The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-07-06
HE HELPED TO KILL CUSTER.
Tale Of Sioux Chief Gail, Who Took
Part In The Fight.

Tale Oh SlOuA Cnlel tall, VINO TOOK
Part In The Fight.
The Incidents of the Massacre Re.
counted at the Tenth Anniversary
Meeting of the SurvivOrs-Help
Came Too Late.
CUSTER BATTLEFIELD, Mont, June
26.-The celebration OF the tenth ami.
versary of the Custer massacre by few
of it's survivors, was marked in one point
more than all others BY the statement OF
Sioux Chief Gall, who went over The
Geld and described the manner in which
Clusters command was destroyed. Gall
is 6ne.lookiDg Indian. As years old.
weighing more than 200 pounds, He
was rcticent at first, but finally told his
story with dignity and emotion. He
said:
I'VE saw soldiers early in the morning
crossing the divide. When Reno and
Custer separated we watched them urti
they came down into the valley. The
cry was raised that the white soldiers
were coming, and orders we're given for
the village to move Reno crept down
so rspidly upon the upper end that the
Indians we're forced to fight. Sitting
Bull and we're at the point where Reno
attacked. Sitting Bull was the big med.
icine man. The women and children
were hastily moved down the stream
where the Cheyennes we're encamped.
The Sioux attacked Reno and the Chey.
ennes Custer, and then all hccame mix
ed up. The women and children csught
horses Ter the bucks to mount, and the
bucks mounted and charged back on
Reno, checked him and drove him into
tbe timber The soldiers tied their hor.
scs TO trees, came out and fought on foot.
As soon as Reno was beaten snd driven
back across the river the whole force
turned cn Custer and fought him until
they destroyed him. Gutter did not
reach the liver, but was met about half
a mi lie up the ravine now called Reno
Creek. They fought the soldiers and
beat them hack step by step until all
we're killed"
One OF Reno's officers confirms thi.
story, saying: "It was probably during
The interval Of quiet on Reno's par, that
tie Indians rnRssed on Custer ard ami
bilated him."
Gall continued: The Indians ran out
OF ammunition and then used arrows.
They fired from behind their horse'.
The soldiers got their shells stuck in the
guns and had 10 throw them away. Then
they fought with little guns (pistols).
The Indians we're In couples behind and
in front Of Custer as he moved up the
ridge, and we're as manv rs the giass on
the plane First, two companies OF
Keogh's and Calhnun's dismounted and
fought on loot They never broke. bat
retired step by st"p, until forced hack 10
the ridge upon which all finally di,d.
They we're shot down in line where they
stood. Keoeh's company ralli'd and
we're ell killed 10 bunch (rbis st.te-
ment seems horne out BY fac's, as thir.
ty.eight bodies of Keoet's 'rappers we're
fonnd piled in a heap). The warriors
directed special fire against the troop
els who held the horses, and IS soon as
holder was killed, by waving blankets
and crest shouting the hor.es we're STAN
peded, which made it impossible for the
soldiers 10 escape. The soldiers fought
desperately and hard and never surran.
dered Thep fought standing alorg in
line on the right. Az :a.t as the men
fell the horses we're herdtd and driven
toward the squaws and old meu. who
gathered them up. When Reno attempt
ed to 1nd Custer by tbro wing out skir-
nish liue Gutter and all who we're with
him we're dead When the skirmishers
reached high point overlooking Gus.
ter's field the Indians were gallopine
around and over ,hc woundrd, d,i"g
and dead, popping bullets aud arrows
into them. Whcn Reno made bis a.
tack at the upper end he killed my two
sqIaws and three children. which madr
my heart had / then fought with haich-
ct (mesning mulila,. d the soldiers The
soldier. ran out OF ammunition early in
the day. Their supplies oi cartridges
we're in the saddle pockets OF their STAN.
peded horses When their ammunition
was gone the In,iians killed the soldiers
with batchrts. A lot of horses ran away
and jumped into the river, but were
caught by squaws Only forty three
Indians were killed altogether, but
great many wounded ones came across
the river and died in the bushes We
had Ogallalas, M,nneconjous, Brule, Te-
ton. Uncapapa, Sioux, CheyenDes, Arap.
ahoes and Grosven'res. When the big
dust came in the air down the river
meaning Terry and Gihbon), We struck
our lodges ard went up creek toward
the White Mountains The Big Horn
ranges were covered with snow. We
waited there four days, and then went
over to the Wolf Mountains"
II bias been popularly supposed that
Custer entered the river, but auch was
not the case. No ceremonies or exer-
cises were gone throuoh with ypatpr6sv