Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-10-06
NOTED SIOUX
CHIEF IS DEAD
Passing Of Rain-in-the-Face Recalls
the Horrible Custer Massacre of
June rs, 1876.
HOW HE AVENGED HIMSELF
Was the Survivor Of the Great Chiefs
Who Led the Sioux War.
riors.

81. Paul, Oct. 5.-Raln-ln-tne-F
last survivor of the great chiefs who
led the Sioux Indians at the battle
of the Little Big Horn, where Gen
eral George A. Custer and that part
of the Seventh United States cavalry
under his direct command were "wip-
ed out to man, died on Sept. ~
at the Standing Rock reservation, in
North Dakota. Northumberland was
only 62 years old, but for years, as
though in eXpiation of his crimes, had
been feeble and decrepit. He lived
on POrcupine creek an affluent of the
Cannonball river. a dependent upon
the government he had long defied.
Not since General Arthur st. Glars
defeat had the Indians inflicted so
crushing a disaster upon United
States soldiers as that which took
place on June 25, 1876, on the round
ed hills which line the Little Big Horn
river in southern Montana. The Gus
ter Massacre it is usually called, al
so incorrectly, since it was a stand
up fight between brave foes.
Hated the White Man.
aln-ln-theFace was a young Sioux
warrior in 1873, not a chief, but known
and noted in his tribe as brave and
crafty and filled with an undyng
hatred for the white man. There was
quasitruce between the Sioux and
the government. That is, the Sioux
We're on the Standing Rock reserva-
ton, located along the western side
of the Missouri river partly in North
and partly in South Dakota. 1t was
the old story over again: The gov
eminent fed the Indians in the winter
and fought them in the summer"
The white man and civilization were
steadily advancing westward The
naughty Sioux, beyond doubt the most
dangerous tribe the settler ever faced,
were watching every step with jeal-
GUS eyes. The Northern Pacific rail
road was being pushed westward
through Dakota. hitherto terra incog-
nita to the white man. Their last
hunting grounds, the valleys of the
Powder, Tongue, Big Horn and Vel
lOwstone rivers. were soon to be start
led by the whistle of the locomotive
and when that was heard the buffalo
source of supply of food. raiment and
homes of the Indians, would soon dis
appear The Sioux We're eager for
war, and used the government for
the purpose Of preparing themselves
for the conflict
Custer in Dakota
In 1873 George A. Custer, brevct
major general in the volunteer armies
of the union and lieutenant colonel
of the Seventh regular cavalry, was
sent with his command to Dakota He
made an expedition into the Yellow
stone country and came into bloody
contact with the Sioux. although. ac-
cording to the purblind Indian bureau
these saVages were at peace with the
United States, Two civilians accom-
panied this expedition. one a geologist
and naturalist. In spite of all warn,
ings these two men would stray from
the line of march, wandered about
gathering strange plants and chipping
rocks in search of minerals. One day
they did not return to camp, and a
search revealed the fact that both had
fallen victims to the Indians, who
We're hanging on the tanks of the eX
petition. The unfortunate geologist
had his brains beaten out with his
own hammer.
Had Chief Arrested.
Some months after this, Genera
Custer learned that Rain-in-the- Face
who was with his fellows on the
Standing Rock reservation, so or &C
miles below Fort Lincoln, had boast
ed of having murdered, with the aiC
of a companion. these two unfortun
ate civilians He told with savage
regret, that the naturalist was so balf
they could not scalp him, and haf
therefore beaten in his head with his
own hammer. Custer. in the winter
of 1874, sent his brother Captain
Tom Custer, down to the Standing
Rock agency to arrest Rain-in-the
Face. 1t was a very delicate matter
There We're thousands of Sioux there
all ready to break out in open war
fare, the very thing the government
did not want Captain Custer tool
but small force, not large enough
to arouse suspicion, and with few
men went into the post traders store
There they waited around until {
tall, spare young man, with lurkin.
devil in his eye" came in and wa.
pointed out by friendly Indian a.
Northumberland. There was a quicl
rush, the Indian was overpOwered ant
disarmed, the handouts were slipped
on his wrists and he was a prisoner
GeOge w. Harmon. of North Dakota
was with Captain Custer when thi
when Northumberland felt the shack
les on his arms he turned to his cap
tor and said. his eyes cleaning will
the very intensity of hate: Il will
live to cut your heart out and eat it.
Rain-in-the-Face Escaped.
Captain Custer took his prisoner t,
Fort Lincoln, where he was cOnfine,
in the military prison, a rude struc
tue of logs. Crafty as fox, Rain
i,.tne-Face preserved a quiet demean
Oh and gradually the strict watch KEEP
upon him was relaxed. His brother
noted Sioux chief, came to visit hin
and even Indian stoicism did not avail
in that hour of sorrow. They EN-
braced each other and wept, for Rain
in-the-Face's guilt was known to all
and there seemed no hope for him
But, taking advantage of relaxed Wig
lance, Rain-in-the- Face and deserte1
from the regiment managed to break
from the prison and to escape. The
Indian returned to his tribe. keeping
himself in hiding. and thenceforth his
hatred for the white man was all the
more bitter and his VOW of vengeance
was. not forgotten.
The Custer Expedition.
1t was not long until the opportun
ity came. The Sioux and Cheyennes
joined by the dregs of other tribes
took the Warmth in 1915 and under