The Indianapolis journal., 1885-08-10
HOW CUSTER DIED.
Sitting Bull Tells the True Story of the Fall
of the Brave General.

Boston Special.
The real facts about the death of General
Custer were brought out day or two ago in an
interview here between Sitting Bull and Sergeant
John Ryan. of Newton, Mass, who fought under
General Reno in the last battle between Clusters
regiment and the Indians. When Sergeant
Ryan was introduced TO Sitting Bull, the latter
at first showed no disposition to talk, but pres
emily, when Sergeant Ryan drew from his
pocket blood-bes pattered cavalry guerdon, and
asked Sitting Bull whether he had ever seen a
flag like that before the Indian showed a sudden
awakening of interest
YES" he said.
'When was it," asked Sergeant Ryan
when we had the fight and killed Custers
men" said Sitting Bull, through the interpreter
''we got number of them. Where did you
get it!'
''On the second day of the fight" answered
Ryan, II saw an Indian riding up and down in
front of our lines displaying this flag. Another
man and myself, who had long range rifles fred
at him repeatedly, and finally dropped him off
his horse When night came crawled out and
brought the flag in" Sergeant Ryan continued:
When we struck your trail. and just before the
fight, we found four lodges with dead Indians in
them. Who were theyW
''They were Sioux Shawnee scouts killed by
men of General Crooks command on the Rose
bud, June IL" said Sitting Bull. 'Ou the first
day of the fight do you recollect an Indian
a campstick ian Indian lance and was cheer
ing and urging on his menl
THAT was when you were trying our skirmish
line answered Ryan. The chief was two
three hundred yards away, and l fired on him
number of times,
'That was T. said Sitting, Bull, with much
merriment Soon after that l went to the
scene of the fight with Custer and was not in
the battle after that day. remember when two
of your pack mules charged down to the water
from your camp on the bluff. They were loaded
with ammunition, and used that ammunition,
as well as what we got from Custer in the second
1,x,c ,vIH Whnvo 10 <o1,A Anko ooQ+
battle at the other end of the valley, where Gus
ter made his attack l left Crazy Horse in COM
mand of nay young men, who were fighting you
and Reno"
Was the fight going on when you got thereF
''Oh, yes" answered Sitting Bull; 1--WE had
them surrounded"
1T has been stated that Rain in the Face
claimed that he killed Custer; did be?" asked
Ryan.
NO. There is no truth in it," said Sitting
Io"n. SO many were firing at Custer at the
same time that no one could tell whether he hit
him or not"
"You are telling the truth there" ventured
Ryan. Il was in command of the detail that
buried Custer after General Terry came up.
There were number Of bullets in Clusters body,
and he and newspaper man named Kelly were
the only ones whose bodies had not been mutt
lated. Say, who was it that mashed the head of
Capt. Tom Custer, and what became of the
prisoners"
II don't know about that" said Sitting Bull
THE young men and squaws had to do with
that, as near as l can tell | had under me d.,
600 warriors, and there were in camp from 5000
to 1000 women and children. There were
1,6VO or l. 700 lodges, and the camp was four or
five miles long, all in the valley of the Little Big
Horn. How many men did you havea"
Six hundred all told" answered Ryan.
How many were killed with Custerp asked
Sitting Bull.
Two hundred and seven"
'How many with Reno? said the Indian.
'Sixty."
The two ex-warriors then drifted into dis
cussion of many campaign "reminiscences. for
Sergeant Ryan was in Clusters cavalry regiment
on the plains for ten years, and had often sAir-
mished with Sitting Bull and his tribe when they
were on the War-path.