xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Please be advised that although there is no Copyright Mark in the Booklet that follows that as it was originally dedicated to the Stillwater Montana Historical Society it should rightly only be used for personal use and not for personal or private gain. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (COVER) HORACE COUNTRYMAN ........unsung hero by Jim Annin Dedicated to the Stillwater Historical Society Cost -- $1.00 (No Copyright Mark) PAGE 1 This rugged frontiersman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1824, but moved to Jonesville, Wisconsin in 1844 where he farmed and operated a gist mill. Eight years later he "Went West Young Man" and spent 12 years wrestling the gold rush around Marysville. In 1866 he back-tracked to Virginia City where he erected stamp mills for independent operators. Then his itchy feet took him to the Flathead country, White Pine and Helena, but in 1873 he established permanent at the Countryman Stage Station adjoining the Frank Quinn ranch of his son-in-law. When the N.P. railroad came through in 1882 he moved to Stiillwater, (now Columbus) and established the first Countryman Addition, where he built a hotel, and log homes for his sons, Darniel and Henry. He also had four daughters when he came west, Rosie, Margaret Quinn, Rebecca Reeves, Lizzy Woody. A granddaughter became Mrs. Dan Wood. He died in Columbus, age 64, on January 15, 1898, and was buried at his request beside his wife at Deer Lodge. Col. J.L. Allen summarizes his friendship and admiration of "Uncle" Horace, and cites his ability to succeed in his every endeavor: "In 1868 two brothers known as "Dutch" Gus and "Dutch" Pete built a road around the bluffs west of town. Countryman bought them out and established a toll station at 25c per trip. There was a natural ford near his ranch, but for high water he swung a cable with a suspended basket for two people, and got 50c per passenger for each passenger. When traffic got tougher in 1882 he built a catamaran type ferry across where the bridge is presently located. In 1893 he and Joe Kern built a toll bridge across the river. He was boss of the town. His hotel was recognized as one of the best eating places along the route, and a social center for dances and oyster suppers for fifty mile frontage of the Yellowstone, and occasionally a visitor from Coulson or Bozeman. One day the ferry brought in over $200. The nightly poker game was good for $50 to $75, and Horace didn't have to play for it--the hole in the table did the job as the sure winner. His meals were four bits but the beds came pretty high. But Countryman's generosity and kindness to the down-and-out penniless, but ambitious friends precluded his chances of being rich (except in experience). When "Uncle Billy" Hamilton, Henry I. Grant and Don Rosner appraised his estate at $5573.43 it included 400 items, but P.H. Hawkins, administrator salvaged $6152.59 for distribution to the heirs." PAGE 2 by Jim Amin Dear Jay: You will recall that about a year ago I suggested that I would write my findings of the part Horace Countryman played in getting the news of the Custer Massacre into the news media. My research began two years ago, where it occurred to me that in all the items I had read that name of Countryman was never mentioned. Because of personal acquaintance with some of the principals in this article I felt I could present an honest interpretation of the many dispatches that I have read covering this historical incident. I was eight years old when Mr. Countryman died, and had spoken to him many times, always in awe, because I looked upon him as a patriot and hero. From the time I was a schoolmate with the four granddaughters and eight grandsons enrolled at various times I often heard them proudly extol the heroics of "Granddad Horaceä. Col. Wm. J. Norton, a one-time partner of Countryman in the stage coach stop at Stillwater, (now Columbus) was a correspondent for the Bozeman Times and Helena Herald in 1876, and is credited with news items as noted later. He was a very fine friend of our family and especially important to me, as he knew the history of the country and contributed helpfully to The Columbus News, which I published. When he died in 1915 I assisted at his funeral, and later had access to his personal files, from which I got many items of historical value, among which was the press release printed in the San Diego Union. This was the only copy he had of this dispatch, as carried by Countryman. In 1921 I sadly wrote the obituary of Mrs. Norton whom he had married in 1876, in which I mentioned that, as kids, we had traded her sage