Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-09-21
CUSTER'S SLAYER DIES
RAlN.IN-THE-FACE, NOTED sioux
CHIEF, EXPIRES ON THE
RESERVATION.
Vow Of Vengeance Against Generals
Family Fulfilled in the Famous
Ea..ie.

Pierre. S. d., Sept. 21.-Rain-in-the-
Face, the Sioux chief vino was repdt
ed to have fired the shot which killed
General Custer, is dead at the Stand
ing Roc; reservation, in Borenan
county. His death Occurred Sert. Y,
but the fact only became known to the
state authorities Tuesday.
The Indian, during his lifetime,
gave the United States troops as much
trouble as any 9th T who ever lived
He always beore the reputation OF be-
ing bad ladia,s, and never iost III:
hatred for the Vii" man.
Rain-in-the-Fa joined Sitting Bull
in his famous a3r,si.l. and was ore
Of the leaders in l:le battle of the lit
tie Big Horn riy2r. June 25, 1876,
which is popu,arly known as the Gus
ter massacre. He always claimed
that he fired the shot which ert,ed the
life of Custer Rain-in-the-Face was
pure blooded Sioux. and was G2
years old at the time of his death.
Known For His Ferocity.
A hard fighter maker of trouble,
a horse thief, an Indian who would
kill on the slightest provecation, the
best general Sitting Bull ever had un-
Ger him in his campaigns. Rain.in-
the-Face was one of the most pictur-
esQue, dangerous and daring chiefs
who ever fought against the troops OF
the United States. He belonged to the
Sioux tribe and was full-blooded
member of it, without drop of any
other Indian blood, in his veins-a
fact of which he was excessively
proud
The Custer massacre was largely
due to his oath of vengeance against
the entire Custer family-an oath re-
sulting from his arrest in the early
'7O's by "Tom" Custer. a brother of
General Custer. Custer arrested Rain
in-the-Face for murder in western Da-
kota and took him to a government
prison in Missouri. Here the Indian
chief was held captive several months,
tut finally made his escape.
Leaves Threat to Kill.
81 will kill you ALL was the threat
he left behind him for "Tom" Custer
and the whole Custer family. The
Clusters were warned by friendly
guides and Indians that Rain-in-the-
Face was the most formidable and
dangerous man in the entire Sioux
tribe and that he would surely do all
in his power to carry out his threat
of vengeance The Clusters. however,
were inclined to scoff at the Indians
power of fulfillment of his oath.
After his escape Rain-in-the-Face
joined Sitting Bull and his braves.
1t is curious fact that. although
associated with Sitting Bull in many
desperate battles, -in-theFace
never had high opinion of the old
chief.
1t was year and a half after the
escape of Rain-in-the-Face that Gen
eral Custer and some 800 men of the
Seventh cavalry started On the hunt
for Sitting Bull. The command follow
ed the trail of the Yellowstone and on
June 25. 1876. the United States sol
diers finally found the Indians in
camp in the valley of the Big Horn.
The Custer massacre. inspired in
great measure by Raininthe-Face and
in fulfillment of the Indians threat
followed.
Troops Ride Into Trap.
Not knowing that they had come
rpcn the full body of Sitting Bulls
warri( IS, General Custer and his men
rode MO trap which, according to
other Indian chiefs, had been prepar
ed by Ra n-in-the-Face when he knew
the Americans were coming to join
battle. Rain-in-the-F had thrown
out scouts who kept him thoroughly
posted on Clusters movements for
more than a week before the opposing
forces came in sight of one another.
When the fighting actually began,
and when many men of the Seventh
had been killed by the volleys of the
Indians. it was Rain-in-the-Face who
led the final charge against the knoll
where Custer and the survivors stood,
gallantly defending themselves as best
they could Gradually the dauntless
handful Of men in blue became fewer
and fewer and gradually the shots
from the soldiers became more scat
tered. as man after man fell beneath
the bullets of the Indians.
Finally but one living form stool
erect. facing the ring of Indians. 1t
was General Custer. his sword shat