OCR Text |
Show THE SAUNA SUN. SAUNA. UTAH HAW LABOR I News Notes f J It a a Privilege to Live Utah A WATSON-PARKE- measure fix. R ING WAGES UNDER DISPUTE IN OPERATION Old Board Dissolved and Set of Medk ators Will Be Named By Presi- dent; Coolidge Signs The Bill ? f AirfwwrejBS IndianY Pattle to be Observed This r VVf fr ktj' Ypp Tear S ?J r By ELMO SCOTT WATS.ON HIS your murk the fiftieth an- niversnry of the host known, most talked-ubou- t und most Indian buttle in nil American history. Ollieiidly It Is known ns the Buttle of the Little lilt; Horn river, Montana, but the picturesque figure of (ien. George Armstrong Uumer, whose dusking career as n cavalry lender In t lie Civil war nml ns a successful Indian fielder on the western plains, has so caught the popular fancy nml so dominates lids enguge-men- t tiint it probably will never be known by any other name than Custer's Last Fight, or Custers Last Rally or more commonly (albeit Inaccurately) the Custer Massncte. Mans for the celebration of this Jainous engagement are under t he direction of the National Custer Memorial association, organized last year In Montana but including In Its membership a score of persons nationally known who are prominent In the work, of patriotic societies and perpetuation of historical spots. One of them Is Gen. H. S. Godfrey, U. S. A., retired, who was a lieutenant In Custers regiment, the Seventh cavalry, on that fateful day fifty years ago. The program calls for participation In the celebration by the present personnel of the Seventh cavalry, now stationed at Fort I.liss, Texas, and Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, the sons and grandsons of the savage warriors who overwhelmed Custers men on the Little Iilg Horn. The United States government is $.',0,000 having been appropriated by congress recently for the transportation of the troops to and the celebration. Congress has also passed a hill authorizing the secretary of the interior to acquire a tract of land of 100 acres on the site of the tight between the Indians and the detachments by Major lieno and Captain Itenteen, which was a part of the Custer battle, and to erect on it a suitable monument and historical tablet, the dedication of which will be a part of the celebration. I.ut the most interesting part of it all will he the mareh of the Seventh under Colonel Lee from the mouth of the Rosebud river, beginning at noon on June 22 and following the route taken by Custer and bis doomed men. They will arrive on the Custer battlefield, the property of the federal government upon which a monument was erected many years ago, on the morning of June 25. There they will he met by the Indians and a formal ceremony symbolical of the "burying of the hatchet" between red men and white will take place. Thus, in a celebration which Is attracting n-wide attention, will be reculled a tragedy which shocked the entire nation a half century ago, echoes of which have been heard every year of the fifty that have Intervened since Americas "Six Hundred rode into their "Valley of Death" The story of this battle Is so that It needs no repetition here. It has been told and retold so often that there seems to be little that Is new to tell again. Over It has raged many a bitter controversy and around It has sprung up a great mass of tradition, myth, misinformation and sheer bunk. Fortunately, however. It has had Its historians who have worked Industriously to debunk" the story of the Custer battle and. although there still are many details over which there is, and always will be, a chance for disagreement, In the main certain facts which have been oftenest distorted have been established In their true light. First of all, the Custer battle was not the "Custer Massacre, as it Is so often called. Custer attacked the Indians and fought desperately until he and all of the 212 men In the five companies of the Seventh which 'accompanied him were killed. Hut there was no ambush, no slaughter of unarmed men, none of the other factors which would Justify calling this battle a massacre. One of the points over which there has been the most acrimonious debate Is whether or not Custer disobeyed the orders of his superior officer, Gen. A. II. Terry, and by his disohedien.ee' brought disaster upon himself. In many respects tills dispute resolves itself Into an academic affair to which there can be no solution without a strict limitation. Interpretation and definition of the terms used in the debate. Opinion on this matter Is about equally divided. General Godfrey Is the most eminent among those who believe that the disaster did not result from disobedience of orders and the general Is probably as well qualified as anyone In the world to make a positive statement In this regard. gen-erall- y semi-centenni- Next to the matter of responsibility for the disaster is the question of whether or not there were any survivors of the Custer battle. The center of the controversy over this point for many years was the Crow Indian scout, Curley, whose claim to tlie title of survivor" depends entirely upon an interpretation of wlmt that term means. Curley was with Custer after the general had sepiiraUd his. command and was with him when he first came Into contact with the Indians. Just when lie left Custer at the order of the commander, by the. way Is not known 'definitely, but It has been pretty. well established that lie