New Britain herald., 1926-06-24
MASSACRE OCCURRED
 FIFTY YEARS AGO
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(Continued from First Page) Gen. George A. Clusters crushing defeat at the battle of the Little Big Horn.
 Yet today Fisk's scoop" stands among the greatest newspaper beats" in modern journalism. And, by q strange coincidence, the nation, through Fisk's pen, first heard of the tragedy one hundred years to the day after the signing of the Declara- tion of Independence.
 Montana Published First
 Historians differ as 10 the paper which first published the story of Clusters battle, the semi-centennial observance of which started today at the Custer Battlefield in southern Montana. Some credit the Helena Herald. others the Bozeman Times, although all now agree they both printed the news before the appear ance. shortly after midnight of July 5, of an extra Of the Bismarck, \. p., Tribune. The Tribune sold for twcn- ty-five cents and carried the story of the fight and a list of casualties.
 Twelve days passed from time Gen. Custer, in command Of the Seventh cavalry left old Fort Lin coin, near Bismarck, in search of the village of hostile Sioux, until word of his last stand reached Fisk and the outside world. Nine days sped by from the date of the battle be- fore the word was broadcast through the medium of tho press. A longer time would have elapsed but for the grit of Horace Countryman, a Yel- lowstone rancher, Indian fighter and scout, who rode 1So mile with but one change of horses to reach He lena about noon on July i.
 Tells Story to Fisk
 Countryman learned the story from "Muggins" Taylor, q scout from the Little Big Horn battlefield who half dead from exhaustion, reached Countryman's ranch house at Saltwater, Mont. Countryman volunteered to carry the news to Bozeman and rush it to Washington over the government wire. He ar rived there only 10 find the wire down. There was nothing to do but continue the gruelling race to He lena
 Helena was celebrating Indopend- ence day, Fisk, ever alert for news, had strolled downtown. Sitting in his office, he was startled by the appearance of dust-covered rider who spurred his jaded horse down the street, tumbled from the saddle and staggered into the building, It was Horace Countryman.
 The exhausted courier gasped out the story of Clusters last stand. By the time he had concluded, Fisk had written the thrilling recital in long hand. The story from his pen, quoting Horace Countryman, then went out to the Associated Press.
 The story of Clusters last stand as told by Horace Countryman nine days later and first dispatched by Fisk to the Associated Press, fol- lows:
 General Custer found the Indian camp of about 2.O00 lodges on the Little Big Horn and immediately at tackled them. Custer took five com panies and charged the thickest DOT tton of the camp. The Indians poured a murderous fire from all di- rections, while the greater portion fought on horseback,
 Custer, his two brothers, nephew and brother-in-la were killed. Not one of the detachment escaped. Two hundred and seven men are buried in one grave and the dead are rough ly estimated al 800
 '"The Indians surrounded Reno's command and held them one day ir :the hills, cut off from water. until Gibbons column came in sight, whcr they broke camp in the night and fled. The Seventh fought like tigers and were only overcome by the large lDIIt Ol lllhldllN' NilpS' l'SS7 'fNlAll'I be estimated as they took off and cached most of their dead
 The remainder of the Seventh cavalry and Gibbons command arc returning to the mouth of the Little Rig Horn where q steamboat lies The Indians got all the arms of the dead soldiers. The whole Of Gus tcr's forces died at the head Of their column.
 "The Indian camp was from three to four miles long and was 21 miles up the Little Big Horn from its source. The Indians actually pulled the men off their horses in some Instances, I give this as Taylor told me as he was over the field after the fight"
 .-+E- Movements of Battle.
 General Cutscr took personal com mand Of troops. C. E r. and L.. Major Reno was given troops A, G. and NJ. Captain Bcu'cen II. D. and K, and Captain McDouc1l headed troop B. which acted as guard 10 the pack trains. The battle move ment. reported by General Terry 10 the adjutant general on June o7. Was in part as follows;
 At noon on June %, Custer start