Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-02-09
CUSTER Oh A THOROUGHBRED.

Buffalo Bill tell, a story about hi-
first ride with Custer. in lSG1." liz
says, Il WIS post guide and scout at
Fort Hays. kanSa5. D.ture that time
| had met Gen Custer when he was
stationed at old Fort Fletcher. but |
was not well acquainted with him.
One evening earl Y III June he came
into Hays with only a light escort
and WAS on a forced march to Fort
Larned. which is sixty five miles from
the former place. At that time there
were, of course, 10 railroad connec-
tions. When the General expressed
awish for some guide to accompany
him the commanding officer detailed
me, and orders were given to start at
daylight the following morning. At
the time my best long distance horse
was big, mouse colored mule. anul
as | heard what Lightning traveller
Custer was | know that only my best
runner would do to keep ahead Of the
'Whirlwind.' as the Indians called
him. thought | would be prompt
and ahead of the General at daylight,
but when | arrived he was already on
the ground with his staff and order
lies. When | rode up noticed him
eyeing the animal | was riding and
when l announced that l was to be
his guide he assented. but said
would have to get a better horse. 1t
would, [ would find. take something
better than an old mule to keep ahead
OF him. L vigorously maintained
that the mule would get over the six
ty-tive miles as quick as any horse he
had, and no seemed to be satisfied
when the post commander spoke up
and confirmed what said. For the
first ten miles l had to Use the spurs
lively to keep the General from rid
ing over me. but after crossing the
Smoky Hill river and getting on into
the sand hills the mule got his second
wind. We commenced to leave Gus
ter's Kentucky thoroughbred. and
the soldier in time acknowledge that
l was riding a pretty good horse.
For a long time we kept up this
rapid travelling, his escort being scat
tered out for miles behind. and as the
country was dangerous the General
called a halt to let his men close up
and become less convenient targets
for vagrant bands of Indians. When
we started again l made up my mind
to show him what a good mule could
do. and l struck q gait which aston
ished him so much that he did not
call for another halt. We left the
escort to follow as best they could,
and before noon the General and
myself rode into Fort Larned. The
escort struggled in for hours during
tho day The next day l returned to
Hays, while he took command of his
regiment and soon after had bis big
fight at PawDee Fork Greek. l met
him frequently after that and guided
hlm III several expeditions. Poor
Custer. was thirty five miles from
him when he killed himself. Yes,
killed himself. The Indians who
were in the fight of the Little Big
Horn say Custer killed himself, and
from the Indian religion | am con
vinced that they are right. He was
the only enc who was not mutilated
on the bloody field, and the red W IT.
rior will not mutilate the body of a
man who takes his own life. | think
that Custer fought till all his brother
officers died and, no Reno to support
him, he then died by his own hand
and ended the career of as brave a
man as ever wore spurs"