hens, ducks and fish for her wonderful Welsh tidbits. Another incident which involved the Countryman ride was in the spring of 1903 when Col. Norton addressed the three upper grades at the Columbus school, including the eighth grade graduates, giving most of the details of the dispatch when he had written for the Helena Record. Three students of the group of listeners are still alive but have forgotten most of the contents of this historical escapade. In a historical and biographical edition of the History of Montana, published in 1885 appeared this notation in the Norton write-up "the first news of the Custer Massacre was sent by Mr. Norton to The Helena Herald." On June 25, 1876, the entire command of General Geo. Custer was annihilated by the combined tribes of Indians, mostly Sioux and Cheyenne, in a fierce, short-term battle on the Little Big Horn River in southeastern Montana. It was the greatest victory for the red men in the history of the Indian wars. Inasmuch as there were no survivors to tell about it, and only one Crow Indian, Curley, to see it, the details are minute. Various reports, assumed by speculation, are confusing and variable, and even to this day nobody actually, nor ever will, be certain as to the reasons and failure of the battle plan. Equally confusing were the reports of the Massacre as filed by the news media, and contradictory claims as to the source and timing of such releases. My purpose in compiling this article is two-fold: 1. To prove that the first news to reach the press was written by a news correspondent living in what is now my home town; and proudly boasting that I knew both of the men involved in compiling and delivering the account of the Custer Massacre. 2. To make people cognizant of the heroic service and character of "Muggins" Taylor, and the endurance and tragic message into the hands of startled readers all over the world. While not as important as the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, nevertheless, it might well be written as an exciting event in American History. PAGE 3 A correspondent of the Helena (Montana) Herald, writing from Stillwater, MT. June 22 said: Last evening John Williamson, the mail carrier from Gibbons Command, accompanied by three soldiers, arrived at this place with correspondent that he had just returned from Terry' column where he had been sent with dispatches by Gibbon, appraising that officer of the location of the Sioux camp. He met the command on Powder River. This was also a Norton release, so the reporter was aware of the condition prior to the Massacre. In briefly reviewing the activities of both the Terry and Gibbon commands, one learns that they both took their time going from Fort Ellis to the mouth of the Big Horn, where Terry's cavalry was moved across the Yellowstone River on the Far West on the afternoon of June 25, and went into camp at Teluca Park. General Gibbons had camped at Stillwater for two nights during which he had gone to the newly established Crow Agency on Butcher Creek, where he recruited 25 Crow Scouts. Long after dark on the night of June 25, three of these scouts reported that they had been on the Custer Battlefield, and reported that there not a sign of any living --every soldier apparently had been killed, and many mutilated. This was the first word of the tragedy to reach the Army officers. Aghast at this news General Terry awaited daylight, then moved his cavalry to a camp some three miles above the mouth of the Little Horn, after first appraising General Gibbon of his findings, and ordering the Far West to move to the mouth of the little Horn. The following is a capsule summary of my research: On the evening of June 27, 1876, General Terry's command was camped in the valley of the little Horn River, south of present Crow Agency, after by-passing the scene of the Custer Massacre. From this point Terry had heard sufficient evidence of the catastrophe to write an official report to the military headquarters of General Sheridan, in Chicago, which he gave to H.M. "Muggins" Taylor, under seal, for delivery to the post Commander, Capt. D.T. Benham, at Fort Ellis, the nearest station where government telegraph lines were available. The messenger knew the route southwestward to the Bridger-Bozeman trail, across the Big Horn river, but shortly after leaving the camp, he was apprehended by indians, and had to go north to the confluence with the Little Horn, where the steamer, Far West was to be at anchor. He had to take refuge overnight atop a rock formation with three cliff walls, and only a small path leading to the top. At break of daylight he sneaked down the trail, caught and mounted his horse, just