Montana Medicine Show: Curly

Welcome to the Montana Medicine Show. I'm Derrick strong. Two days after the 1876 battle of the Little Big Horn a terrified 17 year old crow Scout named Curly approached general Alfred Terry's head quarters. He brought news of Custer's defeat the first to reach the outside world. Curly using sign language related the story of Custers doom command. He later admitted I did nothing wonderful. I was not in the fight in time however Curley began billing himself as the sole survivor of Custer's massacre. Historian Steven conifer wrote curly became a skilled raconteur continually embellishing his original story Curly's claims included crawling to safety as the battle raged hiding under a sou blanket hiding under a disembowelled horse. Even trying to persuade a gallant Custer to retreat the scout became a celebrity. Historians newspaper men Hollywood producers and tourists flock to hear his tales. The Billings Gazette called him probably the most photographed

Indian in America during the battle's tenth anniversary. Sue war chief Gaul confronted Curley publicly charging you were a coward and ran away before the battle began. Later Gaul demanded to see Curly's wings because nothing but a bird could have escaped after we surrounded the whites. Curley died in 1924 near Crow Agency Montana. Mystery still surrounds his exact role it Custers defeat. From cage realty studios. I'm Derek strong. Montana medicine show is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A private corporation funded by the American people.