Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-01
Cast Away as So
Much Rubbish

Dust-covered, neglected and aban-
doned. the most dramatic, historically
accurate and perhaps the most inter.
esting painting depicting a tragedy in
American history. Clusters Last
Fight" reposes in a wooden box ut
Fort Grant. Arizona, twenty-seyen
miles from Wilcox. Ariz., this valu-
able masterpiece having been left be-
hind by the Seventh cavalry, U. 8. A.,
when the regiment left the post for
the Philippines several months ago.
after rolling up the precious canvas,
boxing the painting and leaving It in
2 st0reroom at the military post.
Although many have seen the orig
@inai painting and hundreds of thous.
Ands have gazed upon the photographic
Reproduction thereof. doubtless. not .
d>ten had known that the work Of
AT and a historical treasure today lies
neglected like so much rubbish in q
western fort that has already been
condemned and will be abandoned Oc-
toker l. next.
z. G. Farmer Of Los Angeles, repre-
sentative of the Anheuser-B Busch Brew.
ing, association Of St. Louis, who ia In
Ell Paso stopping at the Zeigler, has
just come to town from a trip through
Arizona, says the Ell Paso Times, and
hearing from n of his customers at
Wilcox that the painting, which was
presented to the Seventh cavalry by
Adolphus Busch, was in danger Of be-
ing destroyed or else relegated to
some dance hall as a pictorial orna-
ment for the walls Of the resort, made
a trip to Fort Grant and told Major
BlocksOn, inspector-general. who was
there making an inventory Of the
posts possessions, Of the value of the
painting. Major Blockson explained
that since It had been presented to
the Seventh cavalry by Adolphus
Busch years ago It did not belong to
the United States war department
but was the possession Of the regi-
ment, consequently he could not re-
move the painting as government
property. And so there It remains.
Lieut.. Phil Sheridan. Jr.. who Is
now stationed at the post wei Major
BlOckson, was greatly interested In
the painting when the story Of It had
become known and he c%oncurred with
the opinion Of Mr.. Farmer that the
work of art ought to have o place OF
prominence among the relics and
paintings in the governments museum
at Washington. Indeed" said Mr.,
Farmer last night, 1.-THE painting would
be a splendid adornment for the walls
ofsthe White House."
Mr.. Farmer yesterday wrote to the
Anheuser-Busch company Of his hav.
ing found the picture cast away In
Arizona and asked them what to do
with It. The painting was purchased
by the brewing association for $50,
900 and after hanging II In the offices
Of the company at st. Louis for sew
eral years, II was presented to the
Seventh cavalry, although not a single
member OF Its personnel In 1876 sur
wives, every n Of Clusters men beine
massacred along with their gen
eral in that bloody and memorable
battle OF the Little Big Horn.
Frederick Remington and Cowbo,
Artist Russell have pronounced the
painting the finest ever produced deal
ing with Indian warfare in the west
1t was executed by Cassidy Adams
who spent about three years In obtain
ing data relating TO the battle and
studying the battlefield and types o.
Indians who fought tsl the blood,
field.
Lithographic reproductions by o
Berkee and which are to be seen II
nearly every barroom in the land
while interesting to look upon Civ,
the spectator hardly any conception o
the original which is OF mammoth
proportions and the figures In the fore
ground Of which are lifesize.
II Is likely that the painting will
Eventually find a permanent place a
Washington.