as a group of Sioux-Cheyenne warriors again came in fast pursuit, firing rifles and releasing arrows. Luckily he was not hit by any of the missiles, and was only a few rods ahead of his enemies when he reached the Far West and safety. He was on the steamer until the wounded from Major Reno's command had been loaded, and at the mouth of the Big Horn river, in the early morning of July 1st he headed west up the Yellowstone on the Bismarck to Bozeman stage route, with 229 miles to Fort Ellis. In the late evening of July 2 he reached the stage station near Stillwater, completely exhausted by the little Horn experience and the fact that he had co mpleted the first long step of his present mission. Col. W.H. Norton, who was part-owner with Horace Countryman, was the official reporter for the Helena Herald. After hearing Taylor's story of the tragedy, Col. Norton summarized a message as Taylor had told it, and Countryman agreed to take the release to Bozeman for transmittal via wire to the Herald. He also, later on that evening, PAGE 4 wrote a similar report to be taken to the Bozeman times by Taylor, who rode on the next morning to Fort Ellis, where he delivered the sealed report. He then went on to Bozeman where he was interviewed by E. S. Willinson, editor of the Bozeman Times, and his account was released in a special edition of the Times at 7:00 P.M. July 3, the first report of the massacre to appear in print. When Countryman reached the telegraph office in Bozeman he found that the wires were down and service impossible. He immediately took on some food, got a fresh horse, and without rest resumed his 100 mile journey to Helena. When he reached the office of the Helena Herald, he too, was a near physical wreck, but he did give the Norton news to Andrew Fiske, a correspondent, who got enough printers together to get out a special edition of the Herald in the afternoon of July 4. This same edition carried the Taylor dispatch from the Bozeman Times, both releases by Norton, and similar in content. That evening Manager Frederick of the Helena Associated Press sent the Countryman carried story to Salt Lake, where it was released in time for many eastern papers to get the news in their late editions on July 5. It was in general print all over the country on July 6. Also on July 4 The New Northwest of Deer Lodge carried the Bozeman Times release. The release from Helena apparently reached the General Headquarters in Chicago, because Congress got an unofficial report as they opened sessions July 6, and action on the situation was resolved. On July 2, aboard the Far West, General Terry wrote a confidential report to Generals Sheridan and Sherman. This dispatch was sent to Chicago (Fort Lincoln) entrusted to Capt. W. E. Smith, of Terry's staff, who was on the Far West. Capt. Marsh had the steamer on full blast and made the 710 miles at the high speed of thirteen miles per hour to Fort Abraham Lincoln at Bismarck, Dakota Territory, where Smith forwarded his report to General Sherman. The Bismarck Tribune put out a special edition at 11:30 A.M. July 6, over two days later than the Bozeman Times release, but, like the Taylor story, was not official. Smith's report was forwarded to General Sheridan, in Philadelphia at the time, but red tape prevented its official release and was not officially OKed by the War Department for release until July 9. The first Terry report, as carried by Muggins Taylor was in for trouble. When Captain T.D. Bonham, at Fort Ellis, had received it, he immediately went to the telegraph office and filed it. The next day, July 4, he went to check but the office was closed. On July 5 he was advised that the lines were down, so he had to send it by mail. On July 8 the letter reached Chicago and its contents officially released. This was the first official release by the Military. The following facts have been established: 1. The Bozeman Times was the first newspaper to print the news of the tragedy, which was done in a special edition at 7:00 P.M. July 3, 1876. This message was carried by Taylor. 