Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-11-14
BISMARCK D. T, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER ID, 1877
CUSTER HEARD FROM.

He s.i1l lives in the spirit-A com.
nunfcatisn Of the dead hero from
tho happy hunting ground-He
claims to have vroHged his red
brother.
The Banner of Light, of Nov. 3, ha.
the following spirit message from Gen
Custer:
I passed out, as you call it, from
your earth by the hand of the Indian
On entering spirit life-or when life was
extinct and spirit life begun-I found
myself still surrounded by hostile bands
Of Indians: there were Indians on the
right side, Indians on the left side, In
dians above me, Indians below me.
Though my head escaped the scalping-
knife, yet my life was taken by the In
dian warriors.
You would expect me, perhaps, from
the ideas l expressed while dwelt in
the form, to speak harshly of the In
dian; but since l have come to spirit
life l have learned lesson that none
can ever take from me: that was mis-
taken in regard to the red mans charac-
ter; that the sel6shness and barbarity
Of the white man has made him what he
is; that the Indian has been outrageous.
ly wrongsd.
have been first and foremost in the
field of battle, working with a will to
crush out the red man; and by his hand
I was carried down into the valley of the
shadow of death. AS stood there, sur
rounded by the Indians, net fully realiz-
Iv,rr t,nk II
suddenly desire came over me that !
wanted to be away from the scene, away
from the hordes tf Indians that encom-
passed nae on all sides. While thinking
OF deliverance, spirit drew near and
took me by the hand; and when said,
81 have wrongsd my red brothers, and l
am sorry for it," the red warriors VINO
surrounded me in spirit-life opened ranks,
and I passed through their midst un-
harmed. I now return to send a warn
ing to eur people and nation, and urge
them to deal justly by the Indians, or
they will do more mischief to the whites.
The warriors in spirit-life are inspiring
their brethren to resist and avenge the
wrongs pcrpetrated on their race. Let
me say to the Government officials, that
the recent visit to Washington Of the
red chiefs has enabled them to leave
there an Influence that will work against
the people if they do not keep faith with
the Indian. Then be true to the letter
Of all agreements; care not so much for
those paltry acres of wild land, but strive
to give homes, peace and cententment
to the red man. I would plead with you,
my countrymen, my brother officers, my
friends, to be lenient, and endeavor te
bring peace and good influences to bear
upon the red man, that he may become
civilized like his white brother. Do not
seek to annihilate them, but try to make
them better if possible.
once thong hit it was no more harm to
kill savage than it was to kill a wild
deer, tiger or leopard! But I tell
you, friends, they are human beings and
have souls.
The Sioux Indians have teen under
the control Of the Roman Catholic
Church, and the Jesuit rites were dear
to them, and whoever proved himself 9
Jesuit was saved. was not scalped,
thsngh the knife was on my head; the
color of my hair saved me from that bar
barity. Golden hair is held sacred by
the Sioux. Custer.