St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 51

7 f. i iR i i D) i a mmmrwmfimsm KILLED CUSTER Says He Struck Last Stand Yellow Nose, an Oklahoma Ute, Officer on Head With Sater at lesmen Big Horn Battle Little Wko Were Figkt Yellow Nose lingered until it was unsafe for him attempt the journey home, as small bands of Indians were in as great danger of their lives as were white men. if caught traveling through the country. About the middle of June ward found refuge. Yellow and Still Live Declare Nof the war parties began bringing in remits of the and his companion AflJgMM- StmfK 'ffiv I war parties began bringing in of the and his compauior Tkis Man a Famous General wtf presence of troops in the Tongue River country, were delaxtd in rally-snd Yellow Note went several times with scout- ing to the alarm, owing to the absence of their ponies olaver vjives urapnic ki, of tke escription kfc a a hith had bee.

driven away to gaze. By the time they rot their they distoveied another body of troops eastward across the river. The Cheyennes divided, some going io resist Reno, while others, including Yellow Nose, crossed the Little Big Horn where a small stream or gulch ouehed from the east. ana the river, the iiidinns saw advancing toward them along tne crest of the divide that lan beck from the Liitie Big Horn. lellow Nose crersfil after the retreat from tne first stand, each soldier took possession of his own horse, poatibly to be the better able to escape if the Nose declared that this merely hastened tne disaster tnat followed.

The neld horses grew wild with fright and their rearing and plunging 3 Climbing to a formed by this gulch battle went against them. ArSSSS L'yV 1 1 I Climbing to a p-, omor.tory formed by this gulcn battle went against them. UO killed Gen. Gtorge A. Cttsster in the Battle of tue Little Big Horn, June 25, 187G? The belief firmly prevails among the old warriors of the Southern Cheyenne and Ara a ') tribes in Oklahoma that Custer was slain by Yellow Ncse, a Ute his allotment oa the North Canadian Rive-, from the the Indians and taken across the river.

were seen literally springing ground, K.fJ5, ill KJTSS? Ill The eallonin: ravalrvmen milled down to a trot. Yellow Nose had never seen Custer. He twice- fc I It Indian, now living cn The galloping cavalrymen pulled down to a trot. Yellow Nose had never seen Custer. He twice- was mounted on a tieet, wiry pony In advance made it impossible for the Foldiers to shoot with of his companions, whom the soldiers, evidently, steadiness and accuracy, many pu.ng lae trigger thought were few in numbers, as the ciosing while their guns pointed straight above them, was difficult that point.

The mistake of the muerless horses stampeded in every direction, soldiers became quicKly apparent when Indians leaving their dead behind, and were caught by The Indians grew intensely excited and set up encountered the man whose body was found their war whoops. Tie Ci.eyennes were not so the battle and identified by the Indians as that well aimed as the Sioux, wno carried quantities of Custer. Yellow had shot a trooper, and of ammunition fastened around their waists, ij accordance with Indian custom, was running chests and arms. forward to strike, the body with a stick, whicu The soldiers fired first from their horses, dis- in the Cheyenne language is called The mounting only after they saw that the Indians soldier called for help when he saw his enemy were not intimidated. The regimental band be- bearing down upon him, and several mounted CUTTER A VICTIM OF IMPETUOSITY i W.

IS I 'Pi 7 If iear the town of Geary, Olv. Tic Inlrans have believed this for 35 years. Yellow who is not a ter, merely says that he killed a man, an oflr er, no, other Indians said, was Yellow had ever s'Jen Cutter prior to the battle. This man, wl.c -t- tribesmen so resolutely declare he took Custer's life, is now about 65 years YELLOW NOSE. comrades rushed to his rescue.

One of these men fired at Yellow Nose at such" close range that his eyes and face are sfill speckled with the powder. The bullet missed iellow Nose, wounding his horse in the neck. Yellow Nose wn" playing, to the astonishment of the Indians-, but the music was soon lost in the noise of, bat-tig. and the musicians threw aside their instru-r ants for guns. The soldiers changed from a stand to a retreat GEOHGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER'S career was one of the most dashing In American warfare.

He was only 36 years old and held the rank of lieutenant-colonel In the regular army when he was killed, with every man in five companies of the Seventh cavalry, in the so-called Custer massacre. He was a native of New Rumley, Harrison County, Ohio, and went direct trom West Point in 18G1 to participate in the first battle of Bull Run. In June, 18C3, before he reached hi3 24th birthday, he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers Oct. 10, 18G4, for meritorious service.

