The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-23
Claims to Be the Sole Survivor of
Clusters Battle.
HIS PRETENSIONS EXPOSED
Col. William 8. Bracket Shows the
Falsity of the Fellows Claims From
the Story He Tells to Bolster
Up His Petition.

ILL.,, who has extensive interests on tbs
Yellowstone and in other parts of Mon.
tana, and who is now in Butte, and
who has probably made closer study
of the history of the Custer battle than
any other man, regards George Benja-
min, the latest sole survivor" as an
impostor He writes the Standard as
| follows:
In the Standard of Jan. 21st, is an
article taken from the New York Sun,
| entitled. A Miner Who Saw Custer
Die. The Sole Survivor of the Indian
| Massacre on the Little Big Horn An
account is given~of one George Benja-
| min OF California, who is now on his
| way to Washington, ID. c., where he
hopes to secure a pension as the sole
| survivor of the Custer battle of June 25.
! 1876.
| THE people of Montana are, and
always will be, interested in the fame
| of gallant Custer and his men, who
/ died on the soil of this state. They are
| Interested in any new facts which shed
| light on the incidents of that awful
| field of carnage; but the people of this
| state are likewise interested in oppos-
| ing any lmpoSter. or pretender, who
| now living, claims to have been near
| General Custer when he died with his
brave comrades of the Seventh United
| States cavalry around him on the Little
| Big Horn. No white man survived
| that fight
This man, George Benjamin. is un-
doubtedly an impostor and bis story
bears the convincing internal evidences
of his fraudulent pretenses. This
Would-be pensioner should be prevented
from adding his name to the awful and
already swollen and overloaded list of
fraudulent pensioners, who are now ex-
tracing illegal bounty from a generous
and long suffering people.
1T is said that Senator Stephen NJ
White of California is taking this man
to Washington, and will try to procure
him pension. 1t is with no intent to
prevent worthy ex-soldier or deserv-
ing civilian, from getting pension, but
with the desire TO expose a manifest
impostor, that this article is sent to the
principal newspaper of this state the
people of which will ever jealousy
guard the name and memory of every
true man, be he officer, civilian or SOL
der, who was present on Clusters fatal
field.
AS Judge Cornelius Hedges says in
an admirable historical sketch of Mon
tana: 1T was on the soil of Montana
and during our centennial year. that
the last great conflict between the
white and red man for the possession
of this country was fought to a virtual
finish
"One who falsely pretends to be the
y
properly be exposed in the columns of a
Montana journal.
Mr.. Sole Survivor Benjamin, in tell
ing his story, says that when the bat
talon of five companies of cavalry
commanded by Custer was surrounded
by Indians they fought their way
back to their horses, mounted them,
and in our struggle to reach the bluffs,
we left the greater portion of our men
dead or wounded on the field 1t is
now well proven that when Custer dis
mounted his men he depoyed them in
an irregular line of battle dismounted
on the top of the bluffs. and thus they
fought until they were eXterminated.
The bulk of Clusters horses were STAN
peded by the Indians early in the fight
as they were held by man No. of each
set of tours in each company, and were
never recovered. Benjamin says ten
Indians We're killed for every white
man who fell This is false. He says:
The companies of Calhoun and Crit
tenden were thrown across our flank to
protect our retreat This is also false,
as shown by the position in which the |
bodies of Calhoun's and Crittenden's
men lay in line as they fell.
He says when Custer and the last |
few survivors reached the little hill
where they died. they shot their horses |
and formed breastwork behind which |
we fought This is false, as shown by |
the testimony Of Indians in the fight, |
who saw Custer and his little group die. |
There We're only a few dead horses |
found afterward on and near that little
1ill: and these were not shot by Custer
or his men. and We're not used for
Mr.. Benjamin has evil
iently seen "A picture by John Null
vaney, whose artistic fancy depicted
custer and his men on the hill in the
asst rally. fighting behind breastwork
IF dead horses. Unfortunately for the
artist and his alleged historical paint
ng, no such thing occurred. But the
falsehood of TINS man Ben
amin, and the one which exposes him.
S as to the manner of Clusters death.
He says: Custer died with his revolt
'er in his left hand and his saber in his
light hand The fact is, General Gus
err had no saber, and the further fact
S tand this is known to every officer
Ind man of the Seventh cavalry who
we're in that campaign there was not
| single saber in the regiment on that
United States cavalry, Of
icers and men. when fighting Indians.
lever carry sdbers. Mr.. Munchausen
Benjamin has again got his facts from
beautiful picture. which
howS Custer with saber in one hand
nd a pistol in the other. General Gus
er. when he died, was armed with a
Remington rifle. and two reyovers with
worry white handles. He had dropped
lis rifle and one revolver when he was
in the left side. Pressing his
eft hand to his wound he, with his
light hand. fired three shots from his
evolver. when he was killed by a shot
n the left temple
Mr.. Benjamin further says; Charley
reynolds. a scout, and as brave man
s ever lived. brought down an Indian
[ every shot. and as he fell he emptied
is revolver with a steady hand Mr.
urvivor Benjamin. if he was with Gus
ar. did not see Scout Charley Reynolds
all, because Reynolds was not there
cout Reynolds was in Major Renos
ght the same day. many miles away
rom Clusters fight, and far out of sight
nd hearing of Clusters battle
This latter-day Tichborne claimant
oes on to tell how he was wounded
aptured and afterward tortured by the
Indians. until he was rescued by Buff
alo Bill and his cowboys who took me