The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-06-25
BISMARCK TRIBUNE WAS FIRST TO
CARRY COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF FIGHT
Mark Kellogg, Who Accom-
panied Custer, Killed on
Battlefield-News Of Bat
tie Was Brought Here 10
Days Later BY Grant
Marsh, Steamboat Captain

The Bismarck Tribune carried the
first complete account to be printed
Of the Custer massacre. The story,
however, was not telcgraphcd TO the
office as today, for their was no tel
,cgraph in the wilds and the Tribune
correspondent, Mark Kellogg, had
been killed on the battlefield. News
of the mas sacre was brought To Bis
marck ten days later by steamboat
captain, Grant Marsh, on the Mis-
souri, river.
Capt. Marsh's Story
Captain Marsh, commander Of the
Ear West" wyAstfiskt~ANld .af thc
slaughter at the Battle Of the Little
Big Horn by "Curlcy," an Indian
scout who could only communicate
his message by drawing pictures Of
tho battle.
When the Far West, commanded
by Capt. Grant Marsh, arrived in
Bismarck at IL o'clock on the night
of July 5 Col. Clement A. Louns-
berry, editor Of the Tribune, and J..
N. Carna'han, telegraph operator.
were the first to be aroused by the
officers and men from the boat who
rushed along the streets Of Bismarck
awakening the inhabitants Of the
sleeping town.
Lounsberry, Carnahan, Capt. Marsh,
Doctor H. II. Porter of Reno's COM
mand, Capt. Smith and a number of
others hurried to the telegraph office
where one OF the biggest news stor-
les Of the West was ground out by
Lounsberry and telegraphcd BY Car
nahan to the New York Herald Of
which Col. Lounsbcrry was the ac-
credited correspondent. More than
$1,000 words were transmitted in the
report Of the Battle of the Little
Big Horn at u cost of $4,000 to the
Herald.
Early the next morning the Bis
marck Tribune brought out an extra
containing an accurate and complete
account Of the battle of nearly $500
words, the first published news of
the massacre. Added to the report
was list Of the killed and wounded,
giving in the case Of the latter the
nature Of their injuries. -
ut was one Of the best pieces of
newspaper composition ever produced
in the West and few Of the subse-
quent histories Of the fight possess
the vivid dramatic power Of this
first story, written under the impulse
of intense excitement" says Joseph
Mills Hanson in his book on "The
Conquest of the Missouri" which lis
based on the life and exploits of
Captain Marsh.
Delay In Reaching the East
No authoritative news Of the bat
tie reached the east until the full
accounts from Bismarck came by way
Of St. Paul, July Z. The report did
not reach the East until day late
because the Bismarck wire only
worked direct as far as St. Paul and
no Official confirmation was receiv-
ed by military authorities until after
the newspaper stories had been pub
lished everywhere.
The first bulletin to the New York
Herald read as follows: Bismarck,
d. T., July 5, 1876-General Custer
attacked the Indians, June 25, and he,
with every officer and man in five
companies, were killed. Reno with
seven companies fought in intrench-
ed position three" days. The Bis
marck Tribune's speciah correspond
ent was with the expedition and was
killed."
Col. Lounsberry himself had plan
ned to 60 with Custe n but was fore
ed to give 1t up at the last minute
because Of the illness Of his wife.
In his place he sent Kellogg, a Trib-
une reporter. The Herald, however,
at once adopted Kellogg as having
been its special correspondent, even
going so far a. to send his widow
and children $1,000.
Lounsberry had as data to work
upon more than column Of notes
on the campaign up to the day Of
battle written by Mark Kellogg and
rescued by General Terry himself
from the pouch beside the CORES
pondent's body. There were two
columns Of comment and description
sent down by Major Brisbin. Added
to theae were interviews with Cap
tain Smith, Doctor. Porter. Captain
Marsh, Fred .Girard, and the stories
Of GENERAL Terry, Of Curiey, Of some
Of the wounded, and the death Of
Charlie Reynolds.
Wire Held Open
During lulr that night In the
telegraph office where Lounsberry
Continued on page sight.)