News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-12-06


Among other "reminiscences published
IN a recent issue Of the Bozeman ChrOle-
tcic, Is the following story in reference
to the Custer massacre, as related by
MUggins Taylor:
Con the 26th of June, 1876, General
Terry sent Tor ME with instructions to
come to his tent at once. I was soon
after IL his presence, and I was uncere-
mOniously informed that [ was to go
ahead, alone, and find Custer, who was
supposed to be about thirty miles be-
yond. The general said he was aware
that It Was a perilOus undertaking, and
told me To be very cautious. He then
handed me dispatch for General Caster.
al first refused to go, but afterward
found that there was no one willing TO
rIsk the danger, and at the earnest SOlic-
ItatICn Of the general ] mounted and,
after shaking hands with my comrades,
rode of on a gaGCp.
q started about seven o'clock in the
morning, and rode until about noon,
when l saw company of what I sup
posed to be soldiers, drawn up III march
ing order, with the Seventies battle flag,
which | had often seen before | had
along my route seen numerous Indian
signs, but no Indians. Putting spurs to
my horse L rode fast toward the soldiers,
and as l approached was somewhat sur
pr1Sed to see the leader ride in front of
the hrst rank and make a detail of seven
men, who lost no time in riding toward
me, giving volume to that Unmistakable
war whoOp which I knew could only
come from a blOCd-thirstv Sioux | at
once turned my horse and rode toward
the foot hills, hoping to be able to escape
and by clrc1ltOus route return to Terry.
Con came the painted demons, whose
fleet ponies brought them within gun
shot, and for few minutes I was the
moving target for the seven, returning
the fire as best I-cOuld. Upon gaining
a ridge | discovered the Indian camp and
knowing It to lie occupied by the squaws
and children | rode between it and my
purSUers. This strategic move probably
saved my life, as the reds ceased firing
and for while were lost to my view. /
While riding, loading my gun and turn /
ing TO look for the Indians, my horse /
gave sudden jump sideways, nearly |
unseating me. I looked to see the cause /
and found that I was III the midst OF a .
large number OF dead men, lying ON /
their faces, a sight [ never recall with /
out a shulder Seeing that the pursuers
were not III sight, I checked my horse .
and looked at the nearest body, which l /
decided was General Custer. l hastily |
tore off my shirt and placed it over the
dead mans face
''After riding for a mile or so reached .
the foot of hill and dismOunted to lead .
up my horse, who was covered with /
sweat and almost Frustrated. Before
starting up I glanced up to the summit
and was scared almost speechless by the
sight of two swarthy faces peering over
the hill, apparently Watching my every
movement. My old gun was instantly
te my shoulder and one of the Indians
covered. Then in a trembling voice |
told him to drop his weapon and come
to me, intending to kill him if his COM
panlOn made a move. Instead Of adj
vancing an unseen half-breed came to
the edge and asked me what I wanted.
| answered / wanted him to lay down
his gun and come to me, and to make
the others leave their guns and come
down half the way, or [ would blow his
head OFF. I was still scared and doubt
full, and asked him where Reno was.
He replied that he was camped a mile or
so away. / then told him to mount his
horse. which was tied a short distance
away; and, mounting another, l told
him to lead the way, and if he turned
his head that l would shoot him dead.
He rode fast, and as ] had mounted a
fresh horse belonging to one of the In
dams, 1 kept a short distance behind,
soon reaching Reno's Camp.
Il ut once proceeded to RenO's tent,
aud, according to instructions, gave him
the dispatch. After reading it he turned,
AMI, with a naughty air, asked me WHY
! had not delivered it to Custer I then
asked him If 1t was possible he did not
know that Custer was killed, together
with his command, and as [ said it gave
him a look that he viii remember to his
dying lay. He hastily replied that 1
lied, and told me 10 go TO Custerat once,
handing me back the dispats IN. 1 there
upon threw it upon the ground and
walked off
Upon Terrys arrival / was at once
sent to BOzeman the nearest telegraph
station, where l arrived in three days,
and sent the sOrrowful news to the sur
prised world
The Chr0aicIc adds: W. II. Tavlor,
or ''Muggins, as he was better known, I
has gone to his long home, having met 5
his death at COols0n on the Yellowstone,
last year, while making an arrest. There
are few men in Montana that have had {
as varied a history or as many pecu- I
iarities as ''ALuggins." One of his {
strange customs was to go without q coat !
n midwinter. We often saw him in the {
,oldest weather with nothing on his t
body but thin flannel shirt This was q
II later years. People who knew him t
n his palmy days in Salt Lake, say ]
hat his dress was the finest seen on the |
streets. He was at one time quite {
wealthy, but in later years followed ]
'cOuting, hunting and trapping for a t
living. The name of "AIuggins" was +
given him in California by the Spaniards, !
when ut q game of cards his life was {
saved bY an American