2. In the early afternoon of July 4, The Helena Herald also came out with a special carrying the release dated at Stillwater on July 2. This release had been carried by Horace Countryman. The A. P. manager at Helena then forwarded the item to Salt Lake City, and from there was spread to the news media of America--the first to reach the nation. W.H. Norton prepared both the Countryman and Taylor releases, which were similar in content. PAGE 5 The Official Report from General Terry to the War Department: Headquarters Division of Dakota, Camp on Little Big Horn River, June 27 To Adjutant General of Military Division of Missouri, at Chicago, Illinois It is my painful duty to report that day before yesterday, the 25th instant., a great disaster overtook General Custer and the troops under his command. At 12 o'clock on the 22d he departed with his whole regiment and a strong detachment of scouts, and guards from the mouth of the Rosebud. Proceeding up that river about twenty miles, he struck a very heavy Indian trail, which had previously been discovered. Pursuing it, he found that it led, as it was supposed that it would, to the Little Big Horn River. There he found a village of almost unexampled extent, and at once attacked it with that portion of the forces which was immediately at hand. Major Reno, with three companies (A, G, and K of the regiment, was sent into the valley of the stream at a point where the trail struck it. General Custer, with five companies, (U, E, F, I and L) attempted to enter also three miles lower down. Reno forded the river and charged down the left bank, dismounted, and marched on foot, finally, overwhelmed by numbers, he was compelled to mount, recross the river, and seek shelter on the high bluffs which overlooked its right bank. Just as he recrossed, Captain Benton, who, with three companies (D, H, and K) who was some two miles on the left of Reno when the action commenced, but who had been ordered by General Custer to return came to the river and rightly concluding it was useless for his force to attempt to renew the fight in the valley, he joined Reno on the bluffs. Captain McDougal, with Company, was at first at some distance in the rear with a train of pack mules. He also came up to Reno. The united force was nearly surrounded by Indians, many of whom were armed with rifles, and occupied positions which commanded the ground held by the Cavalry, the ground >from which there was no escape. Rifle pits were dug, and the fight maintained its position, though with heavy loss, from about half past two on the 26th till six o'clock on the 26th, when the Indians withdrew >from the valley, taking with them their village. Of the movement of General Custer and the five companies under his immediate command, scarcely anything is known from those who witnessed them, for no officer or soldier who accompanied him has yet been found alive. His trail from the point where Reno crossed the stream, passes along and in the rear of the crest of the bluff on the right bank for nearly or quite three miles. It then comes down to the bank of the river, but at once diverged from it as though he had unsuccessfully attempted to cross. It then turns upon itself, almost completes a circle, and ceases. It is marked by the remains of his officers and men, and the bodies of his horses--some of them dropped along the path, others heaped where halts appear to have been made. There is abundant evidence that a gallant resistance was offered by the troops, but they were beset on all sides by overpowering numbers. (Unfortunately this message did not reach Chicago until July 8, 1876) {A copyrighted photograph from the Kathryn Wright files for use only in this publication] MUGGINS TAYLOR leaves Fort Pease with Custer massacre message. Painting by J. Kenneth Ralston, Billings, Mont., portrays Sgt. John M. Ryan standing back at left beside Pease' greyhound. Around Taylor's horse are from left, Col. John Gibbon, Lt. James H. Bradley, Gen. Alfred H. Terry. Steamer Far West at right and hospital tents in background. PAGE 6 Bozeman Times, Extra Bozeman, Montana July 3d, 1876 7 P.M. Mr. Taylor, bearer of dispatches from the Little Horn to Fort Ellis, arrived this evening and reports the following: The battle was fought on the 25th, thirty or forty miles below the Little Horn. Custer attacked the Indian village of from 2,500 to 4,000 warriors, on one side, and Col. Reno was to attack it on the other. Three companies were placed on a hill as a reserve. General Custer and fifteen officers and every man belonging to the five companies were killed. Reno retreated under protection of the reserve. The whole number killed was 315. General Gibbon joined Reno. The Indians left. The battle ground looked like a slauter (sic) pen, as it really was, being in a narrow ravine. The dead were very much mutilated. The situation now looks serious. Gen. Terry arrived at Gibbon's camp on a steamboat and crossed the command over and accompanied it to join Custer, who knew it was coming before the fight occurred. Lieut. Crittendon, Son of Gen. Crittenden (spelling as given) was among the killed. The Indians surrounded Reno's command, and held them one day in the hills cut off from water, until Gibbon's command came in sight, when they broke camp in the night