Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-27

Nearly GA years have elapsed
since Andrew ]. Fisk, Associated
Press correspondent in the little
frontier town of Helena, first
flashed to the world, news Of Gen.
George A. Clusters crushing defeat
at the battle Of the Little Big
Horn.
Yet today Fisk's SCOOP" stands
among the greatest newspaper beats
In modern journalism. And, by a
strange coincidence, the nation,
through Fisks pen, first heard of the
tragedy 100 years to the day after the
signing Of the Declaration Of indie
pendence.
Montana Published First
Historians differ as to the paper
which first published the story Of Gus
ter'S battle. Some credit the Helena
Herald others the BOzeman Times,
although all now agree they both
printed the news before the appear
ance. shortly after midnight OF July s.,
of an extra of the Bismarck, IN. d.
Tribune. The Tribune sold for IS cents
and carried the story of the fight and
a list of the casualties.
Twelve days passed from the time
General Custer, in command Of the
Seventh cavalry, left old Fort Lincoln,
near Bismarck, in search of the village
of hostile Sioux, until word of his last
stand reached Fisk and the outside
world. Nine days sped by from the date
of the battle before the word was
broadcast through the medium Of the
press. A longer time would have elapsed
but for the grit of Horace Country
man, a Yellowstone rancher. Indian
fighter and scout, who rode 100 miles
with but one change of horses to reach
Helena about noon on July 4
Tells Story to Fisk
Countryman learned the story from
"Muggins" Taylor, a scout from the
Little Big Horn battlefield who, half
dead from exhaustion, reached Coun-
trynan's ranch house at Saltwater.
C q t- volunteered to carry the
news to Bozeman and rush it to Wash
ington over the government wire. He
arrived there only to find the wlre
down There was nothing TO 90 Dut
continue the grueling race 70 Helena
Helena was celebrating Independence
day. Fisk, ever alert for news, had
strolled down town. Later, sitting In
his office, he was startled by tne ap-
pearance Of a dust-covered rider VINO
ssnIrred his faded horse down the
street, tlmbled from the saddle and
staggered into the building. 1t was
Horace CountTyman.
THE exhausted courier gasped out
the story of Clusters last stand. BY
the time he had concluded, Fisk had
written the thrilling recital In long
hand. The story from his pen, quoGlng
then went out 10 Inc
Associated Press.
Associated Press Story
The story Of Clusters last stand; as
told by Horace Country1aasn nlp ne, uayo
later and first dispatched by FISK 10
The Associated Press, follows
General Custer found the Indian
Camp of about 1000 lodges on the Llttie
BiQ Horn and Immediately attacked
hem Custer took five companies ana
CHARGED the thickest portion OF the !
Camp. The Indians poured murder
GUS fire from all directions, while tne
yreater portion fought on HORSEBACK.
Custer. his two brothers. neplsw
and brother-in-law were killed. MOI
me of the detachment escaped. TWO
hundred and seven men are buried IN
me grave and the dead are roughly
,stimated at 300
Fought Like Tigers
THE Indians surrounded Keno
and held them one day IN
he hills. cut off from water, until
Gibbons column came In sight, when
hey broke camp in the night ana
led. The Seventh fought like tigers
nd were only overcome by the large
orce Of Indians, whose loss cannot be
stimated as they took off and cached
most Of their dead.
"The remainder of the Seventh
avalry and Gibbons command are re-
lrning 10 the mouth Of the Little Big
Torn where a steamboat lies. The In
ians got all the arms of the dead
Oldiers. The whole of Clusters forces
led at the head OF their column |
lilies long and was 20 miles up the
little Big Horn from its source. The
ndians actually pulled the men of ]
leir horses in some instances. / give
lis as Taylor told me as he was over t
ne field after the fight"