The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-07-10
MisrfHann.
TIE SHADOW I'm THE VALLEY
A Strange Mystery OF the Custe er
Massacre--lS 1t a Spectre or a
Crazy SOIdlerl--SuperstltiOns OF
the Indians.

Up and down that valley through
which Custer made his last charge-
along that creek where 80 many of Re.
nos men fell dead from their frantic and
struggling horses-in the thickets and
along the ravines, a shadow turks day
and night. The last scalp had hardly
been torn from the head of the cavalry
man who had crept into the tall grass to
die, when this shadow skulked into tina,
valley of death and began to deal ou1
|retribution.
The Chief, Dull Knife, had much to
say about it the other week, when he sur
rendered. He spoke in whispers wher
he referred to it suddenly ,and he looked
around as if fearful that it was softly
stealing upon him to stab him in tht
back.
Crazy Horses men had something tt
say about it when they surrendered, and
when white men asked them who Of
what they thought the shadow was, they
shook their heads and whispered
"We killed 'em all, but there is ont
left! 1t is white man. There is blood
on his face and clothing He carries 6
saber and two revolvers, and the night
wind blows his long yellow curls over
his shoulders; 1t is spirit sent by the
great Manitou to watch over the graves
of the white soldiers! I"
White men have seen the shadow
Hunter, trapper and scouts, who have
built their camp fires near that valley
through which the big mountain vol
skulks and prowls all night long, have
felt the presence of the mysterious shad
ow or have seen it; they have fed from
their blankets at its soft step, and they
have fred at it when only ten feet away
and yet seen 1t glide off unharmed.
1t is not shadow Of sentiment, but
a being which demands vengeance fol
the awful butchery Of the little band ol
theroes-for the brave brothers who
grouped themselves around the noble
Custer aud fought to the death, each one
lying within arms length of him who
fought fiercest and longest. When the
soldiers moved out of the valley leaving
nearly three hundred graves behind them
the wolves rushed out from canon and
ravine and den to dig up the fresh earth
and feast on the brave dead the shadow
was there before them-a solitary and
vigilant sentinel-to guard these sacred
mounds. 1t screamed and gestured al
the fierce beasts-it fired upon them with
rife and revolver, and struck at them
W th bright, keen saber. The wolves
ran here and there, from grave to grave
gnasbing their teeth in anger, but the
shadow closely pursued; they formed in
groups in the midnight darkness. and
/, waited for the shadow to tire out, but il
paced up and down over the graves, Wig
liant and unwearied, and daylight came
to hurry the wild beasts to their lairs till
another night. Hunters and scouts have
been there and seen the sentinel beal
over the graves-seen it in the light o
MONDAY, when men could not be mista
ken it is a well beaten path, which runs
from grave to grave, curvlng and wind
ing to take In every one, and now and
then it comes close to the creek for the
strange sentinel to hear the babble of the
waters Scouts say it is a path beaten
by human feet; the red chiefs say that 8
shadow or spirit could alone remain
there in that lonely spot, having the
company only of wild beasts and the
graves of butchered men.
Once, when Dull Knife and trusty
few were scouting to learn the wherea
bouts of their white foes, they encamped
in the valley for the night. The shadow
stole among them as they slept, and wher
a fierce scream aroused the band from
slumber FIVE Of the red men had beer
murdered-each bronze throat slashed
across with keen knife; the shadow
stood a little ways off and jeered anG
Knocked the living, who huddled togeth
er like frightened children when they
fed for their lives it pursued them witt
drawn saber, and the chief had scar OIL
his shoulder to prove that he was strucl
by the blade. Next day when full bant
Of Indians marched into the valley t
solve the mystery and secure revenge
they saw no living thing. The bodies o
the warriors were cut and hacked anG
gashed. Five of the poor cavalrymel
whose brains had been beaten out ant
limbs dismembered had been avenged.
| Before the crown of single grave ha,
sunk down Crazy Horse started to eros
the valley at midnight with bis lodges
The shadow confronted his band an,
mocked them, and as the red men hui
ried along in the darkness, wildly re
calling the mad charge of the cavalr
and the fierce desperation of the surpris
ed villagers. the strange shadow skulke
along with the column and fired shot al
ter shot into the band. They fired at i
and pushed out to capture it, but th
, shadow disappeared as shadows do
Two squaws, child or two, an old ma
> and two warriors fell by the bullets th
shadow fred. From that time the re
men avoided the valley as white me
avoid pest houses. They would not crol
it or skirt it, even at high noon, whe
the sunshine beat down upon the grave
= and on the waters of the historic creek.
If the shadow was shadows mis-
nothing-it could not beat paths, nc
laugh and jeer, nor cut throats and fl
rifles; and yet, if it was not . shade,
;. how does it live Is it some crazy hui
u ter, whose befogged mind darkened
e the story of the awful massacre and COZ
j. ceived this wild plan of vengeance P
l. Perhaps one of that little band of ca
y alrymen escaped death in some straus
:, way and recovered his strength as
O wandered about among the rocks ar
g valleys and hills-recovered strength
3 limb and not of reason. Believing hir
! self called upon to avenge his comrade
T he turks in the valley, living like the wi
2, beasts around him, land missing no chan
IL to strike a blow.
E. 1t is not a month since two arm
scouts crossed the lonely haunt, ,and ha
ed long enough to see that the grav
k had not been disturbed. They saw t
path of the sentinel leading from gra
ir to grave. They saw the skeletons OF t
er red men slain by the shadow. They We
h. leaving the yalley when their ears VIC