El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-26
SeUenthCaUaI9y
Stages Massacre
OfTheBig Horn
Old Regiment Gives Vivid
Picture Of Brave Fight
OF Gen. Custer.

On the Seventh cavalry drill ground
at Fort Bliss, encircled by a circle Of
automobiles and onlookers. two fac
tors Of the Seventh cavalry, one rem
resenting the American forces OF
Gen Custer. and the other. the Sioux
indians. reproduced a brief but weird
spectacle Of the CHASTITY fate that he
Ieil that famous general and his orig
mai seventh cavalry at the battle an
Little Big Horn in 1866
SHORTY after sunset and as dark
ness commenced 70 cover the omen
theater, three bonfires were lighted al
the American end Of the arena. d.
rectiy after. a huge mass of flame
ana smoke. that threw up pervading
SLOW appeared at the opposite end
where the Indians We're camDed.
Prepares for charge.
The latter camp was q true Indian
war scene The Indians were camped
at the eastern end of the ground
where there are irregular hollows and
mus Ihey were mounted on naked
forses- each armed with a pistol and
each wearing scant clothing, decorated
in aboriginal fashion
At the sound OF the war whoops.
Gen Clusters forces at the other end
commenced sounding their bugles. The
first call was repeated twice. as was
the succeeding reveille, stable call
and finally assembly.
All became still for a brief spell
the Indians fired a scattering fusfl-
lade- Forthwith the Seventh cav
airy band. which was stationed to one
side, PLAYED a lively air. followed by
Columbia" and the Indians resumed
their war whoops. and Gen Clusters
regiment aligned itself for a charge
All Put TO Death.
As the band struck up the famous
regimental song. Garry owen" the
old Seventh cavalry charged at top
speed. They checked themselves at
the center OF the ring. Most OF them
dismounted. while the others rushed
off the horses.
crouched 10 the ground and awaited
the oncomlng Indians. The Indians
with the same riOtous pas
sion that marked their powwow
scenes. They yelled in their native
manner. fired their pistols, charged
aroend and around the crouched COM
mand OF Cen Clusters men until. with
inc essant firing. they put every son
OF the famous old regiment to death
All was mass OF dust, pierced by
the flashes Of rifle or pistol fire. Then
the Indians raced off in victorious
ceremony, leaving to be seen, as the
dust cleared away the -massacred
regiment in the center OF the field
-ReEiment without C0lOrs.y
OFF IN the distance then sounded
scalp dance, accompanied by suitable
music from the band, and scarcely had
the revelry desisted than the band
played a dirge for the death OF Gen.
Custer and his men. Then came the
solemn song Nearer Ny God to
Thee" and finally the three roileys in
honor Of the departed soldiers.
II was reproduction Of the exter-
mination OF that regiment which Is
often alluded TO as the regiment
without any colors." Il was a day
Of sacred memories to every member
Of the Seventh cavalry and of pride IN
so valorous an officer as Cen Custer.
Especially was this felt by Col. S r.
II. TOmpkins, the present commander. !
over 80 years, having first served as
a second lieutenant
All Troops Represented
The weird scene Of the 'nassacred /
regiment" lying in the center OF the |
field. was not without its humorous I
came tired waiting for the episode TO I
end and commenced lighting cigarets |
md smoking A light ripple OF I
aughter went up from the onloolers /
as several Of them whispered. They I
are a pretty lively bunch OF dead /
)nes."
The members OF the Seventh cavalry 1
who took part in the sham battle I
we're from every troop in the regi- 4
nent. 81 being the total number OF 1
participants. The - Americans were 1
ed by Sergt Henry Burke. who was
dressed as Gen. Custer. The ~ In
lians were led BY color Sergt. B. p
;ainz.
The Seventh cavalry band, led by
lished music before and during the
ham battle.