The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-12-09
CUSTER'S LAST OFFICER
Lieutenant -Harrington's Fate
Cleared Up by an Indian.
NOT AWFUL TORTURE, BUT SUICIDE

One Of Sitting Bulra Braves Tells
How Harrington Broke Through
the Snvagea' Lines, but Was Pur-
sued to His Death-shOt Himself
when Escape Was Impossible.
Again have the awful particulars Of
the massacre of the Little Big Horn i'm
1876. which cost the lives of General
Custer and his devoted followers, been
told by one cf the Indians who partici-
pated in the slaughter. This time light
is shed upon the fate OF Lieutenant
Henry NJ. Harrington. which has here
tofore been shrouded with mystery.
Lieutenant Harrington's body was
field. and for years there was a persist
ent rumor in existence that he was still
alive, having been carried into captiv-
ity. in spite of the assertion made by
tered the Bad Lands with Custer sur
vived the massacre. Lieutenant Har-
rington 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 Himself Brown. an Indian
who fought under Sitting Bull and who
was present Mt the death Of Custer, has
told Fort Yates On. d. correspondent
of the New York Herald the story Of
II arrk Umw frr g.
almost successful fight and flight He
relates the circumstances with a mi
nuteness Of detail which would be con-
vincing In itself. His reputation for
veracity Nmakes 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 Sitting 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 400
braves. plunged into the Bad Lands.
Sitting Bull had thousands OF warriors
ready for the attack which he knew
Custer would make. 1t was to be o
fight to the death. with no quarter. !
have seen other brave men. but never
saw any like Custer. He led his SOL
diers into our camp as though he would
ride over US. There was a fight, q
headlong battle for more than a mile.
Sitting Bull wisely Withdrawing his
Indians until the white men were COM
pletely surrounded Custer and his
men formed on a knoll and fought With
desperation until the final charge OF
the Indians overwhelmed 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 fresher than ours. and he gained
30 rapidly that six of us turned back,
saying:
Let the white man go. 1t is well
that one should escape to tell how the
Indians fight for their lands and their
sQuaws.'
"One Indian, better mounted than the
others, continued the chase. Lieutenant
Harrington's horse finally began to fal-
ter. and the Indian gained rapidly.
Then the horse of the pursued man
fioundered and fell. Lieutenant Har-
rington raised his pistol to his head and
sent bullet through his brains. His
body lay in the bed of dry lake sew
eral miles from the scene Of the massa-
ere. which accounts for the fact that 10
was not discovered by General Terry.
General Custer died Jgne %. 1879.
The Indians were blamed for the mas
sacre, 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 Har-
rington. who rode through our lines."5
So. NJ, ooo ~x.p-