was not with' him when Custer made his last stand on the barren hillside over which the red .wave of struetion swept. to blot out five companies of the Seventh. The only genuine "survivor" of that last desperate struggle was not a human being, hut ,a horse, Comanche, the elaybank sorrel charger ridden by (apt. Myles Keogh of I Troop of the Seventh. Comanche was found after the battle, wounded In seven places but with tender care his life was saved and lie lived to an honored old ff-o- d natio- well-know- ' age. Despite Indisputable evidence that tiiere was only one real survivor, a horse, and one human being wlm had a faint claim to being a survivor Curley, the Crow during the last linlf century there have coine to light Innumerable "sur- vivors" whose claims have been easily exploded by competent authorities but who have succeeded in deceiving many persons not familiar with ttie Custer buttle. In the same manner Innumerable "Custer scouts" have gained wide publicity. They boh tip at such regular intervals that the headline "Last of Custer Scouts Dies" has become a commonplace. Evidently every pucker, wagoner or other civilian employee of the army, who ever hud any remote connection with Custers regiment, some time before lie dies gets t he idea or tils friends get It for him that he was a Custer scout" and either living or dying he enjoys a brief moment of fame. If all of the men who have claimed to be "survivors" or "Custer scouts" had been with Custer on the Little Dig Horn on June 25, 1870, it Is difficult to see how ten times the number of Indians who were there would have been able to have wiped out Custers command I One of the favorite pieces of fiction about the Little Hig Horn battle is that the Indians were led by Sitting Hull and that personally killed Custer. While It has never been definitely established Just how prominent a part Sitting Hull had in the battle (some authorities say thnt he was not even in the fight) it has been fully proved that the leaders who were principally responsible for maneuvers of the Indians on that day were Chief Gall of the Hunkpapa Sioux, Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux and Chief Two Moons of the Cheyennes. As to claim to distinction It is true that there wns a feud between him and Toni Custer, brother of the general, and that he had threatened to cut out Tom Custers heart. It Is also true that Tom Custer's body was found after the battle Is thus mutilated and. although accused of having done this, In t he closing years of his life he denied It. His denial was made to a man of his own race. Dr. Charles A. Eastman, and under all the circumstances It Is reasonable to believe that lie told Doctor Eastman the truth. Within the last year there has been much dispute over the arms which Custer and his men curried Into the battle. Many artists who have drawn pictures of th? Custer battle have shown the soldiers using swords, when ns a matter of fact there was not a saber in the entire command. The men of the Seventh were armed only with ancient single shot Springfield carbines and Colt revolvers and it was partly because of these single shot carbines that Custer's command perished. Another favorite piece of misinformation lay e ' f i e " J AW Z. J, I 'Vi , y $ Washington. The Watson-Parke- r bill for settlement of railway labor disputes was signed Friday by President Coolidge, who said in a statement that although he would have preferred a more definite declaration for the possible protection of the public, he believed there was involved an issue of first public importance, that of encouraging an industry to adjust relations between employer and employee without the intervention of the government. With presidential approval of the act, the railroad labor board, in existence for six years, was abolished and a new system provided for by the establishment of conference groups and 4 n counter-charge- 1 und siege. A reunion of the survivors of the battle was tenth anniversary of held on the field In 1880,-thtlie.fl.ch.t, and at that time Chief Gajl of the Sioux and Chief Two Moons of the Cheyennes went over the field with officers of the Seventh and described the battle In detail as they remembered It. Gall Is long since dead, as are all the other Indian leaders on that fateful day. But their spirits may be there this June, not so much to rejoice again over one of the greatest victories the Indians ever won over the whites, as to rejoice when the hatchet-burying- " ceremony signalizes a final and lasting peace between red men and white. 2 Ogden. The eighth annual Utah Department convention of the Americaa Legion will be held August 23, 24, and 25, it was announced Monday by Department Commander Arthur Woolley. The convention will be held in Cedar City. hundred Heber City. Twenty-fivhead of dairy cattle have been tested for tuberculosis in Wasatch county during the past two weeks. Of this head were found number fifty-threto be afflicted with the disease. e adjustment boards within the industry and the creation of a board of mediation, whose five members are to be appointed by the president. If the board by conciliation fails to effect a settlement of a dispute, provision is made for arbitration, or, as a last step, for the appointment of an emergency board by the president to investigate and report on the facts involved for the information of the public. The members of