The daily gazette., 1877-11-17
SITTING BULLS PRISONERS
A SURVIVOR OF THE CUSTER MASSA-
GRE BECOMES AN INDIAN
CHIEF.
from the Boston Herald.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-The COM
mission which was sent to Sitting |
Bull made an important discovery In
the fact that the warrior has in his
camp white prisoner captured at the
Custer ma ssacre. Before reaching
Fort alsh rnmors reached the com
mission that Sitting Bull held some OF
Gust er's men as prisoners, and after
the first conference one of the half
breed interpreters employed by Gen.
Terry visited the camp, and while
passing through, was accosted in Eng.
lish by person dressed and painted
as chief who said that his name was
Martin Ryan, who was corporal in
Company l. Seventh Cavalry, Col.
Keoug1's company, and been taken
a prisoner at the battle of the Little
Big Horn with Custer. Inquiry ap-
parently substantiated his assertion
and the following facts were ascer-
tained: Ryan's life had been spared
ed by Sitting Bull himself who adopt
ed him into his own family. Ryan
made several attempts to escape, and
but being carefully guarded was un-
successful, and on each occasion he
was severely beaten. He has now ap-
parently accepted the situation, and
Sitting Ball has made him a war chief
and married Ryan to one of his own
daughters. Ryan has let his hair
grow long in Indian fashion, dresses
as an Indian, and is known by the
Sioux as the White Chief.
| Upon the return of the commission to
St. Paul, Gen. Terry caused the muster
rolls of Company l, Seventy Cavalry, to
be examined, and found that Martin Ky
ans name is borne as corporal, and that
he was present for duty when his COM
mand went into that fatal action of June
20, 1876. 1t was stated by the friendly
Indians that there are several others Of
clusters men prisoners in Sitting Bull:
camp, but Ryan's case was the only one
which was verified. Sitting Bull was
asked the question direct by Gen. Cor
bin II he took any prisoners OF the Sew
enth Cavalry, and answered fatty: 81
is none of your business Sitting Bul
talked considerably about the battle will
I Custer, and all be said fully confirms tn,
conclusions arrived at by General Terr,
last year when he examined the grounC
just after the battle. He said that a
first he thought General Terry's who'll
= army was upon him, and he had move,
: his women and children and propert,
about four miles in retreat, when be re
: celved Information from his scouts tha
it was only the Seventh Cavalry an
/ Long Hair (Custer), and that they wer
divided, and Reno had already retreatet
He says he then took 1000 warriors an
! went back and moved down on Custe
in solid mass, and ended the fight rigt
there. He says that Long Hair was on
,; OF the very last down, and that the Ii
q dians shouted and made signs to him t
= surrender, but he would not, and abor
= the very last Of the fight he was killet
He said that if he had captured Custt
he would not have hurt him, but hay
q kept him in his camp. He was aske
- how many men he lost, but he refused
10 tell the number. After few moment
e however, he said that he lost a gre
l. many warriors; indeed, two for eyel
-e man that Long Hair had. In regard
IN Corporal Ryan's case, General Terry h;
J. written letter to the State Departmel
ID through Secretary McCrary, detailing Il
A. iacls as ascertained, to the end that Il
assistance of the British Government M;
q be asked to effect his release.