Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-26
STORY OF THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
An Indian RecOunts the Death O
Lieut.. HARRINGTON.


A dispatch to the New York Herald from
Fort Yates. N. D., says: Again have the
awful particulars of the massacre of the
Little Big Horn in 1876 which cost the
lives of General Custer and his devoted fol-
lowers, been told by one of the Indians who
participated in the slaughter. This time
light Is shed upon the fate of Lieutenant
Henry NJ. Harrington, which has heretofore
been shrouded with mystery.
Lieutenant Harringtons body was the
only one not found on the battlefield, and
for years there was a persistent rumor in
existence that he was still alive. having
been carried into captivity, in spite of the
assertion made by the Indians that no
white man who entered the Bad Lands with
Custer survived the massacre Lieutenant
Harrington broke through the horde of red
skins and raced for his life Being pur-
sued, he sent bullet through his head to
escape capture and torture.
Paints-Hi himself Brown, an Indian who
fought under Sitting Bull. and who was
present at the death of Custer, has told a
correspondent Of the Herald the story Of
Lieutenant Harrington's desperate and al
most successful fight and fight. He re-
lates the circumstances with minuteness
of detail which would be convincing in it
self His reputation for veracity makes the
story he tells more credible. This is how he
described the campaign and massacre:
General Custer was much feared by the
Indians. His reckless bravery was known
to them and there was much rejoicing
when it was seen that he was advancing
into a trap which promised his DEATH
General Terry held a long war council
with General Custer and General Gibbons.
This was reported by scouts sent out by Sit
ting Bull and Crazy Horse, who led the
Indians. We saw Gibbons take the path to
the northward. and We knew that Terry had
gone to the south.
General Custer. with about four hundred
;,,+,
ting Bull had thousands of warriors ready
for the attack, which he knew Custer would
make. 1t was to be fight to the death,
with no quarter.
saw any like Custer. He led his soldiers
into our camp as though he would ride
over US. There was a fight-a headlong
battle for more than mile. Sitting Bull
wisely Withdrawing his Indians until the
white men were completely surrounded.
Custer and his men formed a knoll
and fought with desperation until the final
charge of the Indians overwhelmed them
Then they were all dead-an but one.
Just as We swung up a hill a young
officer. well mounted, darted out from
among his fellows and rode straight at u.s.
His daring bew.ldered the Indians, and he
had broken through our line before We
realized that he was making desperate
dash to save his life. He escaped to the
open prairie pursued by seven Indians. His
mount was fresher than ours and he gained
SO rapidly that six of us turned back, say
ing:
LET the white man go. 1t is well that
one should escape to tell how the Indians
fight for their lands and their squaws.'
Zone Indian, better mounted than the
others. continued the chase. Lieutenant
HarringtOn's horse finally began to falter
and the Indian gained rapidly. Then the
horse of the pursued man f1oundered and
fell Lieutenant Harrington raised his pis-
toll to his head and sent a bullet through
his brains. His body lay in the bed of
dry lake, several miles from the scene of
the massacre, which accounts for the fact
that it was not discovered by General
Terry.
General Custer died June 25. 1876. The
Indians were blamed for the massacre, but
we had to kill the white men or run away.
They would not surrender. and they forced
the battle. OF all the brave men who died
that day. none was more brave than Lieu
tenant Harrington, who rode through our
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