the mediation board are expected to be named In time for the senate to confirm them at the present session. The new adjustment plan, which was described by the president as prowithin the viding for had been in labor matters, Industry urged by a majority of the members of the Association of Railway Executives and by the twenty standard railway labor unions, including the four brotherhoods, while opposition was expressed by a minority group of railroads in the association, by the American Farm Bureau federation and other groups. Hailed by the railroads and uaions dgrr. favoring it as a treaty of peace, it was criticised by opponents as not suffiJi.czrdZR. ciently protecting the public interest. (All photographs copyright by D. F. liarrj.) The president referred to this point in part of the responsibility for the disaster upon his statement. the "cowardice" of Major lteno In net wing to the Blow Aimed At Land Surveys support of Custer. E. A. Brlnlnstool, a historian who has made a special study of this campaign Washington. Representative Cram-toand who has brought to light many Important of Michigan is anxious that confacts about It, has definitely disproved this Impu- gress pass a bill before adjournment tation of cowardice on the part of Major Reno repealing the status under, which and has done much to show that the man who for stateb may advance .money to pay the so long was "the goat" in this unfortunate affair cost of public land surveys. This step, In reality was something of a hero. if taken, might materially slow down It hus remained for lrof. O. G. Libby of the de- surveys in Utah and possibly in other partment of history at the University of North states where the government has been Dakota to remove the stigma from the names of particularly backward in surveying its. other brave men connected with tlie Custer bat- own lands. Mr. Cramton has written tle. In udditlon to the Crow scouts who accom- a letter to the public lands committee, panied the Custer expedition there were also a of which he is not a member, urging number of Arlkara or Ree Indian scouts. The the committee to repeal the survey manner of referring to their part In the batte by bill. Unless this law is repealed, it most historians Is to say "the cowardly Rees fled is feared he may delay appropriations at the first fire." Professor Libbys Investigation for public land surveys next session. among the surviving members of this group of Colton of Utah, when Representative scouts, published by the North Dakota Historical he was not going said interrogated, society under the title of "The Arlkara Narrative," to support legislation repealing the shows conclusively that the term "cowardly Rees" survey law. Utah, he said, had adIs utterly unfair and untruthful. When the Arlkto the federal governara scouts "fled, they dtJ s.o expressly upon the vanced $100,000 ment cost of surveying pubto the pay orders of General Custer who told them that they were to guide him to the Indian village but were lic lands within its borders because the government itself was so slow getto take no part In the fighting. around to it, and $90,000 of that But for all the disputes, controversies, charges ting amount has been refunded to the s connected with this battle and and the remaining $10,000 soon state, to make It unique among Indian fights and for will be paid. But unless some such all that the general features of its story are well means' as is open, and the state this Is much that Is known to most Americans, there loan its funds to expediate surran and which and has inspiring thrilling Interesting never yet become widely known. There. Is the veys, Mr. Colton fears it will be many before surveys of government story of the narrow escape from death of Lieut. years lands in Utah are completed. Thomas ONeill, Charles C. De Rudlo, Sergt. and Fred Jackson Interpreter Scout Billy Girard, Views Differ At Rail Rate Hearing who became separated from Renos detachment after numerous and, first the fighting days during Washington. Sharply conflicting narrow escapes from death, managed to rejoin views of the railroad situation In the their command while It was beleaguered on the west and northwest were presented hills to which Reno was forced to retreat. to the interstate commerce commisthe story of the brave men In Renos sion in oral argument over the proThere command who In the face of persistent Indian fire posal to increase freight rates by S risked their lives to creep down to the river to per cent. As against arguments by get water for wounded and dying comrades. They counsel for the carriers and by a repreceived congressional medals of honor for their resentative of security holders of the deeds, It is true, but they are almost unknown ex- northwest, that the commisurging cept to a few historians of the Custer battle and It sion come to the relief of the roads, on emblazoned new the Is to be hoped that high western . state authorities, through They were the memorial will be their names. John E. Benton, general solicitor of : Nell Bancroft, Abram J. Brant, Thomas following the National Association of Railroad J. Cellar., Frederick Deetllne, Theodore W. Gold- and Utilities Commissions, describing M. William IV. D. Rufus Harris, Harris, in, David the carriers conditions as prosperous Hutchinson, James Pym, Stanislaus Roy, George "The Burlington, after paying an 81 Scott, Thomas W. Stevens, Frank Tolan, Peter per cent dividend in 1921, increasing H. II. Charles Welch, George Geiger, Thompson, Its capital stock 54 per cent, still OtB. Charles and Wlndolph Mechling, Henry W. to Volt Along with their names should be those pays 10 per cent upon the increased of Sergt. Richard P. Hanley, Sergt. Benjamin C. stock and received 14 per cent. The Criswell, Sergt. Thomas Murray, Corp. Charles Santa Fe has increased its dividends 7 per cent and earns 15 per cent. Cunningham and Private Henry Holden, all of to whom were awarded similar medals for various Since. 