and left. The Seventh fought like tigers and were overcome by mere brute force. The Indian loss cannot be estimated as they bore off and cached the most of their killed. The remnant of the 7th Cavalry, and Gibbon's command are returning to mouth of the Little Horn where the steamboat lies. The Indians got all the arms of the killed soldiers. P. S. There were seventeen commissioned officers killed, and the whole Custer family died at the head of their column. The exact loss is not known, as both the Adjutant and Sergeant Major were killed. The Indian camp was from three to four miles long and was 20 miles up the Little Horn from its mouth. The Indians actually pulled men off their horses; in some instances. I give this as Taylor told me, as he was over the field after the battle. Respectfully, W. H. Norton A Photograph of Horace Countryman's (Photograph) Old Log Hotel at Columbus, Wa. PAGE 7 Helena Herald July 4 P.M. Helena, Mont., July 4--A special correspondent of the Herald writes >from Stillwater, Montana, July 2, Muggins Taylor, a scout for General Gibbon, got here last night direct from Little Horn river. Gen. Custer found an Indian camp, consisting of about two thousand lodges, on the Little Horn, and immediately attacked the camp. Custer took five companies and charged the thickest portion of the camp. Nothing is known of the operations of this detachment, only as they trace it by the dead. Major Reno commanded the other seven companies, and attacked the lower portion of the camp. The Indians poured in a murderous fire from all directions; besides the greater portion fought on horseback. Custer, his two brothers, nephew and brother-in-law were all killed, and not one of his detachment escaped. 207 men were buried in one place and the lolled is estimated at 300, with only 81 wounded. The Indians surrounded Reno's command and held them one day in the hills cut off from water, until Gibbon's command and came in sight, when they broke camp in the night and left. The Seventh fought like tigers and were overcome by mere brute force. The Indian loss cannot be estimated, as they bore off and cashed most of their killed. The remnant of the Seventh Cavalry of Gibbons command are returning to the mouth of the Little Horn, where a steamboat lies. The Indians got all the arms of the killed soldiers. There were seventeen commissioned officers killed. The whole Custer family died at the head of their column. The exact loss is not known, as both adjutants and the sergeant-major were killed. The Indian camp was from three to four miles long, and was twenty miles up the Little Horn from its mouth. The Indians actually pulled men off their horses in some instances. I give this as Taylor told me, as he was over the field after the baffle. Respectfully submitted, Wm. H. Norton This was the message that was released to the news media, from the A.P. headquarters in Helena to Salt Lake City, and from there to the general news media. [Photograph] The homes of Henry Countryman & Danial Countryman. First House in Columbas Wa. 1885 Page 8 The Fares and Mileage from Helena to Mlles City via the Old Yellowstone Stage Lines Helena to Bozeman I 00 miles Helena to Station Fare Miles Bedford $3.50 30 Radersberg $5.00 40 Gallatin City (I st) $7.50 61 Central Park $10.00 80 Bozeman $12.00 100 Bozeman to Miles City 335 miles Hoppers $2.00 16 Benson's Landing $3.50 30 Shields River $4.00 33 Hunters Hot Springs $5.50 46 Gages $6.00 49 Big Timber $8.00 64 [Photograph] Col.William H. Norton Sweet Grass $9.50 74 Stillwater $12.00 100 Youngs Point $14.50 121 Canyon Station $17.00 141 Coulson $18.00 149 Huntley $19.50 159 Pompey's Pillar $25.50 214 Terry's landing $28.00 229 Froze-to-Death $32.00 249 Big Porcupine $34.50 267 Little Porcupine $36.50 275 Johnson's $37.00 290 Sand Creek $38.00 296 Bull Creek $38.50 305 Fort Keogh $42.00 335 (PHOTOGRAPH) This picture was taken on the Yellowstone River at Coulson in 1882. Five of the men have been identified, among whom was H.M. "Muggins" Taylor, at the lower left in shirt-sleeves, and his Badge as a deputy sheriff is visible. He was killed October 5, 1883 by a drunken bum. PAGE 9 ADDENDUM TO COUNTRYMAN STORY It is with some regret that I had to make this addition to the original copy of the Countryman story. This came about when the Spring issue of the magazine, published quarterly, by the Montana Historical Society, carried a story by Rex Myers (pages 18-31, inclusive) in which he claimed that Taylor and Countryman rode out of Columbus together in the morning of July 3, 1876; that Countryman stayed in Bozeman all that day and rode on to Helena, July 4 arriving in Helena after a Herald special issue