The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-12-06

E-A~1rEH WI NiiHleiu iiUIi lHUSl ifeIly anu
parHP MI denied herself when his need of her
sann Az was sorest. When. desperately pur-
hOnn1dXH suing, he died on the heights above
(IIIlIItIIET the Little Big Horn Glory, the per-
GaQJp. verse. relented and gave eternal
brilllance to his name"
30 begins chHpter one of new "now-it -can-
De-told Observation-Disclosures r. Van De Waters
dinry Hunter published recently by the Robhs-
Merrill company. The GLORY Hunter was
George Armstrong Custer Lieutenant Colonel
7th United States Cavalry. Brevet Maior-GeneraL
United States Army, the Boy General with the
Golden Locks, the Murat of the American
Army the good sword, the hero. the martyr"
Around his name has ragged endless contro-
versy. for he was the kind of man who seems
to have been capable of inspiring either the bit
terest hatred or the blindest loyalty. Chief among
the exemplars Of the Inter was OF course. his
wife, who was to devote the rest of her life to
adornment of her husbands memory" Long be-
fore his tragic death in 1876 there were those
who had reason to hate him but chose to hold
their tongues. After that event there were whIs-
pers OF suspicion but little Ii any, full-Yoced
denunclaton
Elizabeth Bacons ffty-odd years of gIorifica-
fon have enshrned her husband In the folk lore
OF America. She proclaimed him hero and since
she was his widow. men who thought otherwise
held their peace Last spring she died, us did
Cen f. 8. Godfrey. another staunch defender OF
Clusters name. Therefore .now-it- ca n be toldr
biography can appear without giving palm to
these two honored devotees to partly true
legend
Ii, Indeed, as the poet tells ns, the child Is
father to the man. then several Incidents In the
childhood of the boy who was born In New rum
ley. Harrison county. Ohio. just 95 years ago
fItpppf1tpp asrftpv f@a,, 4tsn
he was to become When war with Mexico
threatened, his father Emanuel Custer, Joined the
New Kumley lnvincIbes' militia company,
and provided his little son. "Autie" with min
iature replica Of his uniform. One day the young
ster amazed his father by hitting his arm In imi-
tatoD OF an older haf-brother who had been
speaking piece" at school and declalming In
his boy@h treble My voice is for warl" For the
next 30 years "Autie" Clusters voice was to be
raised for war-to be heard In wild shrill
whuoping In the forefront OF hundred cavalry
charges"
The Clusters staunch Jacksonlan Demo-
Gratis even though their community was predom-
inantly Wing. One day Emanuel Custer took his
folr-year-old son to the doctor To have tooth
pulled. AS they left the office, the boy gave q
bloody grin and aprnpos of nothing exclaimed
Father, you and me can lick all the Whlgs
- ohiV. III infp lite lell TIE same WHY ABOUT
the Sioux In Montana and he died because OF
that belief.
When he was four years old a new brother
arrived In the Custer honle-Nevln j.. who is
worthy Of mention If for no other reason than
that he was so different from the rest He lived
and died In peace, farmer, Thomas W. Custer
on the scene In 1S45 Boston Custer In
lS48 and Margaret Emma Custer In 1852 They
Tom Custer. became the first hero
worshlpers to send their older brother on his pur-
suit OF glory and they we're to share In the
tragic end OF his quest as was his haf-sister,
Lydia, who In l849 married David Reed of Mon
roe Mich When she went to the little pioneer
town on the shores OF Lake Michigan. she took
'Antie" with her. He lived there OF and ON for
the next six or seven years and there he met
The girl. Elizabeth Bacon whom he was to marry
10 years later
Returning to New Rumley again. Custer took
he first step In his glory-seekng career. Despite
his fathers strong Democratic principles and
dsapproval Of his sons actions Gus
er was not averse to asking q Republican con-
sressmaa to get him an appointment to the
United States Military academy at West Point
Unsuccessful at first, Custer was 80 importunate
hat finally John A. Bingham the congressman,
ave 4f1to him and on June 3. 1857, he entered
Vest Point There he was ~ defiant insubordI-
ate cadet, forever In trouble and as constantly
n the verge Of more. :. The impartial voice
+ the Academy records portrays George Arm
trong Custer as sloyeny soldier and deplor-
BILE student The approaching crisis OF the Civil
var resulted In the academys nve-year course
eing compressed Into four and two classes were
raduated In 188l-one In April and another I'm
une Custer was In the latter group. his stand
1g being thlrty-fonrfh In class OF thirty-fnnr
Two years OF campaigning would turn West
oint's Indifferent soven into a soldier writes
an DE Water. III would not change his sub
tance Battle that reconstructed others sober.
* and deepening their spirits would only sarn-
n George Armstrong Custer. He would become
keen weapon, terrible to the enemy. difficult
" weak superior to WELD yet lntrnsicay he
onld remain the raucons and reckless yorrnggfer
ho Ind defed his parents to clasp the hand OF