The Detroit times., 1910-06-04
BIC CROWD Sees
CUSTER STATUE
UNVEILED
President Taft and Other Dis
tinguished Persons Take Part in
Exercises in Honor of Michigan's
Daring Soldier.
Mrs. Custer Unveils Memorial in
Shaved of Church Where She
Was Married in 1854.

MONROE, Mich, June AIN the
presence OF President Taft and many
other distinguished persons, the
s:ntue OF Gen Geo. A. Custer, Michi-
gan's daring soldier, who WAS killed
IN the battle OF the Little Big Horn,
was unveiled here this morning. Mrs.
Custer, the widow, unveiled the
equestrian memorial. II faces the
Presbyterian church In which she was
married 10 young Custer, then taking
part In the Civil War, in 1854. She
was Elizabeth Bacon before her mar
ringe.
The statue is located at Washing
ton and First-sts., in the heart OF
Monroe. Here young Custer used to
pl2y marbles with his schoolmhtes.
One OF these was Frederick A. Minis.
who took part in the exercises today.
A great throng saw the statue UNI
yelled. Visitors had been arriving
here for several days and when
the exercises took place every avail
able spot for several blocks was oc-
cupied by surging mass of people.
IL was the greatest day that Monroe
has ever witnessed, the presence OF
President Taft adding to the impress
siyeness OF the event.
Many Picturesque Sights.
From the time OF President Taft's
arrival. from Detroit. until his de-
parture this afternoon for Jackson,
where he dedicates the memorial
erected to commemorate the spot,
Under the Oaks" where the Republi-
can party was born, Monroe and the
state of Michigan were lavish in cele-
brating the unwilling of the Custer
monument.
Governor Warner and his staff ac-
companied the president here from
Detroit, but the Custer reunion festi-
yities started yesterday afternoon,
when nearly every living member OF
the famous Custer Brigade In the Civil
War came in response to the call is
sued by William o. Lee of Port Huron,
president OF Clusters Michigan Cav
airy Brigade association. to partici-
pate In last nights campfire. Though
the festivities were strenuous the
followers of the gallant Custer were
out early today ready to do honor to
the man they followed through thick
and thin from Gettysburg to Appoma-
tox
With the brigade are many men
now high 1 the affairs of life. None
are more interesting than Thomas
Loughney and Serg. John Ryan.
Loughney, now prosperous bust
ness man OF Salt Lake City, was the
youngest man in Clusters brigade. He
was bugler, having enlisted in Bay
City in 1863, after three unsuccessful
attempts, when he was but ten years
old. 1t was only through the help of
other recruits in evading the ques-
tons of the mastering officer that he
got to the front. He first was under
fire at Haggerstown, Md. during Get
tysburg and bugled in Clusters Cav
airy until captured and sent to Libby
prison, from where he was sent to An
Jacksonville for five months until ex,
changed. Goughney' Mas a great fav.
orite with Custer.
sergeant's interesting Story.
Serg. John Ryan, now a captain of
police IN Newton, Mass, joined troop
NJ, Seventh Cavalry, in 1866 and was
in every battle during the ten years
Custer mad the regiment.
Il was the first sergeant of the
troop" he said, and | fred the first
and last shots in the memorable en-
gagement when General Custer ad 261
officers ad men lost their lives. L
was In charge of Major Reno's Skin
mish line. Fourteen Of my troop were
killed. My detail buried Custer, his
brother, Col. Thomas Custer. his
brother-in-law. Lieut. James Calhoun,
and As other officers and men,
But these stories are only samples
Of the hundreds that are being ex-
changed today by the survivors OF the
famous Seventh.
On the platform with President Taft
at the unwilling we're United States
Senators Burrows and Smith, the lat
ter Of whom delivered the main ora
ton. Gov Warner and staff, Bishop
Foley Of the Roman Catholic diocese.
Bishop Charles ID. Williams of the
Episcopal diocese of Michigan. Mrs.
B9rabeth b. Custer widow OF the
general, and the monument commits
sion. Edward c. Potter, sculptor of