had been published; that the basis of the reported message by "Muggins" Taylor came from "three crumpled pages of notes" that Colonel Gibbons had given to this scout for a report to Fort Ellis. This is completely foreign to most of my research, which began in 1962, and in self defense I have to submit this for the readers of the Columbus News, and those who obtain copies of the pamphlet which is available, concerning "Horace Countyman--Unsung Hero." I leave it in your hands to judge which summary carries the most logical facts. Sincerely--- Jim Annin Montana Editors and the Custer Battle. By Rex C. Myers, Spring 1976. Pages 18-31 inc. General Jolm Gibbon paused briefly on the bluffs overlooking the valley of the Little Big Horn late in the afternoon of June 28, 1876. As his men fashioned litters for the remnants of Major Marcua Reno's command and dug graves for the remains of Custer's, the General took out his personal notebook, penciled a note to inform his superiors and the world of what had transpired in the southern part of Montana Territory during the last three days. "We will start down the river today for the steamboat with the wounded of Custers Command ... the message began. "General Custer's command met with a terrible disaster here on the 25th. Custer, with five companies were so far as we can ascertain, completely annihilated except for two Crow scouts ... Roughly stated the loss of Custer's command is about one-half, say 250 men. Between 1800 and 2500 warriors, according to Gibbons estimate, had inflicted a resounding defeat upon the men of the Seventh Cavalry. Finished, General Gibbon tore the pages from his notebook, summoned a scout H. M. "Muggins" Taylor, and instructed him to carry them straight to Capt. D.W. Benham at Fort Ellis, near Bozeman. It was the nearest telegraph station and here Captain could send the necessary dispatches with all due haste. This somewhat in variance with the facts of the case as I have offered it, but the message from Bismarck was more complete and more famous, and it is easily understood why a writer of Mr. Edwards stature could have missed the unofficial story of Horace Countryman and his ride. [Photograph] Horace Countryman's ferry that netted as high as $200 per day PAGE 10 It is certain that in his glorifying of Montana he would have enjoyed including the facts as another star in this state's crown. This indicates that Gibbons could not have written the purported message which he claims to have given to Taylor on the 28th. In the hundreds of columns which I have studied during this research, I find no mention of the report as written by Gibbon. FACTS ESTABLISHED BY MY RESEARCH On June 28 the burial detail completed its task of interring the remains on the Custer Battlefield, but not until the following day did Colonel Gibbons find time to visit the scene of the fight --Robt. M. Utley "The Custer Battle in the Contemporary" N.D. History Vol =1 No. 1-5. In the fall edition of the Montana Western History, Page 59, appeared this condensed article anent the part Horace Countryman placed, in conveying the news release that spread to the news media of the nation. "Montanans learned the shocking news even before it reached nearby Dakota, and they were the first to relay it to the outside world. General Terry quickly dashed off a report and sent one of Colonel Gibbon's scouts, " Muggins" Taylor, to carry it to Fort Ellis for telegraphic dispatch to the east. When he reached the Stillwater River, Taylor met a Helena Herald reporter, W.H. Norton, and told him the news, Norton hurriedly wrote his report and persuaded a local rancher named Horace Countryman to take his account to Helena. Taylor arrived at Fort Ellis on July 3, turned over the dispatches to the commanding officer, and passed on the news to The Bozeman Times, which put out a frantic special edition that very night. Bozeman missed the chance of originating the hottest news story of 1876. However, when the local telegrapher held the dispatches for two days before mailing them to Chicago. Countryman reached Helena with the news just in time to dampen the festivities commemorating the Centennial of Independence. A.I. Fisk of the Herald immediately rushed out a special edition and wired an account of the battle to Salt Lake City, whence it passed to points east. These spotty Helena dispatches precede the more famous ones >from Bismarck, Dakota Territory, by a full day." By Michael P. Malone and Richard B. Roeder. (I took this as evidence that the actuality of the press releases had been established and proceeded accordingly.) As I have reported previously there have been many varied reports of how the news of