The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-07-02
THOUSANDS VIEW
> CUSTER ceremony
GREATEST CROWD IN MONTANA
HISTORY AT BATTLEFIELD
EARLY DAY WARRIORS ATTEND
Seventh Cavalry Journey 1909 Mlloa
Veteran Indian Flghters From
Afar. Reds Of Many Points

20
Grow Agency, Mont-Last Saturday
afternoon brought to a close the three
days Of impressive ceremonies mark
ing the fiftieth anniversary Of the
Custer battle, which proved to be the
greatest gathering in MOntana's his
tory.
Throughout the entire time, extend
ing from Thursday morning until Sat
urday evening, this little Indian agency
village and for miles around was TEEN
ing with humanity. Thousands came
by automobiles and thousands by train.
People were here from all sections Of
the country to pay tribute to the mem
DRY OF General George Armstrong Gus
ter and his five troops of Americas
bravest soldiers, 212 in all, who just
80 years ago were slain in combat with
warning Sioux and Cheyenne Indians
along the banks of the Little Big Horn
river a few miles south of here. 1t is
cO~nservatively estimated that during
the three days no less than 100000
people visited the famous battlefield.
Flag Raising opens Program
The program was ushered in Thurs
day afternoon by the raising Of the
American colOrs on a huge staff at the
national cemetery, directly partici-
pated in by veterans Of the old Sew
enth cavalry, when 1t was commanded
by Custer, and aged Sioux and Chey-
enne Indians who took part in the
deadly wal fifty years ago.
The veterans, after the flag raising,
Joined Gen. E. s. Godfrey, who, during
the battle Of the Little Big Horn, as
first lieutenant, commanded Company
K under Major Benteen, in a review Of
the new Seventh, consisting. Of II Of
ficers and 235 men under Col. Fitz-
hugh Lee, detailed here for the cere-
mOny by order Of the War department,
from FIT. Bliss, Texas, 1900 miles away.
Opposite the reviewing stand in full
war regalia stood a long line of Indian
survivors of the battle, including four
Cheyennes and seven Sioux, who were
engaged against Custer. Following
the troopers came a long line of Crows
trailed by their women, gaily bedecked
horses. and all in their finery.
In General GOdfrey's party on the
reviewing stand were Mrs. Godfrey,
Weir grandson, Edward S. GOdfFeTm
Cob Herbert J. SlOgum, Col CHARLES F
BateM Col. J. Mt Portfolio, retired
and q Ommanders Luther Barker anC
John III. Brandt Of the Indian war vet
ergps' organizations.
Thursday evening the veterans paiC
IA formal visit to Colonel Lees CAM
and we're greeted by the commando
who took much pleasure In contrast
ing their facilities with those at thei
disposal 50 years ago. They heard tn
band Of the Seventh play 'The BlacI
Hills March" written by John Burri 0
Mandan, n. D., a trumpeter of the oil
Seventh, who was on hand for the n
union.
$4,000 View Friday Spectacle
Officials of the Custer Memorial as
ISOLATION, sponsors Of the histories
event, estimate that $4,000 peOpl
viewed the ceremonies at the battl
ground Friday. Some conception ma
be had Of the crowd by the fact this
people stood 200 feet deep in the in
mediate vicinity of the mOnumeI
which marks the last stand Of Gel
eTal Custer and his troops. The mU
titude was so immense that Thousand
were unable to witness the servic,
and had to be content to remain
their automobiles.
e--The climax to the memorable pea
ant came when the great crowd wi
messed the marching Of the Seven.
cavalry over the same ridge to Il
south Of the battle ground, when
Custer is believed to have come.
five troops they came-the same troo
that Custer led, but a new generate,
Of men, dropping over the brow Of {
Hill under guidons to which were
tached streamers bearing the nam
Of Clusters commanders. AccompaI
ing them was Gen. Godfrey. With h
came seven troopers who were engag
In the battle under Reno and Bentel
They were Peter Thompson, Alzat
AeoMls Ian NEWELL 0luABADs - 4
Theodore w. GOldin, Dansman, Wi
W. O. Slaper, Los Angeles; John
Lockwood, Washington, D. c.; F
mont Kipp, Washington, D. @.
March 60 Dirge
Slowly they marched toward the
tiOnal cemetery to the strains Of a (
eral dlrge played By the band Of
Seventh concealed In a nearby raw
From the other side came N a
flung column the hundreds Of Indie
Ted By the nearly so Sioux and CT
survivors Of the battle headed
White Bull. who as q youth OF %
a band Of Sioux fighters under r.
in-the-Face. Near the monument
two parties met. White Bull held
his hand making the sign Of pc
General Godfrey replied By drop
his ~unsheathed sword into It's scabt
as he rode forward to meet the
ians. They clasped hands, and 70
ment the friendship White Bun
scented TO the general q priced pos
60 &C., naH