The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-17
A SCRAP WITH INDIANS
During the Time OF the Custer
Massacre.
WILLIAM SELLEW'S STORY
Taking Supplies From Glendive Under
General Miles-Ambushed by the
Redskins Under Sitting
Bull-A Close Call.

HTedl + dis, aug. TO-" llild1n SelleW,
now living at Dupuyer, is one of the
men who was closely connected with
Montana's memorable battle in which
the gallant Custer and the men of his
command lost their lives. Some time
ago he related the story of that fight
as he saw it and did justice to the men,
ory of Custer by showing that soldier
to be brave not foolhardy. He now
relates the events following the battle,
and, though they are not as tragic,
they are fully as interesting. He writes
as follows:
Shortly after the Custer massacre the
troops under Colonel Otis were engaged
in transporting supplies from Glendve,
Mont, to a cantonment at the mouth
of Tongue river, three miles below the
site of Fort Keogh. About the middle
of October of that year General Mills s,
on his way to Tongue river, learned
that Sitting Bull was in the country
between the Missouri and Yellowstone
rivers bent on mischief. He immediate
ly sent three scouts, Glendive Smith, AL
Geddy and myself to warn General Otis
and his train of their danger.
Travelling with General Miles COM
mand was tenderfoot by the name of
Turner. who requested to go along with
u.s. He said he wanted to see the
country and incidentally kill off a few
troublesome redskins. AS he had his
own mount he was allowed to go along
AS we proceeded we saw many signs
that caused us much trepidation and
caused us to proceed with the utmost
caution. The first night out we halted
about 3 o'clock a, m. to cook some sup
per by the bank Of a stream. We were
n la w han hat
noise. Quietly accommodating, we dis
covered, about 30 yards above us and
around a bend, a large war party en-
camped. You may be sure that we were
not long sneaking out of that vicinity
and proceeding on our way.
This action did not seem to meet the
approval of the valorous Turner, who
ridculed us as towards for running
away and expressing a strong desire for
brush with the savages that he might
clean up few. To emphasize his bra
vado he persisted in firing his gun at
game along the route until l ordered
him to desist in no uncertain tones. We
fortunately met with no mishaps until
we came to butte by the side of the
trail, around which we saw two or three
Indians skulking. Just then we came
upon the track of the train of which
we were in search. 1 got off my horse
and in a short time learned from the
signs that the train had been sur
rounded at this point and compelled to
return. The flight must have been hur
ried, for on the ground we found two
soldiers unburied. AS soon as we learn
ed these facts we decided that spot was
particularly unhealthy just then and
concluded to vacate.
We We're too late. Throwing our guns
into position, we started toward the
open hills, but ran fairly into an am
1lSh nf IA Ind int hn f,,,, n tl1&y
opened fire from behind a small natu-
raj breastworks. We returned their fire,
but the odds were too great, and AL
Geddy fell out of his saddle with his
back and neck broken by two bullets.
We made a break for the timber. AT
the first alarm our friend Turner, with
more luck than sense, ran for the tim
Der, where we were afraid to go for
fear it would be occupied by the enemy.
When we were left no other option we
sought its shelter also and found it I'M
occupied except by Turner. In the
flight toward the timber the Indians
kept up a continuous fusillade from be-
hind and one side, for the first shot
was the signal for the appearance of
hundreds of the painted devils.
A numbness in both legs warned me
that l was hit. The bullet had grazed
one leg. passed through the bone and
lodged in the other leg. My horse soon
fell and | was thrown face downward
on the ground. l was somewhat stunned
and when l came to l saw a short dis
lance away noble redman calmly
slipping a cartridge into his gun to
again try his craftsmanship on the only
uninjured scout, who had by this time
reached cover, though his horse was
shot five times. Without changing my
position l spoke to the gentleman, and
he then and there broke the record as
a high jumper and settled down as a
good Indian. This diversion caused a
lull in the firing long enough to enable
me to gain cover and meet Smith, who
was turning back to look for me. We
We're not long there when Turner
showed up, white and trembling with
fear and utterly unable to articulate a
word. Smith was about to shoot him
for his cowardice and desertion of his
companions, but l interfered. But he
was completely useless, being unable TO
hold up his gun. We took his ammuni-
ton and kept up the fight until dark.
We managed to keep one space clear
of Indians that we might get out when
darkness came. short time inter-