The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-03-14
Concerning the passing of this just

~ dled at Standing Rock Agency,
North Dakota / wish to say few
things. A Chicago daily of recent
date stated that Rain in the Face,
fired the fatal shot that killed the
brave Gen. Custer. AS q matter of
fact the doughty sub.chief never
claimed to have killed Gen. Custer.
When it is recalled that the little
band Of about 300 soldiers was sur
rounded by severa! thousand blood
thirsty savagcs, all we'll armed and
firing as fast as they could load, it is
impossible to say just who did it.
Moreover, Rain-in-the. Face, so far
from cl"iming that he killed the gen.
eral, plainly stated that he did not
see him during the fight to recognize
him, aud asserts that the only reason
Custer was not soalped was because
other bodies were piled on top of his,
and the Indians failed to iDd him.
However, we will let the chief tell
his own story in his own way of that
noted battle, not massacre. I have
noticed that when the white soldiers
gained victory over the Indians it
was battle, but should the fortunes
OF war be in favor of the Indians, as
was the case in the defeat of Hamar,
St. Clair, Stillmsn and Custer, then
1t was massacre.
AS there were no white survivors Of
the battle of the Little Big Horn to
tell the tale, Sitting Bull, Gall and
Rain-in-the Face, Itiomagaju, have
each been induced to give their ver-
sions of it. have not thought it
best to quote Sitting Bulls statement.
lie was absent at the time of the bat
tie, "makipg medicine" took no &C.
tive part. in it, and I consider the
whole story as either drawn on his
imagination, or that of the reporter
who interviewed him. I quote the
account of Rain-in.the-F Face, because
he at least Tas present ct the battle,
and is the accredited slayer Of Capt.
Tom Custer.
It seems that Rain in the Face had
wsyle:a @aa murdered Dr.. Hcu.ineer.
veterinary surgeon, and Mr.. Bali
ran, a sutler, who were stragglers in
the rear, at the time Of the Yellow.
stone expedition under Gen. Stanley.
Not long after this Rain.in ,the-Faoe,
with other young Sioux, took part in
the sun dance, a ceremonial perfor-
nance Of great torture, in which the
aspirants give final proof of endurance
and courage which entitled thsp 70
the togs virilis Of a full-aedged war.
rior. One feature of it is the sus-
pension in the air Of the candidate
hy rawhide rope passed through the
sllts cut in the breast. or elsewhere.
until the flesh toars mud be falls to
';he ground. If b., iaints, falters,. or
fall., or even gives way momentarily
to his anguish during the period Of
suspension, he ia called and treated 8
u squaw for the rest OF mis- miserabie
life
F Iward Edmond says Rain.in. the.
Face was lucky when he was go tied
up The tendons gave way easily;
and was released after 80 short,a sus.
pension that it was felt that he: had
not fairly won his spurs. Sitting
Bull, the chiee e,ea::e:::e mss, de-
cidee that the test was unsatisfactory.
R.iu.in.the, Face thereupon de6od
Sltting Bull to do his worst. declaring
there was no test which could wiring
a murmur, Of pain from his lips. ~. 81
Sitting Bull was, equal: to the oc. q,
casion. !: he cut deep Sits ia The, back
over the kidneys, the hollows 5:rs.. re-
naming were big enough almost to
take in . closed fist years after, a,nd
passed the raThide rope 8 through
them For some two daysythe, young
Indian hung suspended, taupting his
sorturers, jeering ] at them, dsfyinjg
shem to do their worse, while singing
his war %aongs. and boastings Of bis
deeds: The tough feah, muscles and
tendons wanld not tear loose, although
he licked and struggled: violently 10
get free. Finally, Sitting Bull, satiss.
aed that; Rain.in-shss Face's 8 courage .a,
and endurance were; above proof, or ;
dered buffalo skins % be- tisa y3to 1his;
legs, aud the added weight Nth some:
more vigorous kicking enabled shs dn-
dian atoicto break: fres. It was ona.
Of the moet wopde erful ;:sxhibitiona5 5of
stoieism. endurance and courage Wit
messed among the Sioux { whore sthesls
qualities were not iofreqn nent i ! n
Raia.in.the.E FADE !. hsd S. passed 4 the: