Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-08-23

mere were oCner ugly fumOrs, winch
unfortunately proved to be true, that
the traders were paying enormous
tribute to persons connected with
those in official position, and that
the quota apportioned to each of the !
traders at Forts Buford, Lincoln and
Rice, to be paid monthly, was 81, 900,
with lesser sums for the smaller
posts.
General Custer had many of the
attributes of Theodore Roosevelt. He
was a man of action and Of high
ideals, and believed in a square deal.
These rumors, backed with absolute
proof, reached him. He also believ-
that smuggling of arms and liquor
was carried on to a great extent and
that by this means also money was
provided to pay the tribute exacted
of the traders. The wife Of the sec
rotary of war was the beneficiary on
the part of the military traderships,
while one related to the president
was sharing the profits from the In
dian traderships.
Impeachment Of BeIhaar.
General Custer was instrumental
in having Ralph Meeker sent out by
a New York newspaper to report this
matter. He reported to General Gus
ter. His mission was known to the
writer of these pages and to James.
A. Emmons at Bismarck, who had
previously Haunted the main facts
in the face of the secretary Of war
by means of a printed circular, when
Belknap was on an official visit to
Fort A. Lincoln. Meeker gained en-
ployment through General Custer at
the Berthold Indian agency, and
thereby gained opportunity for an
interview with many of the Sioux,
He met them also at Lincoln and at
Standing Rock. Custer was not back
ward in supplying the facts that had
come to his attention, and the pub
LEGATION Of the story resulted in the
impeachment of Secretary Belknap,
who resigned rather than have the
facts, of which he was not wholly
conscious, become matter Of rec
ord. ,g,.fs&e HIS
The expose occurred in February.
1876. General Custer had been 10
Washington arranging for the ex-
petition and was on his way home
when the matter became known.
Congress Immediately appointed an
investigating committee.
N. p. Closed In Winter.
It was the custom then to close The.
Northern Pacific railroad from Fargo
to Bismarck for the winter. The
Black Hills travel caused an attempt
to open the road early that spring
and on March 5 a train left Bis
marck but was snowbound three
weeks at Crystal Springs. General
Custer and wife and several officers
Of the Seventh cavalry, a large nun
Der of recruits, Mayor Mclean of
Bismarck and Colonel Lounsberry
returning from Washington, William
Fudge and his party of miners from
Grand Forks, were, among the pas
sengers on that train. Custer and
some others left the train and made
their way to their destination by
team. Custer had scarcely. reached
Fort Lincoln when he, was summoned
to appear before the investigating
committee appointed in Belknap's
case. Some Of his testimony gave Of
Tense to the administration and the
plans Of the Yellowstone expedite On
were changed so as to eliminate C,,r-
ter to the greatest possible extent.
Rumor had it that he was to be lett
at Fort A. Lincoln under arrest, but
that would have served to infiame
the public mind, fearful1y wrought
up by the Belknap expose.
General Alfred H. Terry, the hero
of Fort Fisher, was assigned to the
command of the expedition which
left Fort. A. Lincoln about the first
of June. Custer was nominally in
command Of one of its divisions real.
aly without duties and without com
mand, and did not even control his
own regiment. A portion of his resi
ment was commanded By. officers. who
were devoted to him; other compaa-
les by officers who were antagonistic.
Bismarck Tribune Correspondent to
the Front.
Col. G. A. Lounsberry, who repre
scented the New York Herald, at BIS.
marck. and the Associated Press
through the st. Paul papers. was the
only newspaper correspondent who
had secured authority to accompany
the expedition, and every arrange
ment had been MADE for him to 60.
but sickness in his family at the last
N, ont rrayau f1,d MI, ~ ~