Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-11-02
TaE CUSTER nAssACRE.

Az Old Scent nays It Was Caused b.
The Wastefsl slaughter q Game
jim Bleed's Death.
ibid you ever learn the cause of
the Custer massacre?" asked IN old
Indian fighter and scout Of 4 Trxrs
reporter, few days ago.
mo-" 2
"Then I will tell you. 1t was the
unnecessary and wasteful slaus Inter
OF game on the Sioux hunting
grounds.
In the summer Of 1872 I was one
OF a surveying party sent out by the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company
from Helena, Montana. The service
was considered dangerous, a. tho
scene OF our labor was in the heart Of
the Sioux country, so an escort Of
soldiers, numbering about 400, under
command OF Col. Baker, accompanied
u. Some prospectors and hunters
also came along, as We were consid.
cred strong enough to resist all Indian
attacks.
At that time tho buffalo were NUN.
erous. and by the time We reached tho
"oad lands" so plentiful were they
that hundreds of them were daily shot
down and left to rot on the plains.
This exaspersted the Indians, and ~
they stated to the Great Father in
Washington afterward, was the sole
ground of their attacking US.
On the morning of the 14th Of
August, large band, composed of
Arapahoes, Sioux and Cheyennes,
commanded by Sitting Bull, attacked
the camp. We fought them for six
hours, and succeeded in driving them
of, thereby saving our horses and
what We priced still more, our 'har.'
There was said to have been 81 In.
dams killed in the fight, while we, If
l remember Alright, lost three, the
Jim Blood mentione below, and two
soldiers, besides several wounded.
There can be no doubt that many Of
the redskins who attacked US then
we're with Sitting Bull when he ami.
Inflated General Custer and his com.
mand four years sfterward; and we're
still seeking revenge for the slaughter
of the game.
The Jim Blood herein spoken of
followed hunting and trapping for
living. He was born Indian fighter,
and was so severely wounded during
the battle that he died in great agony
the following night. At the begin.
ming Of the fray he had killed and
scalped Cheyenne chief, aud this
seemed to give him great satisfaction
in his dying moments.
As my knack for verse building
was known to the party, was request
ed to immortal,ze poor old Jim
which did a few days later. But
the party breaking up before we
reached printing Office, my effusion
was never published. Since you re.
quest it, | will give you a copy for
publication. Here it is:
HOW jim BLOOD DIED.
Yes. boys, they've fixed mo at last,
And haven't got much to say.
I've sent many red ahead on the path,
So the trail will he clear a. day.
There's one thing has puzzled me long.
But the secret soon shall know
Whether the white man and red.
Will to the same stamping.ground 60?
don't think that It would be right
That they who esch other did hate.
Should in that fsr-away land
Call the one he had killed, his mate.
hope there are two hunting. grounds
Que for the white and the red
IT there isn't there's bound to be rows,
In spite of all preachers have said.
There IL one thing want you to do:
When I'm dead and you lay me to rest,
Take the scalp Of the last red killed.
And lay it upon my breast.
It may be that 1 shall be asked
For password to getting in there.
If l am, shall hand them the scalp
OF this Chief that won fair aud square.
And now. boys, wish you good-by:
I'll be OF with the tide at the food.
Remember me kindly, and pray
For the soul Of the hunter, Jim Blood.
FROM VIENNA.
A Sad Accident-Th0 Mil Turning