East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-08-25

Helena, for years a veteran newspa-
per man. he having. with his brothers.
published Montana's first daily news
paper. the Helena Herald, from the
time of its inception until its sale two
years ago, or more than 80 years. was
in a reminiscent mood the other eve
ming and related the story of how the
first news of the Custer massacre was
given the world through the medium
of the press association. Said he to a
st. Louis Globe-Democrat reporter:
"a little more than 80 years ago
Custer and his brave troopers laid
down their lives on the hills surround
ing the Little Big Horn in eastern
Montana. l have noticed that every
year erroneous reports gain circula-
ton as to how the news of the massa-
ere, 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 doubtless
be taken, but If any one questions my
assertions l have the 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 ed
itors and printers were supposed to
put in the whole day celebrating. At
that time, in 1875, was the Associdt-
ed Press agent for Helena, a position
which l filled for period of 80
years, or up to two years ago. About
noon on the Fourth of July, 1876, l
came down town to see II there was
any news of Importance to wire to the
association. l was sitting in the busi-
ness office when in came Horace
Countryman, dusty, dirty, with hag-
gard eyes and looks, and having the
appearance of one who was about
all in
'I 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 ex-
hausted I volunteered to bring the
news to Bozeman.. Arriving at Boze
man. I found the government wire
down, so l got fresh horse and came
on to Helena
"The news seemeu incredible, and
inquired he could give me the
particulars. He said lie could. told
him to come in and sit down and walt
for a moment until I could send out
and locate some printers in order that
we might get out an extra.
"Our foreman. the late william Nc
Clatchey, was located, but it was per-
haps an hour before we had a force
distributing type and getting ready
for the extra. Then Countryman
gave me the particulars Of the dread
full affair, as conveyed to him by
Muggins Taylor. He spoke rapidly,
fluently, and it was a difficult matter
to keep within firing distance, as in
those days the typewriter and stem
tion. To this day, remember 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 the
Herald extra was on the streets of
Helena. It 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 after the extra was out Then
1 grabbed a copy of the extra and
made fast time to the Western Union
telegraph office. There was only one
wire, but Manager Operator Freder-
icks laid all else aside and gave the
massacre story preference, with the
result that on the morning of July
all the newspapers of the country
contained the news of the massacre.
There was little rest for me tho
night of July 4. Every Is minutes
or so there would be a ring at m.
door bell, announcing telegram
from some paper demanding furthe
details of the awful affair. remem
ber one New York paper having au
thorized me u send out scouts to Sc
cure additional news. / informe,
the papers that our complete stor.
had been given the press association
and that further details would com
from Bismarck, when the scout
reached that city, which they did Of
, the following day, and 1t was througI
these couriers that, on July 6, tn
government at Washington receive