Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-29
Co1IANcHE-A HORSE.
Only Survivor Of the Custer Massacre
on the Little Big Horn.

From the Kansas City Star.
In the basement OF the natural history
building Of the University OF Kansas at
Lawrence stands a light bay horse. saddled
and bridied and looking mildly through his
glass eyes. 1t is Comanche, the only living
thing-horse or man--of Gen. Clusters
troops that is positively known to have as
capped the massacre on the Little Big Horn,
June Is. 1876. He was ridden by Capt
keogh. who fought so well by the side OF
his chief and whose picture 10 given promi-
nence In Mulvaney's portrayal of the
natue. Comanche also appears in the pic
lure, and Is the only thing that, after the
pattle, could have been drawn from life
IL Is commonly supposed that one OF Gus
Yer 8 soldiers. desperately wounded and left
Tor dead on the field, survived the battle a
few days, but this is denied by army officers
who are familiar with the story of the mas
sacre. Even the horses of the troopers were
ruthiessiy put to death by the Sioux saw
ages. Comanche was probably .eft for dead,
put he escaped, and was found after that
dreadful day, wandering on the prairie near
the battlefield by a trooper of the 7th who
nad oeen sent to Maj. Reno by Gen. Custer
the day before the fight
He was SO badly hurt that 1t was thought
best to Kill him to end his misery but when
II was found that he was the only living
thing that had survived the fight 1t was re-
solved to save his life IL possible He was
cared for by Renos men as II he were HUI
man. and when he had recovered sufficiently
ne was sent to Lincoln, Neb., from which
place he was transferred to Fort Meade.
Later he was transferred to Fort Riley,
Kan, Were he passed the remainder OF his
life In idleness. at the expense of the gov
eminent He was fifteen years old at tho
time OF the battle. and died at the ripe ago
of thirty-two. Capt. Keogh was the last
man who ever rode Comanche. The dignity
OF government order was invoked to save
the old horse from further labor, and at
the end OF his life, by q government order
l.. L. Dyche professor of systematic zoolo-
gy OF the University Of Kansas, mounted
his skin.
Comanche was just a plain Texas range
morse, where he was picked up by a govern
ment agent. Long before the battle of the
Little Big Horn he saw service In Texas
ana indian territory. and after battle with
the Comanches was named in honor OF the
event Being with the army on the frontier
during all Of his active service he probably
never knew the luxury Of oats until he was
put In the big box stall at Fort Riley.
where he died as a pensioner of the United
States. But for all that he was a tough
BEAST as he proved by his recovery from
wounds. that would have settled the fate of
Whole troop of less hardy horses When
Prof. .Dyche. dissecfed his carcass he found
wnere he had been shot twice In the hips,
once In the lungs, once in the shoulder and
once IN his neck. He carried parts OF two
bullets In his body to the end of his life.
On Eomanche's back as he stands. In the
museum is the regulation cavalry saddle
with the figure u, the insignia OF the 7th
Cavalry. worked In the cloth. But neither
the saddle nor the bride originals as
badly hacked py the Indians as to be unfit
for use,