the Custer Massacre was delivered to the news media. It is ironic that in the last few months at least two new writers have entered the busy field. In the May issue National Geographic Magazine (pages 614-657) is most interesting article by Mike W. Edwards titled "Should They Build A Fence Around Montana?" It is highly complimentary of The Treasure State in many details and expresses the feeling of many Montanans. There is one point in which the writer got erroneous information relating the Custer affair. His story in part reads: "---The Indians danced while news of the Custer affair inches back to the telegraph station at Bismarck, in Dakota Territory, to burst upon a Nation just celebrating the Centennial". In about the time it takes a white man to eat his dinner", as the Indian story has it, Custer and 225 troopers were wiped out." CARRYING THE MESSAGE Mont. History, Spring, Page 21 Carrying General Gibbon's notes which told the biggest news story of the year, "Muggins" Taylor left camp on June 28 and began a circuitous trip to Fort Ellis. On the evening of July 2 he arrived in the small PAGE 11 community of Stillwater, now Columbus. Too exhausted to continue, he rested that night in the store of Wm. H. Norton and Horace Countryman. Norton was a correspondent for the Helena Herald, a rival daily of the Helena Independent. As he read Gibbons words be realized he had a "scoop". He questioned Taylor about Custer's defeat, wrote a story for the Herald and dispatched his partner to hurry it to Montana's capitol city. Horace Countryman and "Muggins" Taylor left Stillwater July 3, arriving at Fort Ellis by midafternoon. FACT ESTABLISHED BY MY RESEARCH Why did it take Taylor a part of four days to complete his "circuitous" of 114 Miles? The established fact was that he left Terry's camp on the evening of June 27, with the sealed message. He was intercepted by Indians and made a safe hide-out overnight, and the next morning out rode the Indians to safety aboard the Far West, at the mouth of the Little Horn, where he worked with the short-handed crew taking care of the wounded and burying the dead until the steamer reached the mouth of the Big Horn the night of June 30. At dawn next morning he started his 129 mile ride to Columbus! It is immaterial that Stillwater was the stage-coach station three miles west of town, and the stock of the store consisted of supplies for the stagecoach passengers and crews. As Myers writes "Norton wrote a message and dispatched his partner, Countryman to hurry it to Montana's capitol city." Factually Taylor rode to Bozeman in daylight all the way, and The Bozeman Times published the first report of the baffle that evening. CONTINUING COUNTRYMAN'S RIDE Page 21 continued "Very early on the Fourth, Horace Countryman resumed his trip to Helena. To Norton's July 2 account he added a copy of the Times, Extra. When he arrived in Helena late that afternoon, he found Helena Herald co-editor amid the Centennial and delivered his cargo. Like Wilkinson, Fisk wasted no time putting out a special edition about 6:30 p.m. which also carried the Times article." (At all times Myers has maintained that the Taylor report was based on the Gibbon set of notes.) WHAT I FOUND IN THE RESEARCH After leaving word of Taylors message at Fort Ellis, Countryman proceeded to Bozeman, where he found the telegraph line to Chicago via Salt Lake was down and after a short rest and food he proceeded to Helena. He was half way through his journey when the Times Extra was printed, so could not possibly have had a copy. According to Fisk, who received Countryman's message, shortly after noon and who gathered the crew to print the release, had the paper on the streets about four o'clock. How was this possible if the carrier arrived "late that afternoon?" I am submitting these findings to refute what Mr. Myers had written. If all my work in planning a special recognition in the Centennial program devoted to "Horace Countryman-Unsung Hero," then the four days July 2-3-4-5 which will give the public a chance to celebrate with a showing of his family, the story of his life, pictures of his daughters and grandchildren and a social hour and justifiable record of his historic record, will have been all in vain. When a man rides without rest for two nights and one and one half days in completing what he thought was a patriotic duty, without ever a mention of his name attached to any message, then he must be repaid in some fashion. We admit that by heroic action, his part was far from the pain and peril suffered by "Muggins" Taylor, but at least the latter was in every article. END xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx