The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-10

CUSTER MASSACRE STORY.
; How First News Of Little Biz
Horn Was Published.
AAAAAAAA


Helena. Mont, Aug. S.-Deputy
Postmaster A. ]. Fisk, Of Helena, for
years q veteran newspaper man, hav-
Ing with his brothers published Mon.
tana's first daily newspaper - 1.-THE
Helena Herald"-was in reminiscent
mood the other evening, and related
the story Of how the first news Of the
Custer massacre was given the world
through the medium of a press asso-
citation. He said
A little more than thirty years ago
Custer and his brave troopers laid
down their lives on the hills sur
rounding the Little Big Horn, in east
ern Montana. l have noticed that
every year erroneous reports gain cir
culatiOn as to how the news of the
massacre, SO called. was first given
to the world. Being pretty we'll known
IN the state as a newspaper man of
the earlier period, my word will doubt
less be taken, but II anyone questions
my assertion have proof in the files
of THE Herald"
AS was the custom in the early days,
THE Herald" did not publish a paper
on the Fourth of July, and editors and
printers were supposed to put in the
whole day in celebrating. At that time
in 1876, was the Associated Press
agent of Helena. position which 1
filled for a period of thirty years. or
up to two years ago. About noon on
the Fourth of July, 1876, l came down
town to see If there was any news of
importance to wire to the association.
l was sitting in the business Office,
when In the door walked Horace Coun-
tryman, dusty, dirty, with haggard
eyes and looks, and having the ap-
pearance of one who was about "all
in" l sprang to the counter, grasped
him by the hand, exclaiming: "Coun-
tryman. what in Gods name is the
matter?"
Jack" he replied, Custer and all
with him are dead-were massacred
on the Little Big Horn by the Sioux.
Muggins Taylor, the scout, brought the
news to Saltwater. He being exhaust
ed, l volunteered to bring the news to
Bozeman. Arriving at Bozeman, 1
found the government wire down, SO
/! gotta fresh horse and came on to
Helena"
The news seemed incredible and I
inquired IL he could give me the par
,ticulars. He said he could. | told
him to come in and sit down and wait
for moment until l could send out
and try to locate some printers in
order that we might get out an extra.
/, Our foreman, the late William Nc
Catchey, was located, but it was per-
haps an hour before we had force
distributing type and getting ready for
the extra. Then countryman gave me
the particulars of the dreadful affair,
as conveyed to him by Muggins Taylor.
He spoke rapidly, fluently, and it was
difficult matter to keep within firing
distance. as in those days the type
writer and stenographer were unknown
In this section. To this day remem-
Der one of his sentences:
"Curley, the Indian scout and the
only person who escaped to bring the
news. said the firing was very rapid;
it sounded like the swapping of the
threads in the tearing of blanket"
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon 1.-THE
Herald" extra was on the streets of
Helena. 1t was the first news of the
awful event to be given to the public.
The excitement was SO great and our
force SO limited that did not find time
to send the news out of the city until