The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-02-23
WILD SIOUX CHIEFS.
SCENES ON THE BATTLE GROUNDS
WHERE CUSTER WAS KILLED.


turc "Reminiscences OF the Famous
Batt!c-.i Galan, Old War s!orsc-A
Woman Changed into Stone.
"Custer's battle ground" said II S Park,
tho artist and correspondent fer il;,rpurs
Weekly and Frank I.csllcs illustrated Paper
sis ono of the most curious places ! ever
visitel."
Mr. Park has spent several years at various
places in tho western territories
II was saying THAT the battle ground was
peculiar" continued he The eight, you
know, took place in a valley on the Little Big
Horn river Well, all about that river and
far in tho distance on either side are low, un-
duatins foothills, covered III summer with
most lIXurant wild grass and the greatest
variety of wild flowers possible to imagine
You can find almost any conceivable color
there In the distance, ust over the first low
hills from the river, are other hills covered
with some wild pines and shrubs, character
istic of tho high table lands Blending tho
bright green grass and many colorcd flowers
and trees with tho clear sky and the bright
running river, you Lavo a sccno for
painter
oUTwIrTING ~ GREAT COUNTRY
ut was hero that the heroic Custer fell on
Juno 26, 1876. The points which got from
tho Sioux and others whilc at Standing Rock
wero to the effect that Chief Gall, and not
Sitting Bull, led tho attack. Asto the Indian
who killed Gen. Custer, it was Ran-in-the-
Face. Custer had no sooner dslnounted to
engage i'll the fray than this chief who, with
his band, was ambushed in tho wild pines,
shot him dead Then tho Indians rushed in
OH tho troops and engaged in wholesale
butchery
".All tho able bodied Sioux of tho G,OOO and
moro now at Standing Rock agency took
part in the battle, except tho old chief, Sit
ting Ball, who a5 now clearly established
was away, and thus after long years it de-
vcoped that Sitting Bull, who was credited
with !eadins, tho attack. was not there at ALL
Crowfoot, son of Sitting Bull, was however,
| nnd it was he who surrendered Sitting Bulls
gun AS for Sitting Bull, ho claims that he
mover did surrender
''Ne call this great country, but is it not
odd that though this battle occurred back in
Ike middle of 1876, Chief Gall was not cap
tiircl until tho winter Of lSSlt Crowfoot,
Sitting Bulls son, finally surrendered at Fort
Euford, ID T., in lSs2, und Raill-in- the Face,
who was captured shortly after the massacre
and confined at Fort Lincoln for murder, es-
capped, and it was not till 1851 that Rain-in-
tlic-Facc finally surrendered ut Fort Keogh
Tho government was q long while also in
capturing, several of the other prominent In
,lians
"'Thcro they wero out in the hills all this
timo successfully Guiding the troops, and tho
war was proiracted for years, a mere hand
full Of Indians, comparatively, standing off
tho entire government force 1t seems impos-
sblo, but hero the Indians were, now dodging
!
in, in among them and killing more and fly
| ing away again.
THE STORY Oh OLD CoMANcHE.
But at that battle where Custer wa, killed
something occurred that have ncve, seen in
print. Capt. NJ. w keogh, for whom Forh-
!Eeogh is now named, roco u magnificent
charger called Comunclle Capt. keogh was
everywhere In tho lhckcst of the fight. Re-
pcatclly his gallant horse bore him where fire
strcan,ed heaviest from Indian gum, keogh,
though wounded two or three times, still
kept his scat and renewed his charges
"'Ilere wero successive advances and re-
| treats until tho battle extended all up and
doyn the valley Tho fight was at random
| and general, every man for himself and at
| last wien tho massacre OF troops was COM
| p!ctn, and others visited that battle ground,
| they found old Comanche four miles away
from the attack, his dead rider 10y his side,
and the gallant stccd with seven balls in his
body.
''lho faithful war horse was so frghtfully
injured that no ono had hopes of his living,
yet with one accord they became his attend
ants. A surgeon was especially detailed to
| extract what bullets ho could and prescribe
for him. 1t was long struggle, but finally
| Conanche began to mend
''Ee was with difficulty removed to Fort
Standing Rock and tho secretary of war Is
sued an order that hcnceforth old Comanche
should have soldier especially to attend to
| him and that no one should rido him.
Tho fort and agency Of Standing Rock
taEc their names from an exceedingly queer
looking rock which towers up on the prairies
In the distance, and even after the observer
comes close up to it, it looks strangely like o
witherc,l up old woman of gigantic size.
''TLc Sioux call the Did stone figure petri-
fed sql;a,Y, and they have strange legend Of
how many moons ago. in tho days when tho
Sioux were Of giant size, this squaw, who had
been the daughter of great chief, refused to
do the bidding Of her lord and master, himself
u noted chief, and vas forthwith changed by
the Great Spirit to stone. Her terrible fate
| is oftcntimcs quoted now to the Sioux wives
and maidens as q reason why they should
render implicit obedience to tho many stall
wart bucks who may have things they wish
done."- Francisco Examiner.