The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-20
IDAHO HARRY GOES BACK
HOMIE AFTER MANY YEARS

the impetuous Custer, at the head OF
five companies Of the Seventh cavalry,
dashed squarely into the center Of the
Indian village, and found himself with
some 600 men in the midst Of 5000
bowling savages who were thirsting
for human blood; how the cavalry
men, surrounded, unable to cut their
way out, fought against hopeless odds
until the last man Of them had been
slain, is too well known to students
Of history to need reiteration.
Attack on Sayages Half Hearted.
Paddock was with the division of
the Seventh in command Of Major
Reno that made a half hearted attack
on the savages from another angle,
and was forced to retreat to the cliffs
along the river to save itself from an
initiation, during which time eighteen
men we're killed and fifty-two wound
ed. For two days the handful of men
listened to the blood curdling war
whoops of the painted fighters as they
stood the Sioux of, using their small
stock of ammunition sparingly or
with sleepless eyes watched the red
skins at night as they danced about
the fires only a few hundred yards
away, preparatory to the assault of
the morrow.
What he has to say regarding the
conduct of his commanding officer on
that occasion contributes an interest
ing chapter to a bitter controversy
that has been waged ever since that
fateful day. His version Of what he
terms the Reno fiasco may some time
take its place along with other writ
ings on the subject for he has fund
OF material which he hopes to incorpo-
rate in a book.
When the relief force came up, two
days later, and the exhausted remnant
O fthe Seventh cavalry was rescued
from what seemed death, Paddock
went over the ground where Custer
and his men had fallen, and familiar
lied himself with every detail OF the
situation.
Once Again on Warpath.
Three years of varied experience,
largely in wyoming, and Paddock once
more found himself on the warpath,
with Indians as. the quarry.
The Utes had for some time been
restless, and September 10, 1879, Agent
Meeker, at White river agency, Colo
RADIO, reported that he had been forced
out of his house and badly injured
by the Indians, who were threatening
to wipe out the whites.
Twelve days later, owing to the
amount OF red tape that had to be
unwound at Washington, Major 7. T..
Thornburg left Rawlins, Wyo., for the
White river agency, with three COM
panles of cavalry and one of infantry,
one company being in command OF
Lieutenant Paddock
The object OF the expedition was to
arrest Chief johnson and such other
troublesome Indians as Agent Meek
er might designate,
On the morning Of September 10 the
command advanced, under the guild
ance of Joe Rankin, a well known
scout. Soon afterward Rankin dis
covered fresh Indian signs. Having
arrived at o canyon through which
the road passed, and which would af-
ford an excellent opportunity for an
ambush, he led the company around
over the hill. BY this move he saved
the lives of most Of the party, for ar
irving ut the top Of the hill they found
the indians in hiding on either side
of the canyon.
Thornburg formed his men in line
and awaited the attack. Two Indians
rode up to within a hundred yards,
dismounted, and with a savage yell
fired, wounding Captain Payne in the
arm.
At this signal the rest gave war
whoop and the battle was on. Thorn
burg discovered that in spite Of the
PRECAUTIONS taken he was surrounded.
He ordered charge, which he gal
lantly led in person, and succeeded
in cutting his way out, but when
within short distance of his own
wagons he fell with two bullets
through the brain.
The troops took refuge behind the
heavy wagons carrying supplies, us
ing the animals as breastworks, and
the battle continued until after night
fall, when the Indians retired for a
short distance.