At the head of a division of Michigan volunteer cavalry he distinguished himself at Gettysburg. As a division commander in Sheridan's cavalry corps he won distinction at the battle of Cedar Creek (Winchester), and the end of the war found him leading a cavalry command In Grant's operations around Richmond. In 18CC President Juarez of Mexico offered Custer command of the cavalry which he was organizing to drive the Emperor Maximilian out of that country, but the Government refused him leave of absence. Custer passed the rest of his life In fighting Indians. His impetuosity, always a leading characteristic of the man, led him into the fight which caused his death and the total destruction of his immediate command.

HearrlveJ one day in advance of Gen. Terry's forces at the Little Big Horn, and Instead of waiting for Terry he attacked at once. The Indians outnumbered him ten to one. I 3 3 Mrs. Elizabeth Bacon Custer, widow of th general, is a well-known author.

She has written several books dealing with Indian fight'ng. I parties to obeive the soldiers. Finally the Indirns gave cn the Rosebud, and then retired in the direction of the Little Big Horn, Yellow Nose moving with them. A report spiead among the Indians that troops advancing with Sboshcne scouts, and nas-uiach as Cen. Ciook had retired to the the Indians expected the advance from that direction.

To their utter surprise, the troops csnie from the east, under command of Cute There was urh bitterness agairst Custer anions the Indians, because of his alleged of the Blac Kettle village of Southern Cheyennes on the Washita River, in Indian Te: rito now Oklahoma. The villages of the different tiibcs stretched for several miles along the west side of the valley of the Little Big Horn. Yellow Nose went from village to village on the night of June 24, to see the dancing. Strict orders had been given by the war chiefs, forbidding the firing of guns in camp, as the near approach of troops was to be made known by two mounted warriors who were to ride at full speed and fire two shots as they passed each village. and well-preserved, save that he has been lind for many years, from a blow acioss the ixvehead in the Little Big Horn fight, which eventually destroyed his eyes-ight.

His body is scarred with many wounds received in battle, lie will open his shirt ana point to a ha dened spot cn his chest where a bullet tore thiough him wren McKenz'e's men ave battle in Powder Kiver Ca: yon. Yello.v Nose was peering over an embani ment, not suspecting that danger was near at band, when he was shot frc'n smbush. When Yellow Noe was 4 years he was raptured from his people by the Northern Cheyennes, one cf whose women he mariied. He was a scout under Cen. Lawton at Fort Kobinson, and later was given similar employment at Fort Reno.

In the plains country he met the French-Cheyenne scout, Edward Guerrier, and their friendship biought Yellow Nose to Oklahoma in the early TOs. There was a constant passing to and fro of the northern and southern Indians in those days. Yellow Nose tells a circumstantial story which old warriors in Oklahoma support with their own testimony as evidence that he was the man that killed Custer. A number of Southern Chev- him wcu'd be a feat of more than ordinary prow- fringe of which were red, bead-like berries, which Ncse was armed only with an old frontiersmen Ufed for that purpose. The body cavalry saber, having lost his gun.

This saber was stripped of the coat and trousers. The In-had belonged to a boyhood friend, a Shoshone, dhirs said that this man was Custer, at whose death his mother had given the saber to It would be Impossible to convince many old Yellow Nose. The battle had gone against the warriors now living in Oklahoma, but who wen soldiers so heavily at this point that the officer in the battle of the Littl Big Horn, that Yellow stood finally alone. With his saber drawn. Yel-.

Nose did not give Custer his mortal blow, low Nose rode headlong upon his enemy, pre- So-Called Penknife Is The battle was on Sunday, a warm, bright dav. No Longer a Penknife epnea from Oklahoma were visiting the Northern Furthest down the river was the camp of the pa-ed to cut him down at a stroke. Already wounded, and trembling with fright. Yellow Nose's pony bolted whin the officer fired at close range with a small pistol, but missed both man and horse. Getting his pony In hand again.

Yellow Nose charged a second and asain the officer fired, and the pony sprang aside v'ERYBODY known that a penknife In Cheyennes at the time of the battle, and took Northern Cheyennes. where stood the lodge of in the engagement. They brought numerous the great war chief. Crazy Horse. About noon no longer a penknife.

