of battle, and whoi
movements were executed with militia.
precision. Ridgely stood on the side
hill in full view of the battle, viii
was about mile and half dista1
The fight began In a ravine near t
ford. and fully one-half the comma
seemed to be endorsed at the first Fl
and the remainder began to retreat
ward hill in the rear. But their raj
were thinned with astonishing rapid
from front and flank fire. Custer
in the middle of the engagement, VIII
began about IL o'clock and ended in
brief space of forty five minutes. AT
annihilating the command the Wet
returned to camp with six soldiers
prisoners, and, intoxicated with Joy O
their success, they tied these poor
lows to stakes, fixed around wood p
and roasted them alive.
While the victims were enduring a
nizing tortures, little Indian boys Fl
arrows heated to q red heat into til
quivering flesh until their blackel
corpses fell from the stakes. Slit
Bull remarked after the battle that
had killed many soldiers and one damn
General.
While the six soldiers were suffer
their fiery ordeal the Indian warri
went to drive back another force VIII
was attacking them in the rear. Z
was about o'clock, and it was undoU
edly Reno's command driving in tt
pickets. When the Indians returned
camp in the evening they said the n
on the hill "fought like the dew
meaning Reno's soldiers in their
trenchments on the hill. Ridgely
he was not permitted to speak to the
soldiers who were burned, and co
not learn who they were. The host.
made no statement of their losses,
therefore Ridgely was unable to
any information on this point, except
that Reno's men killed more than G
ter. la4ne.
Responsible citizens of Minneapi
vouch for the veracity of Ridgely, {
his statements can be relied upon.