The sun., 1891-11-11
COMANCHE DIESOF OLD AGE.
A FAMOUS HORSE THAT UNCLE SAM
HAD LONG KEPT IN IDLE HONOR.

TIE o.ly Survivor or the Custer Massacre
Dies At Fort Riley-No One Ever Sat In
Els Saddle Amer He Was Found Covered
with Wounds-Shownen Wanted Him.
KANSAS CRY. Nov 1O.-Word has been re-
ceived here OF the death OF Comanche. the
most celebrated horse In the United States
cavalry service. at Fort Riley on last Thurs
day. He was 45 years OF age and tho only liv-
ing thing belonging to the United States SER
vice which escaped the massacre at the battle
OF Little Big Horn. where Gen. Custer and his
command wore mnssacred. He was one OF the
original mount Of the Seventh Cavalry which
regiment was organized in 1886. and had been
in almost every battle with the Indian service.
After the battle Of Little Big Horn he was
found covered with wounds. riderless and sad
dleless. some distance from the scene OF the
massacre. He was taken charge Of by Capt.
Rowlan and sent to Fort Riley. where for four
teen years he has not been subject to bridle.
and has been In charge Of the Seventh Cavalry.
His death was due to old age. His skin will be
stuffed and mounted and kept in the museum
Of the Kansas State University until the
Worlds Fair at Chicago. where 1t will be taken
for exhibition.
Enterprising showmen have from time to
time endeavored to secure Comanche for ex-
variably refused to disturb his we'll earned
rest Comnnche was the horse OF Capt Keogh.
q relative Of Gen. Custer. He was found about
days journey from the scene OF the battle.
and the soldiers who recognized the we'll
known horse OF Capt Keogh. the sole sur
Vivor Of the Custer massacre. never expected
that they could get him back to camp alive. for
he had seven bad wounds and was very weak
from loss OF blood. With good treatment, how
ever. he fully recovered
Special provision was made for the care and
support Of Comanche. Once in while when
the cavalry troops were on inspection. Co.
manche was led out. saddled and bridled. but
no one ever sat in his saddle after the battle OF
The Little Big Horn It has ong been sid
prepared and sent to the National Museum at
Washington. and there is little doubt that that
1t will be remembered that Clusters ill-iated
command COT used tho dead bodies OF their horses
lei killed 5y the M shower OF Indian bullets M as
valley and attacked the Sioux camp: and. as
monts. It has always been supposed that his
saddle and bride were taken BY the victorious
s %oan %o Rm hs oss he 9a TGsd b6a die
every other horse that carried the brave cavalry
into battle on that fateful morning was found
4 somewhat similar incident ocsurredear
IN the history Of our warfare with the Sioux.
It was during the terrible massacre Of 1852.
thousand people on the frontier .Impressing
squads Of soldiers from Fort Smelling secured
fields. and hurrying them UP the Minnesota
River to fight the. Indians. One Of the
mounted bands Of farmers who were thus
hurried to tho front were surrounded
and attacked by several hundred Indians
at Birch Coolie early ono morning. It was
and the Indians were driven OF. Quite q num-
Der OF the amateur soldiers had been killed or
wGgndsd, snd every Sns q their A hcrses with
their bodies were dragged into pile to serve
as a barricade. This exception was an S-year-
farmer. Not o bullet had touched her. In
stinct seemed to have iod her TO lie low"
o poeR aR
er's farm.