, 1897-04-24
CUSTER MASSACRE.
VARNUM'S INTERESTING
ADDRESS TO THE CON-
VICTS.
Stirring Events Of the Early Seventies
Reviewed In a Vivid Manner-At
the Conclusion of His Lecture the
Captain Meets a Man Who Was on
the Battlefield.

The lecture given by Captain Varnum,
at the penitentiary yesterday afternoon.
was one Of unusual interest. His sub
ject was, The Custer Massacre"
The captain began by reviewing the
condition OF the country at an early date
west of the Missouri river. In 1S66-67
the Indians we're in possession OF most
of the middle west. Where there are
now beautiful ranch properties and
thriving towns. there were Indians only.
with an occasional military post. The
| Indians attacked these posts n some
OF them were abandoned. Fort c. F.
| Smith was given up because of the re-
peated attacks Of Indians. General
Custer was ordered out to Dakota in
1873. He had two regiments of infan-
try and 10 troops of cavalry. 1t was at
Fort Keogh that Captain Varnum
had his first experience in fighting In
dams. General Crook commanded an
other expedition, which fell back for a
time and waited for General Merritt.
I'VE left Bismarck" continued the cap
tain, May II. We had about a regiment
Of infantry and IL troops OF cavalry. l
was placed in Command of the scouting
expedition and had some thrilling ex-
periences."
Captain Reno reported that he had
been over on the Rosebud, and that the
whole country was n Indian trail, so
cut up that there was no grass left.
General Custer was now offered four
troops of cavalry and a battery Of two
guns. These he declined. 1t is thought
that he made a mistake in refusing this
additional help, but he thought that the
Seventh cavalry was about hi biggest
thing on earth and could whip anything.
On June %. they left the mouth Of the
Rosebud. Custer's orders were to ad-
vance up the Rosebud and look wei .
right and left. On the Gath Sundance
lodge was passed. Here the Indians had
been making warriors and braves. On
the fence was found the scalp Of a girl
with faxen hair, and from the pole in
the center hung the scalp Of a woman.
The fact that the Indians had been max
ing braves was evidence that they an
ticipated something. On the night Of
the oath camp was made across the d.
vide. That night General Custer sent
for Captain Varnum. The general had
been talking with some Crow Indians
who told him Of a rocky elevation be-
tween the Little Big Horn and the Rose
bud, from which the entire country sur
rounding these rivers could be surveyed.
Captain Varnum took command Of these
Indians who guided him to this observR-
tory, arriving at 2:3O in the morning.
When morning came nothing Of inter-
est could be seen, but two tepees which
were afterwards found to be full Of dead
whites. Later when General Custer
came upon the ridge and scanned the
country 1t was found to be black with
Indians. Officers were called together
and 1t was decided to advance. The In
dams were we'll mounted. Their object
was to draw the soldiers we'll down to-
ward the village. This they tried to do
by flying before them. When General
Custer came down the stream and saw
the Indians running he advanced with
his 600 men against 5000 warriors.
The captains description Of the terri
BILE massacre which followed and from
which no one escaped was vivid and
realistic, and was followed with bated
breadth by his auditors. From begin
ming to end the lecture was a remark
able narration, given in the most enter
tanning manner. The prisoners will ever
be grateful to Captain Varnum for such
an instructive and entertaining talk.
At the conclusion OF the lecture, aft
er nearly all had left the room, one OF
the prisoners asked permission to ad-
dress the captain. Approaching the Of
fcer, with quivering chin and tear-fll-
ed eyes the man asked IL he was not
recognized. The captain shook his head
and asked his name. 1t was given, and
the captain was struck with amazement.
The man was one OF the most trusted
members Of his old company and was
through tho very campaign which the
lecture Of the afternoon was about. At
one time, in the heat Of battle many of
the men were almost famished with
thirst. and it became necessary for some
one to go to the stream near by for
water. This man volunteered and fll-
ing 10 canteens he ran through a show
er OF bullets to his comrades. For this
service he was to have received honor
able notice and a medal, but for some
reason never did. He now files a felon's
cell for larceny. The captain will look
into hia case.
An endeavor will be made to persuade
Captain varnum to give his lecture be-
fore a Laramie audience.
To CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY
Take Laxative Bromo Qulnine Tabfets.
ALI druggists refund the money Il It
fails to cure. &c.
ALLEGRETTTS DELICIOUS
CHOCOLATE CREAMS