Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-19

DRY Of that tragic day OF forty-two years
ago, where nearly 100 Of their comrades
gave up their lives. The party spent the
night at the Geier home and was most
Hospitality entertained. Here again was a
revelation for the veterans. A thrifty coun-
try settlement now occupies the near vlcin-
iy of the old fort. A handsome school
house Is situated at the base of Pilot Hill,
near the spot where Fetterman's massacred
party were buried Christmas day, 1886. These
bodies were disinterred in 1885 and re-
buried in the National cemetery at the
Custer battle ground 100 miles northwest
Of Phil Kearney. The settlement at the fort
Is now known as Kearney. There is a post
office here, q store, amusement hall called
Sturgis hall, a school and a church. with
a substantial bridge crossing the Big Piney.
some distance below the old Bozeman trail
of the old days.
Early Friday morning people began
gathering from the Piney neighborhood to
participate in the ceremonies to be held
during the forenoon at the monument.
The Darlington party was escorted to the
monument from the Geier home by the
Kearney cornet band Of fifteen pieces and
several hundred people in vehicles and on
horseback. all dressed in holiday attire,
with their vehicles gaily decorated with
flags and bunting. From Sheridan, Big
Horn City, Banner, Buffalo and Clearmont
came additional hundreds. all intent on
assembling at Massacre hill, where the
forenoon exercises were to take place.
Nearly 1900 people were assembled there
about the historic spot, Among the first
to greet General Darlington was Brigadier
General Henry B. Freeman and Mrs, Free
man, OF Douglas, Wyo., being the first
meeting between the two since 1867. Gen
eTal Freeman is now on the retired list.
He was the first man 70 enlist in the
Eighteenth infantry when General Caring
ton organized the regiment for the civil
war In 1861. General Freeman rose from
the ranks to his present grade and rem
dered valiant service both during the civil
war. on the frontiers in 1867 and 1858, and
during the Spanish-American war, in which
he served as a brigadier general OF vol
unteers, being retired as a brigadler gen
eral only a few years ago. Others meeting
the Darlington party at the monument
We're Congressman Frank w. Mondell Of
Wyoming and others Of the veterans OF
1875 who had remained over night in
Sheridan.
The only address delivered at the monu-
ment on Massacre hin was by General Car
'AA% wv .t' A'NA n "Alfl FAhlN VI tic
massacre ~ Fetterman's and
took occasion to refute the aspersion Of
della" end timidity on the part Of Captain
Ten Eyck's party going 10 the rescue Of
Fettcrman. He told that but twenty-seven
minutes elapsed from the moment OF the
sound OF the first firing Of the Fetterman
party untrl the firing ceased. Before II had
ceased Captain Ten Eyck and his party OF
forty-two men were on the road 20 Join
Fetterman, being guided 70 him only by the
sound Of the firing. Before the Ten Eyck
party had reached the ridge, the party
being on foot and having had 10 wade
through the ice OF Big Piney and convoy
two heavily laden wagons OF ammunition
the firing had ceased. The annihilation OF
Fetterman's party had been accomplished
IN these twenty-seven minutes. II had been
simply and suddenly overwhelmed by sew
eral thousand Indians in ambush. II was
beyond the possibility OF mortal men 10
rescue them or aid them in those few mo-
ments.
1T took Fetterman and HIS men an hour
and . bali to reach ths point from ths