1920 it has increased its suracts of gallantry during the two days of the battle plus $100,000,000. iW-- A rO V - in Early Spraying Harmful To Bees Washington. Sprays used in orchards about blossom time to kill harmful insects, government experts have found, are fatal to many of the busy bees. The agriculture department recommends spraying after most of the blossoms have fallen. Such a course in just as effective against the harmful insects. It explains, without risk to the bees, which by carrying pollen from one blossom to another, are great aid to the orchardisL e Salt Lake City. An article detailing the Victory highway motor caravan, which will travel from San Francisco to Salt Lake June 9 to June 12, a feature of the May 12 Issue of San Francisco Business, house organ of tha San Francisco chamber of commerce. Myton. According to reports given out in Myton, the rights of way for the unit of the federal aid road have been obtained. It is expected that those who have tha matter in charge will advertise for bids within two weeks. It is reported that construction work will begin by Myton-Rooseve- July 1.; Salt Lake City. Roads through Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Duchesne and Uintah counties are in good condition generally, according to Ira R. Browning, chief engineer of the state road commission, who, with E. C. Knowlton, assistant chief engineer in charge trf"l!Ihintenance, returned recently from a road inspection tour of close to 1300 miles through the counties named. They were accompanied by Ijeuben Simpson of Price, engineer of road district No. 4, in which the counties visited lie., Myton. S. T. Taylor of Salt Lake City, manager of the Taylor ditch, which supplies water for the south Myton bench, expects to have water on the bench by the first of next week. t Myton. According to reports given in by those who are in a position to know, the season this year is at legst two weeks ahead of former years. Some of the ranchers are beginning to irrigate. So far the outlook is most promising in this part of the Uintah basin. The orchards came through the winter in good condition, and the prospects are splendid for a good crop. Salt Lake City. Requests that the matter of developing the Navajo lakd as a reservoir for irrigation purposes be taken up with the Utah Water Storage commission was made of George M. Bacon, state engineer, by a delegation of Cedar City argicultural interests, while he was in the southern part of tlie state early this wreek. Mr. Bacon announced upon his return. Brigham City. Prospects for a heavy crop off ruit in Brigham City this year are very favorable. There will be a full crop of Windsor cherries, according to leading fruit growers, but the early varieties, such as the Lambert, Orb, Napoleon and Bing will be lighter, the buds having been slightly nipped by the frosts. Saft Lake City. The acreage of commercial onions in Utah for 1926 is estimated at 750 acres in the spring onion forcast given .out.. Friday .by Frank Andrews, state agricultural statistician. This is 250 acres in excess of the revised total of 500 acres for the crop harvested last fall and approximately 250 acres less than the forecasts of Salt Lake seed dealers who were basing their estimates on the volume of onion seed taken by Davis county farmers, the leading onion producers of the state. Salt Lake City. Utah woolgrowers are now shipping their wool east through the recently organized Utah Wool Marketing association, it is announced by J. A. Hooper, secretary. A number who have not . been disposed to accept the price offered in Utah have shipped their wool through the association which has also' financed the enterprise. Washington. While the school land bill Is held up pending negotiations between congress and the interior department, a flood of protests against passage of the Sinnott or the Jones bill is coming into the department, principally from oil permittee's- and operators, and prospectors and miners. Particularly those- operating in Utah - and Nevada. Eureka Mines of the Tintic district shipped 167 carloads of ore during the week that just ended. Following are the mines and their Tintic Standard, (in carloal jots.): 55; Chief Consolidated, 32; American Smelting and Refining (dump ore), ?6; shb-ment- Bingham Mines, 19; Mammoth, 14; 10; Iron King, 8; Colorado, Yankee. 1. riutus, Vernal. The Cedarview Irrigation company, composed of ranchers of the northeastern section of Duchesne county is building a large dam across an arroyo on the John Starr fiat located ten miles north of Cedarview. When completed this dam will impound in a reservoir storage water sufficient to irrigate 3000 acres of good agricultural land, part of which has been under cultivation for years. Owing to the lack of moistur however the crops raised did not yield good harvest. |