The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-14

tabled which tells the passer-by that near this
spot on September 8. 1877. Crazy Horse % the
Oglaia Sioux was killed-dylng as be had lived.
a nghtlng man
Chief Crazy Horse (Tashunka wltkol was
only thirty-ihrce years old when bis warrior
career ended. but be had already written his
name high IN the annals OF the old West Al
though he was the principal leader In the two
greatest victories ever won by his people over
the white men, Il was the irony OF fate that To
each case credit for the achievement should be
given 10 another Sioux chief whose name and
fame happened 10 be more familiar 20 the white
men than was Crazy Horses one OF them was
Red Cloud. whom mos, historians record as be
ing the leader In the so-caled "Fetterman Mas
sacre~ near Fort Phil Kearney wyo. IN is66.
despite the testimony OF Indian survivors that
he was neither In command that day nor did he
have any hand In planning or carrying out the
ambush Of Fettermans Inflated command. The
other was Sitting Bull who is popularity land
erroneouslyl believed 10 have been mainly re
sponsIble for the maneuvers OF the Indians which
resulted In the disaster 10 Clusters command on
the Little Big Horn In Montana ten years later.
Crazy Horse was born In 1874. the son OF an
oglala Sioux chief OF the same name His mother
died when he was two years old but his step
mother. who was also his aunt. raised him as
her own Trained by her and his father In the
rigorous physical regime required OF young boys
OF the Sioux he early learned the lessons OF
age. selfdenlal. generosity. modesiy. truthfuness
and fair dealing which so strongly characterized
his later lie. fine horseman and a skillful
hunter he Joined his hrst party when
he was only sixteen years old and by the time OF
the first serious between the Sioux and the
whites us86) Crazy Horses tribesmen looked
20 him as a principal war leader and even the
Cheyenne chiefs allies OF the Sioux. practically
Acknowledged bis leadership.
Although Crazy Horse had distinguished hlru-
self In the Feiterman battle and at the famous
Wagon Box Fight a year later. he rose to his
greatest heights as a general In 1876 and 1877.
On June II. 1876. he attacked the army Of Gen.
George Crook on the Rosebud river In Montana
and fought that experienced Indlan-fghter TO
a standstlll. thus breaking up the army's plan
OF campaign and making certain the humiliation
OF Clusters command a week later. The only
army officer who defeated him fairly and square
ly was Gen. Nelson A. Miles ('Bear coai') who
did that at Battle butte In the Wolf mountains
in Montana on January s. 1877. an engagement
which led directly TO Crazy Horses surrender
a few months later.
BY this time the hostile Sioux had begun to
realize that the white man was too powerful
for them. Through the influence OF Chief Spoced
Tail OF the Brule Sioux. uncle OF Crazy Horse
the oglala chIeftain was persuaded 10 come in TO
Fort Robinson. Neb. and surrender. which be
did on May g. 1877
At the time OF Crazy Horses surrender his
wife suffering from tuberculosis and the
medical care given her by DR.. V. T. McGilly-
cuddy. a surgeon with the Third cavalry. not
only won for him the friendship OF the Oglala
chief but also the name OF wasicu wakan, the
white Miracle Man" and Tasunka witko Kola
"the Friend Of Crazy Horse" The events lead
ing up to Crazy Horses death told In this
frst-hand account by Doctor McGIllycuddy who
is still living In California:
In Eeptember. 1877. General Crook held ar
important council at Fort Robinson with Crazy
Horse was In the Indian camp that day and
the council was a heated one. II finally broke
up with no results except TO create the belief
In Crooks mind that Crazy Horse was meditat
Ing desertion and IN attempt /. rejoin Sitting
Bull. who was sta In Canada where he had