The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-12

> MADE HIS HAIR GRAY.
A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE
BLOODY CUSTER MASSACRE.

This Man Was Forced to Remain Thirty
six Hours In the Brush Surrounded by
Indians-HIs Hair Was Turned by His
Awful Experience.
Well, don't mind telling you the story,
though l seldom repeat IL, as the memories
1t calls up are the most painful'that can
ever come 10 me. One year ago was
down in the Big Horn country, where l
had gone early in the spring, along with
fifteen companions, who, like myself, mad
been raised here in Montana. to enlist as
scout in the United States army. The In
dams had bee1 up to all sorts OF deviltry
and scouts were In demand. In that month
passed through just little bit more than
/ bargained for, and q great deal more
than | ever want to again. Hostile In
dams had been gathering on the railroad
all spring, and the department at Wash
ington had given orders to bring them in
or give them such terrible licking that
they would come In voluntarily. To that
end big campaign was organized.
On June IL was out scouting with a
party that discovered that Sitting Bull had
moved his headquarters from the Rosebud
over into the larger valley of the Little
Big Horn, the next stream to the west.
Their ponies had eaten all the grass in the
Rosebud, which was the cause of the change.
As soon as we reported back to Terry he
decided to send Custer, the head of the
cavalry, to scout the trail"
Custer was willing and ready, and imme-
diately started on the trail with the Seventh
cavalry. A battalion of the Second cavalry
was offered him, as was also battery OF
two field guns under Lieut.. Low, but Gus
ter wanted his own people, that be knew
and had proved. He rode sixty miles in
twenty-four hours, riding day and night,
and Sunday morning, the 18th, we trotted
in sight OF village in the valley of the
Little Big Horn
CUSTER's PLAN ALL RIGHT.
It WIS then that Custer divided his
forces He kept five companies with him,
and then divided six between Maj. Reno
and Capt Benteen, with the intention of
partially surrounding the village and at
lacking at different points. was in the
division commanded by Custer himself
We galloped ahead. every man eager for
the desperate fight we knew was coming,
but only when we came around the bluff
at the ford, about the center Of the village,
did we realize the extent Of it, and the I'M
told numbers that were in waiting for us.
Our commander took in the situation at
a glance and and five others were or
dered TO attempt to make our way TO Reno
and urge hasty attack on the lower end
OF the village. Before we had hardly
turned our horses the firing began and
Indians literally swarmed out of the
brush. saw my companions fall out OF
their saddles in less time than can tell it,
and ] fell. too, but unhurt, and crawled
into the brush down on the east side Of
the creek, across from the village, and in
the excitement managed to get, without
being seen, where it was 30 thick that
wasn't discovered
From gully up on the side of the bluffs
could see plainly the beginning of the
fight, and the start TO retreat TO higher
ground, but the end l couldn't see, al
though knew when il came and what it
meant. when saw those red devils return
ing from he slaughter could hear firing
down stream about the same time, but as
Il WIS scattered and soon over ! didn't
know but what Reno had suffered the
same fate The Indians swarmed all over
the bluff where | was secreted that day
and the next morning. and several times |
houghl | was discovered.
was in that gully under the brush two
nights and one day When Terry came up
he salley heard the bugle calls, and
lnally becoming convinced that the In
dams had left ! crawled out, and when
got with the command my hair was as you
now see it, When that fight began my
hair was rs black as yours.