The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-12-21
TALES OF PLUCK
and ADVENTURE.
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Fate of Custer. Last omesr.

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Fate of Custer. Last OmcsT.
X GAIN have the awful partic-
~ uIars OF the massacre OF the
~ Little Big Horn In 1876. which
cost the lives Of General Gus
ter and his devoted followers. been
told by one Of the Indians who partic!-
pated ia the slaughter writes the Fort
Yates (N. d. correspondent Of the
New York Herald. This time light Is
shed upon the fate Of Lieutenant
Henry NJ. Harrington, which has here
tofore been shrOuded with mystery.
Lieutenant Harrlngton's body was
the only one not found on the battle
field, and for years there was per
sistent 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. Lieu
tenant Harrington broke through the
horde Of redskins and raced for his
life. Being pursued he sent a bullet
through his head to escape capture and
torture.
Paints-IImsclfB Brown, an Indian
who fought under Sitting Bull and
who was present at the death Of Gus
ter, has told correspondent for the
Herald the story OF Lieutenant Har-
rlngton's desperate and almost success
ful fight and flight. He relates the
circumstances with minutcness Of
detail which would be convincing in
Itself. His reputation for yeracity
makes the story he tells more credible.
This is how he described the campaign
ana massacre:
General Custer was much feared
by the Indians. His reckless bravery
was known 10 them, and there was
much rejoicing when it was seen that
he was advancing into a trap which
promised his death.
General Terry held long war coun-
ell with General Custer and General
Gibbons. This was reported by scouts
sent out by Sitting Bull and Crazy
Horse, who led the Indians. We saw
Gibbons take the path to the north
ward, and we knew that Terry had
gone TO the south.
General Custer, with about 400
braves, plunged into the Bad Lands.
Sitting Bull had thousands of warriors
ready for the attack which he knew
Custer would make. II was TO be "A
fight to the death, with no quarter.
L., h.r hpa n
never saw any like Custer. lie led his
soldiers into our camp as though he
would ride over us There was fight
"A headlong battle for more than n
mile. Sitting Bull wisely Withdrew
his Indians until the white men were
completed surrounded.
Custer and his men formed on
knoll and fought with desperation un-
I'll the final charge of the Indians over
whelmed them Then they were all
dead-all but one.
Just as we swung up the hill n
young officer well mounted, darted
out from among his fellows and rode
straight at us. His daring bewildered
the Indians, and he had broken
through our line before we realized
that he was making a desperate dash
to save his life. He escaped To the
open prairie pursued by seven Indians.
His mount was frcshCr than ours and
he gained so rapidly that six of us
turned back, saying:
"'Lct the white man go 1t Is well
that one should escape TO tell how the
Indians fight for their land and their
squaws'
zone Indian. better mounted than
the others, continued the chase. Lieu
tenant IIdrrington'3 horse finally be-
gan to faltcr and the Indian gained
rapidly. Then the horse OF the pur-
sued man fouudcred and fell. Lieu.
tenant Harrington raised his pistol TO
his head and sent 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 II was not discovered by
General Terry.
General Custer died June -, 1876.
The Indians were blamed for the mas
sacrc. but we had To kill the white men
or run away. They would not surren-
der. and they forced the battle. of all
the brave men who died that day none
was more brave than Lieutenant liar-
rngton, who rode through our lines"