The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-02-27
WILD SIOUX CHIEFS.
SCENES ON THE BATTLE GROUNDS
WHERE CUSTER WAS KILLED.


shrewdncss OF the Indians in Eiuding Cap
ture "Reminiscences of the Famous
Battie-A Gallant Old War Horse-A
Woman Changed Into Stone.
Clusters battle ground, !" said H. S. Park,
the artist and correspondent for Harper's
Weekly ard Frank Leslieis Illustrated Paper,
sis o. Of the most curious places ever
visites
MIR Park has spent several years at various
places in the western territories.
81 was saying that the battle ground was
peculiar continued he. "The fight, you
know, took place in valley on the Little Big
Horn river. Well, all about that river and
far in the distance on either side are low, I'M
dulating foothills, covered in summer with
most luxuriant wild grass and the greatest
variety of wild flowers possible to imagine.
You can find almost any conceivable color
there. In the distance, just over the first low
hills from the river, are other hills covered
with some wild pines and shrubs, character
istic Of the high table lands Blending the
bright green grass and many colored flowers
and trees with the clear sky and the bright
running river, you have a scene for a
painter.
OUIMAIiiNl a GhEAI4
sit was here that the heroic Custer fell on
June 90 1876. The points which got from
the Sioux and others while at Standing Rock
were to the effect that Chief Gall, and not
Sitting Bull, led the attack. As to the Indian
who killed Gen. Custer, It was Rain-in-the.
Face. Custer had no sooner dismounted tc
engage In the fray than this chief, who, with
his band, was ambushed In tho wild pines
shot him dead Then the Indians rushed IN
on the troops and engaged in wholesale
butchef'y.
"All the able bodied Sioux of the 6,000 and
more now at Standing Rock agency took
part in tho battle, except the old chief, Sit
ting Bull, who, as now clearly established,
was away, and thus after long years it de-
veloped that Sitting Bull, who was credited
with leading the attack, was not there at all
Crowfoot, son of Sitting Bull, was, however,
and it was he who surrendered Sitting Bulls
gun As for Sitting Bull, he claims that be
never did surrender
Two call this great country, but is 1t not
odd that though this battle occurred back In
the middle of 1870 Chief Gall was not cap
tured until the winter OF 1881 Crowfoot,
Sitting Bulls son, finally surrendered at Fort
Buford, d. r., in 1882, and Rain-in-the-F Face,
who was captured shortly after the massacre
and confined at Fort Lincoln for murder. es-
capped, and 1t was not till 1881 that Rain-in-
the-F Face finally surrendered at Fort Keogh.
Tho government was a long while also in
capturing several of the other prominent In
dians
"There they were out In the hills all this
time successfully eluding the troops, and the
war was protracted for years, a mere hand
full Of Indians, comparatively, standing of
the entire government force 1t seems impos-
sible, but here the Indians were, now lodging
the soldiers in the mountains and now dash
ing in among them and killing more and fly
ing away again.
THE STORY OF OLD coMANcHE.
But at that battle where Custer was killed
something occurred that have never seen in
print Capt. NJ. w. Keogh, for whom Fort
Keogh Is now named, rede magnificent
charger called Comanche Capt. Keogh was
everywhere in the thickest Of the fight. Re-
peatedly his gallant horse bore him where fire
streamed heaviest from Indian guns Keogh,
-harqa, =--- two. or, three - still
kept his seat and renewed his charges
0There were successive advances and re
treats until the battle extended all up and
down the valley. The fight was at random
and general, every man for himself, and al
plete. and others visited that battle ground
they found old Comanche four miles away
from the attack, his dead rider by his side
and the gallant steed with seven balls in his
body.
'"rhe faithful war horse was so frightfully
injured that no one had hopes of his living
yet with one accord they became bis attend
ants A surgeon was especially detailed tc
extract what bullets he could and prescribe
for him. 1t was q long struggle, but finally
Comanche began to mend.
"He was with difficulty removed to Fort
Standing Rock and the secretary Of war Is
sued an order that henceforth old Comanche
should have a soldier especially to attend tc
him and that no one should ride him
''rhe fort and agency Of Standing Roci
take their names from an exceedingly queer
looking rock which towers up on the prairies
In the distance, and even after tho observer
comes close up to ii, II looks strangely like a
withered up old woman OF gigantic size
'sThe Sioux call the old stone figure q petri
fed squaw, and they hnvs strange legend Of
how many moons ago, In the days when the
Sioux were Of giant size, this squaw, who had
been the daughter Of a great chief refused To
do the bidding of her lord and master, himself
O noted chief, and was forthwith changed by
the Great Spirit to stone Her terrible fate
is oftentimes quoted now TO tho Sioux wive:
and maidens as a reason why they should
render implicit obedience to tho many stall
wart bucks who may have things they wisl
done. n--San Francisco Examiner.