The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-05-18
CROOK AND CUSTER IN '76
4 Story That Has All the Freshness Of 4
Current Event.
The Massacre Described by Finerty.
Who Went to the Sioux Coun-
try as Correspondent Of
the "Chicago Times"

DOM r. = merry = booh oh AuN >o'si"s"'
of the sioux in 1876" Mr.. Finerty wal
vent out with the expedition as war cor
respondent by a Chicago paper:
There had ragged for many years a war
between the Sioux nation, composed OF
about a dozen different tribes Of the same
race under various designations, and
nearly all the other Indian tribes. Of the
Northwest. The Northern Cheyenncs
were generally confedcrated with the
Sioux in the field,and the common enemy
would seem to have been the Crow ar Alb
sarake nation. The Sioux and Cheyennes
together were more than a match for all
the other tribes combined, and even at
This day the former people hold their
numerical superiority unimpaircd. There
must he nearly 1000 Sioux ant their kin
dred tribes in existence, n they still
possess. ut least, 5000 a~blc-bodicd war
riors, more or less well armed. But times
have greatly changed since the spring of
ls76. Then nearly all Of Dakota, North
ern Nebraska, Northern Wyoming, North
ern and Eastern Montana lay at the
mercy of the savagcs, who, since the COM
plction of the treaty in 1858. which filled
them with ungovernablc pride, had been
mainly successful in excluding all white
me from the immense region. In fact,
the northern boundary in Montana cX-
tended practically Ia the frontier of the
British possessions.
About two hundred and forty thousand
square miles were comprised IN the land
coded, or virtually surrendered, by the
government To the lndians-one-half for
occupation and the establishment of
agencies, farms, schools n other medi-
ums of civilization whsle the other half
was devoted to hunting grounds, which
no white man could enter without special
permission OF the Indians themselves.
All this magnificent territory was turned
over and guaranteed To the savages by
solemn treaty with the United States, but
the white men wanted II anu the cavalry
could not keep them out OF H.. The In
dians declared they could 10 II, and the
result was many bloody m~assacrcs, and
eventually a war that cost thousands OF
lives ana oil dollars.
This General Crook tried To ~prcvcnt,but
could not. Fincrty tells OF what resulted,
recounts the Custer massacre.
When We returned to camp General
Crook was, as ] have said, up in the
mountains over our camp on aiother
hunt. Colonel Royal. who had heard
further reports OF massacre OF our cav
airy by, Indians, aud rendered doubly
careful ny the late unplcasant experience
OF Sibley,s party, sent a lew companies
OF the Third after the general. They me-
him II his followers returning To- camp
fairly laden To the earth win elk. deer
and mountain sheep.
Crook received all the news with his
customary placidity. lie felt morally
certain, however, thai some dire disaster
had befallen n portion of lerry's COM
mand. n he feared the impetiious custer
wat the victim. His Tears were sadly re-
allied Monday morning., July ~, when
LOUIS Richard ana other haii-Drteis came
in from Fetterman with the Official ac-
count OF the catastrophc.
The official story OF the tlster disaster
was put into a few words. but no account
that l have heard or read, either on or oil
the plains. equals in c~lcarncss ANA sue
cinctness the story OF the Grow Indian
Scout Curly, who alone OF the immediate
command OF General custer survived the
memorable disaster oil june -, 1876. The
following Is the gist of Curly's statement:
Custer, with his five companies, after
separating from Keno and his seven rom
panics. moved 10 the right around the
haSe of a high hill overlooking the valley
of the Little Horn through "A ravine just
wide enough To admit Ills column OF Tours.
There were no signs OF the presence OF
indians in the hills oil that side lthc right
of the Little Horn, and the column moved
steadily ON until IL rounded the hill and
am in sight of the village lying In the
valley below them. Custer appeared very
much clated, ana ordered the btgies To
sohnd a charge aud moved on at the head
of his column, waving his hat to ciicour-
Z his men. Whcn they ncarcd the river
the Indians.conceaied IN the underground
nn the opposite side OF ID stream, Opened
lire on the troops. which checked the all
vance. Here n portion Of the command
were dismounied and thrown forward 10
the river II returned the fire of the In
nians. During this tim" the warriors were
seen riding ont of the village 10y hundreds
and deploying across Clusters front and