Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-13

though the attempt proved fruitless,. as
countless Indian riders were swarmlng
all around the general and his men,
shooting and throwing arrows and using
their battle-axes and clubs.
Many white men left the field, trying
to escape. but were mercilessly killed
by the pursuing Indians. Nearly all OF
the cavalrymen. more than $50, were
slain before Custer, who had dismounted
and urged his men to fight bravely. He
was shot in the left side and fell to
his knees, and all of the soldiers were
wounded or killed before the bravest
soldier Of all, General Custer, received
another shot in the breast, and fell on to
his face, breathing his last. His rifle
and revolvers were emptied.
The fight had lasted more than four
hours, and the brutal Sioux began to
do their dirty work after it was all over.
They mutilated all the bodies, and
skalped many Of them. Only one Grow
scout, named Curley, got away, and one
white man. Another one tried to es-
cape but was captured way mp in ra-
vine where another fight was going on.
The Indian lodges were close by, and
there in large tent, whining like
hound and chanting aloud, was Sitting
Bull, the great medicine man and hum
bug, not warrior or general, as he is de-
scribed everywhere. Where did he
fight? All credit is due to Rain-in-the-
Face and q few more chiefs, although
the former did not kill Custer, as has
been stated, as it is ridiculous to say
that any one man kills another, whore
there are thousands of bullets singing in
the air on the battlefield. There were
actually 80 many Sioux crowded to-
gether on the field that hardly more
than half Of them could take part in the
fight, and comparatively very few were
wounded or killed; among the former
were 120, and among the latter only 6S
in all.
Many Of the Indians who were at
tacking Major Reno were go disgusted
with the white mans unwillingness to
fight that they left him and hurried
over to 6ght Custer, the brave general
who would die the death Of hero.
None can imagine what grand fight it
was, nearly all of the participants on
horseback making an imposing spec
tacle.
About A O'Clock in the afternoon,
when the fighting was at it's highest
pitch, Captain Dick once more en-
deavored- 10 reach Major Reno's COM
maud. employing all his knowledge Of
Indian warfare, trailing, etc., and twice
was he stopped by party Of Indians,
each time taking off two redskins.
Here it was, when in his rage from be-
ing prevented from trying to save
Custer, that Dick took his first and only
scalp of an Indian. But his mission
was not to succeed right in front of
him were one hundred Of the red blood
hounds, anxious to kill all who were
white skinned; he could not reach
Reno. Combined, the two forces might
have stood off the enemy until Terry's
or Gibbons arrival.
The victorious redskins began to
search the hills and adjacent timber for
more victims and it was . narrow es-
cape in the fast approaching dark for
Captain Dick before finally arriving at a
deserted camp. Hsrdly rested, he
heard band Of horses close by; the In
dams were falling back from the troops
of Terry, carrying off five battle flags,
while the squaws kept on robbipg the
dead. Terry's approach saved Reno.
Sitting Bull was the counselor in his
tribe, nothing else. Ta-Ton-Ka-I-Go-
Ton-Ka, is his Indian name. in an In
dian lighters opinion, meaning cum
ming fox, afraid to risk his life, but ever
ready to slay and slaughter, if done with
impunity. He was the most relentless
and implacable foe of the white man,
but he smoked the pipe of peace with
Captain Dick year after the fight, in
recognition of his bravery, for when
captured by the Sioux and confronted
by dozens of glittering bowie-knives,
pistols, clubs. etc., Dick never moved
muscle OF his face. smiling at the great
medicine man instead of looking terri
fed, which suited the old rascal. That
great pipe, used then, was promised to
Captain Dick by Sitting Bull. Many
successful victories were effect
ed through his cunning plans,
if not through bis, the chiefs, personal
fortitude. Sitting Bull became we'll
known and the consequence was that
whenever the Indians made any lucky
raids, inspired by Sitting Bull, the
government and all others thought him
the war chief, which he neverl was.
Nevertheless, one must admit that the
prearrangement of the battle of the
Little Big Horn river showed great gen.
eralship. The Indian forces were about
az well distributed as any white forces
ever were on any battlefield. Every
nook was filed, escape was impossible,
and it took an old time trailer to get out
of such trap. - -a
The only time, positively known,
when Sitting Bull commanded an Indian
force. or rather would have done 60, was
in 1879, when General Miles met him
near the frontier Of Canada. Then as
soon as the great medicine man saw
that the chances were against him, he
at once retreated and went back into
Canada, never to return until his SUR
render on July 10, 1887.
Rain-in-the-Face, Gaul and Grow
Wing were the actual war chiefs and
leaders of the Da-co-tahs. E
One of Captain Dicks most treasured
remembrances are the words Custer ad-
dressed to him once when he was too
impetuous, They were as follows
|'sNick-Dick, you're brave boy, but
you're like myself, q born leader; a
poor private trooper you would make.
In time of great danger you prove your
self the most cold d-blooded, self-reliant
scout know Of; why do little things in
ordinary life excite you? Follow your
own good judgment wherever you may
60. A real brave man wants to be
known as such to the world, and dis
| likes to have his valor doubted.
| Custer and Nick Dick were clothed in
the same fantastic style, iringed buck.
skin, broad-brimmed hats, altogether
1.-THE garb OF ! frontiersman. Before en-.
| 'tn~s.,<, Ala n1noG ,ryS11o N,sskn~ - q L.