In the days of the squeaky quill icn, before the Intro 1 fJI. UUIIl Uie UHlUeneiaS to UXianOma. ie Wnrco Vollnw Vn nl oth.r lnrt onc duction of steel pen the penknife ns and beyond him. Determined to get within strik- i i a GENERAL CUSTER IN THE FIELD. COLTOtl CUSTER AT EXTREME LEFT.

neighborhood of Cantonment. may still be in the river bathing, when the firing of gu.s was found guns taken from the dead troopers of the heard I the river. Reno and his men had Seventh Cavalry. For a number of year? George crossed the Little Big Horn and were charging ing distance. Yellow Nose gathered riimseil lor usea tor xne purpose ci trimming me qnin ana a third onslaught.

As he drew near, the pistol keeping it in good writing order. It was made as they were crowded upon by Increasing and struck a heavy glancing blow across his forehead was not frcd it was empty. He came squa-cly with a folding blade, so that It vould be carried the upper villages, only to be beaten bacK in con fusion end under such circumstances as came overwhelming numbeis. Yellow Nose said that with the guntight, blinding him for the moment upon the officer, who bent his knees as to around in tne pocisei, wnere it wouia oe easily they made three stands. It was the purpose of and filling his eyes with blood.

ward off the blow of the uplifted saber. Yellow found, whenever Reeded. tsect, a mixea-niooa cneyenne, who lives at Colony, owned Cutter's pocket compass, eiven to Bent by Bull Hand, a Worthern Cheyenne. Bent sold the compnss in 1879 to George Reynolds of the Indian t'adlng firm of Lee Reynolds, then at Camp Supply. Ok.

As the story runs among Oklahoma Indians, Custer and his near dishonoring Reno. Yellow Nose does not speak nor understand the English language. vhat he said in recounting his experiences was translated by his friend. the Indians to get In tne rear of the troops and This same man who had fired at turn was next Nose struct him with terrific violence on tr.e i r.e wora pocKetnanckercniei- nas a curious gain the cover of the east slope of the ridge, soen by Yellc- Nose at a small mound on the bac of ti head and the man sank to the groun-i history. The syllable "ker" Is short for the This the soldiers bravely resisted, and in their ridge and on foot, with about 30 men gathered in a heap French "couvrir." to cover, and "chief" Is noth- fury 'to dislodge the troops the Indians precipi- round him.

He was bareheaded, and armed only When questioned closely. Yellow Nose said that ing else but "chef." the head. Kerchiefs were tatelv exposed themselves to a galling fire in the with a pistol. As the Indians bore down upon this man fayed no fear, but that he remem- used also for the neck, and that made then Edward Guerrier. the old scout.

Here he nlunged men were first decoyed to the locality broten by lpto the detail of his narrative. Yellow Nose was ravines, by Long Sioux and a companion. Long confident that the Sioux would have destroyed mu-n it wr not until the close of tne fight that this grouc a number of the soldiers apparently bered seeing tears In his eyes. He was unable neckerchiefs. Flnslly, when they became what Sioux lives near Cantonment.

Reno had they not charged so quickly and so the soldiers were driven to the west slope of the st courage and ran to lower ground, close to When the grass began greeniug on the plains eagerly In defense of their women and children. to tell ti extent of tht wound, as he, rode on- they now are, and were carried In the hand, they wr-rd in pursuit of fugitives. Many dead soldiers expanded into handkerchiefs. Then when nock-were heaped around this mound, and this fact ts were invents and worn, in the time of d-ew crowds of curious Indians to that joint Queen Eliza' the term poekethandkcrch1f after Custer and all his men had been destro'-ed. ane into use.

The word "pocket" is nothing Yellow Nose saw the body of his adversary lying bist a form of the old Saxon word ridge, the base of the mound. The officer shou'ed loud-At first the soldiers knelt and took deliberate 1y to the men. and drew nearer to them when aim. each fourth man holding tne horses. "Some he found that they did not hear, or were un will-stood up and shot like this." gaid Yellow Nose, ing to obey him.

leaning far forward and clutching an imaginary The appearance of this man was so striding who thereby were given time to scramble onto ponies or flee on foot and escape Had the Sioux held back and let Reno come further down the river they could have surrounded him and cut him 'off fiom the hills In whicn ne after- In the spring of 1876. Yellow Nose started with his wife to visit her relatives in the North. Throughout the Sioux and Northern Cheyenne enntry there was great unrest among the Indians, and 1t was apparent that war was at hand. PAGE FOUR. gun.

As the confusion, perhaps despair, in- and gallant Ahat Yellow Nose decided that to kill in a depression, dressed in a buckskin suit, in the bag or pouch, combined with the diminutive SUNDAY MAGAZINE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH MARCH 10, 1912. 1 1 i ssassssaMHav4p it.