Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-27

and with nearly all the Cheyennes
began moving toward the Dakotas
then into Montana and Wyoming
where he and his followers Joined
Sitting Bulls party near Fort Keogh
Montana. Custer, with his famou:
7th cavalry, then heard Of the juno
ton and Immediately set out to burst
up the band. Sitting Bull sent Black
Horse back to tell Custer to desist
from following them, which Custer
refused to do.
The complete party camped the
night before the massacre near the
spot where the morrow was to mark
one of the bloodiest, fiercest and
quickest battles ever fought in this
country. By Sitting Bulls instruc-
tions a complete circle was made that
night of eight camps. At dawn Gus
ter swooped down on the first camp.
and Immediately couriers were sent
to the others, informing them Of Gus
ter's presence. Then the bands scat
tered, soon to appear on all sides OF
the ill-fated soldiers, and the battle
of the Little Big Horn was begun.
That night after the Indians had
killed all, they began scattering to
their respective quarters, not to stay,
for a Nemesis was soon at their heels.
. Black Horse soon went back to
Oklahoma, where shortly after the
Indian agent called all Of the hos
tiles in, where their weapons, even
knives, stock and all other posses
sions were taken away, and they
were sent down to Florida. Shortly
after arriving in Florida Capt Platt,
Of the regular army, suggested to con-
gress to build a school to educate the
Indians instead of keeping them In
stuffy prisons and worn-out forts,
His offer was afterward accepted and
passed by congress, and the result Is
the Carlisle Indian college, at Car
Isle, Pa, with Capt Platt as its first
supervisor.
According to an Indian who was
prisoner in Florida, they were sent to
the school with arms and legs bound
with chains. The place where the
Carlisle school was built was former
ly a cavalry school for the Conti-
mental army during the Revolution
ary war. Black Horse did not go
to Carlisle, and still refuses to learn
the English language, so he was re-
turned to Oklahoma with many 9TH
ers.
Black Horse is about 70 years old,
but looks not over so. is close to 6
feet tall and weighs about It's pounds.
He is a typical Indian, tall and
straight as an arrow. He presented
a peculiar picture yesterday after
noon, as, dressed in dark blue trous-
ers, red shirt, bareheaded and with
fancy moccasins adorning his feet, be
cleared the hair off a COW hide In the
method Of 100 years ago. Although
nearly all Indians at the park are
somewhat civilized, Black Horse re-
fuses to adopt the present ideas. but
still holds to those of a century ago.
In talking about the Hennessey or
Custer massacres, he speaks slowly
and carefully, celebrating on each
word to the interpreter, who informs
the listener.
The chief interpreter Of the show
is Summit Bear, Cheyenne, who al
so participated in the two massacres.
His English name is William Abe
Somers. He was born in Colorado in
1861. Somers says that the first in
cident that he recalls was the build
ing of the Union Pacific railroad
through Colorado. According to a
legend of his tribe the Cheyennes 500
years ago lived near the Pine Ridge
agency, in South Dakota. and drifted
north and west along the Yellow
stone, then for nearly $50 years
roamed through Montana, Wyoming,
Colorado, and finally into Oklahoma.
Somers was with the Cheyennes that
were defeated by Custer on the Wa
shita in 1872.
AS a remembrance Of his fighting
days Black Horse carries two bullets
in one of his legs. The first he re-
ceived at the Hennessey fight and the
second at the disarming of the In
dams at the Darlington agency
Summit Bear went from Florida,
where he was a prisoner, to the Car
Isle school, where he studied for
about seven years. AS a result of
the school he can talk and write
English better than any other Indian
In the tribe. He was appointed official
Interpreter of the territory tribes
some years ago.
While playing in st. Joseph recent
ly the management Of the show put
on a reproduction Of the ambuscade
and burning of the Hennessey wagon
train, into which the aborigines en-
tered with great spirit. After the
performance was over Black Horse
begged permission for the whole
band to have a big powwow and a
dance that night. The request was
granted. The old chief talked to the
younger braves about the massacre,
after which they all participated in
a big dance. It was nearly o'clock
in the morning before they desisted.
One of the Indians with the show is
John Bull, the son Of the famous
chief, Sitting Bull. - Kansas City
Journal.