The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-05-10
Old Army
Scout Pays
Libby A Visit
Silent" Smith ca m p e d
Here with Soldiers When
Fighting Indians.
BARELY ESCAPED
CUSTER MASSACRE

Libby people are accustomed to refer
to the men and women who arrived in
these parts in the COS as early pioneers,
but this week one has been In the city
who visited the site where Libby now
stands long before the coming of the
| earliest pioneer.
We refer to SILENT (Bart) Smith,
U. S. scout and messenger, soldier and
world traveller. Smith and his wife, both
"a years old, camped north of the river,
making an auto trip through this sec
ton
Il visited Libby the first time on
August 10, 1879" said Smith to a West
ern News reporter, "and we camped on
what is now your ball grounds. | was
with a company of u S. soldiers, under
Captain Slapp. The company had trav-
eled from Fort Shaw to Fort Roman and
stopped her on the way to Fort Sher-
man in Idaho, which is now known as
Occur dAlene City The Nez Perce
Indians were giving trouble and we
were being moved into their country
The soldiers were Troop G. of the e7th
cavalry"
The old man claims to have been
with Custer just before the fatal battle
that ended in the massacre of Custer
and all his men. Smith, messenger,
was dispatched to bring up reinforce
ments just prior to the Indians attack
ing Custer. He describes the details of
that much discussed battle He returned
in time to assist in the burying of the
dead soldiers When asked the oft heard
question as to whether or not Custer
had killed himself when he saw that his
force was exterminated, he said no one
knew for a certainty but he did not
think SO.
Custer was found with two dead
soldiers lying across him. helped lift
them from the dead general and we
found that Custer had been shot twice,
once through the abdomen and once
through the forehead above one avs.
One cheek had been slit from the mouth
to the ear l am inclined to believe he
was killed by an Indian who had sworn
vengeance. 1t is common knowledge
that Custer had kicked this Indian at
one time and had him imprisoned and
that the Indian had sworn vengeance.
Investigations would indicate that he
got revenge at this battle"
Smith was in the service of his coun-
try IA years, months and S days"
as he remarked when asked. He claims
to have held General Lees horse at the
time of his surrender to General Grant,
being a mere lad at that time Later he
served as scout and messenger in The
west. He claims to have been adopted
by the Seven Tribes and said he speaks
all the Indian languages fluently. He
had personal contact with practically
all the famous Indian chiefs and fight
ers Of the past generation.
Smith carries a regular museum OF
early day firearms and many Of histori-
cal interest He claims to hive a re-
volver used by Wild Bill Hickok and
one by Calamity Jane, besides many
other revolvers, rifles and sawed off
shot guns used by Indians and early
day desperadoes. The hammer of the
Hickok revolver is filed off for fan
ming purposes and there are 10 notches
on it. He also possesses many memen-
toes, medals, etc. One medal was pre-
SGIllcu W iitiil Wy AidJCi NCilCi al l'eisoii
A. Miles. He has a gold plated belt
buckle, which he says was gift from
General Grant. He has knives without
number used by famous Indians and
outlaws. These will eventually be given
either to Washington or to the historic
cal museum at Helena
Smith also claims to have been with
Teddy Roosevelt on his African hunts
and has gold watch which was given
to him by Roosevelt
The old scout can talk for hours on
his early day experiences. He says ne
rode mule to St. Joe, Mo-, from The
west when a young man, married his
"old woman and brought his bride
west with him. They expect to spend
their declining years in the soldiers
home at Columbia Falls. Referring e
an incident he remarked "Oh that
wasn't long ago-that was in '76-" He
is still hale and hearty in spite Of Ms
81 years.