Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-04
TRIBUTE TO GEN.
CUSTER'S MEMORY
Equestrian Statue Dedicated 10
Him Unveiled by His Widow
AT Monroe, Michigan.
PRIEST. TAFT ORATOR OF DAY
Distinguished Company Present
IncIuded "Curley." Clusters Indian
Scout, Only One To Escape.

Monroe. Mich. June with
President Taft IN attendance as the
orator Of the occasion. the ma
tion. state. city and adjacent
farming district united here today
in paying tribute to the memory of
Gen, George Armstrong Custer,
who, with 254 of his cayalrymen was
slain by sitting Bulls band OF Sioux
Indians at the battle OF Little Big
Horn In the bad lands of Montana,
June rs, 1876.
An equestrian statue of Gen. Custer
for which the Legislature Of Michigan
appropriated $4,000, was unveiled by
the generals widow, Mrs. Elizabeth h
Custer, OF New York and among the
other guests OF honor was Nevin j.
custer. the cavalry leaders only
surviving brother. who stu resides on
farm near here in the neighborhood
where the farmer and his military
brothers passed their boyhood
Gov. Fred NJ Warner was Michi-
gan's Official representative at the
dedication and veterans Of the four
Michigan cavalry regiments that COM
prised the Custer brigade In the civil
war acted as escort Of honor to the
president i'm the parade
An interesting participant was Cur
~, the indian scout who at the time
Of the battle was a young boy and the
A
escape slaughter
Thousands OF visitors heard the ad-
dress OF President TAFT and there were
many distinguished guests. including
Mrs. John A. Logan, United states SEN
idor William Alden Smith and a num-
her OF Gen. Clusters army comrades of
the Civil war.
After the exercises here President
Taft and his party went to Jackson,
Mich, to participate in the dedication
OF tablet comnemOrating the organic
alton OF the Republican party under
the oaks" at jackson in June. 1854.
Senator W. A Smith added a strik-
Ing tribute 70 Mr.. Taft to his eulogy
OF Custer. He declared that the pres
ent occupant OF the White House would
take rank with the most illustrious OF
our presidents.
While YOU remember Grant, Lincoln
Mckinley, Roosevelt and others Of the
illustrious line, our president OF today,
in character, in breadth Of fitness. in
determination. In patliotism and love
OF country. Is the peer OF them all"
he said When Mr.. Roosevelt's name
was mentioned There was a ripple OF
applause as the senator's tribute TO
Mr. Taft was concluded.
President Taft spoke estemporane-
ously, He declared that Custer took
rank With the greatest cavalry COM
manders of the world.
From Bull Run 20 AppommattoN, In
every bloody battle OF the army OF the
Potomac he was the right arm OF the
commander OF the forces as the leader
OF the cavalry brigade
The president declared that the phase
Of Clusters career. however which ap
pealed most deeply TO him was his
share In the Indian wars
The president said;
"He was one OF the % 900 men COM
posing the regular army whose work
we do not fully appreciate as much
as we did The army then and the
army OF today is one Of which the Uni
ted states may well be proud. ! say
this merely to note the Indebtedness OF
the country 10 the army during the
opening Of the west and to testify 10
the effectiveness and heroism OF George
Armstrong Custer in that great battle
which continued for decade, the great
war for civilization Of which he was
the most conspicuous and shining sac
rinCp"