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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2,1950
'Last Stand' Survivor Popular Dyche Exhibit
The most popular exhibit at the University Museum of Natural History is Comanche, sole survivor of Custer's famous "Last Stand."
Dr. Rollin Baker, acting director of the Museum, said that each month several letters bring inquiries about the 31-year old horse which was brought to the Museum about 1893.
Visitors' first question usually is: "Where's Comanche?" Many are surprised when they find the horse no longer in its usual place on the first floor, but on the mezzanine floor.
Dr. Baker said that by placing Comanche on the second floor, the horse can be associated with the Indian displays. The horse received its name after Capt. Myles W. Keogh, was attacked by Comanche indians, while riding it.
Comanche joined the Seventh cavalry near Ellis, Kan., in 1860. In May, 1876, the horse was in the Seventh Cavalry division under Gen. George A. Custer, when the Cavalry left Ft. Abraham Lincoln, N.D., to round up large numbers of
Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in Montana near the Big Horn river.
Custer's band of 227 men was massacred by the indians in the battle of Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876. Two days later members of the second Cavalry found Manchese severely wounded and would have shot him had not the men of the Seventh Cavalry intervened.
Under the command of Gen. Hugh L. Scott of the Seventh Cavalry, Comanche was taken by boat to Ft. Abraham Lincoln where he was nursed back to health. The animal was so weak from his wounds, said Gen. Scott, that they had to support him in a canvas sling.
Comanche was the best animal in the regiment before the battle. That he was able to endure hardships is proved by his survival after receiving seven wounds at the battle of Little Big Horn. Steady and dependable under fire, the animal was also fast enough for Indian warfare. Comanche was yellowish bay in color with a black stripe down the back.
When Conanche was taken to Ft. Abraham Lincoln, military officials ordered that he was not to be ridden or put to work. At occasions of ceremony he was to be saddled, bridled, and draped in mourning. After recovering from his wounds he was brought to Ft. Riley, Kans., where he died on Nov. 7, 1891.
Lewis L. Dyche, then director of the K.U. museum, mounted Comanche with the understanding that he would be displayed at the Chicago exposition of 1893 with the Kansas exhibition. He was returned to the Museum and retained because the $400 fee for the taxidermy work was never paid by the Cavalry. Attempts have been made by Ft. Riley officials to have Comanche returned. A request has also been made by the National Park service to return the animal to the site of the battle of Little Big Horn.
UN Humorist Appointed, Worldwide Laughs On Way
New York—(U.P).The newly elected chairman of the United Nations commission on world humor has settled down to a problem almost as tough as a Russian vet.
Chairman Harry Hershfield had before him a letter from the president of the Japanese Joke society pleading for a few good travelling salesman stories to put a grin on Japanese faces.
"This is rough," Mr. Hershfield said. "They sent me a sample of what they're laughing at these days and it's pretty bad."
It goes like this: One man says to another "who was that sing song girl I seen you with last night?" Other fellow answers, "That was no singing song girl, that was my rick-shaw."
Mr. Hershfield was appointed to his new job as the U.N.'s court jester at a party held the night before the general assembly reconvened. He said top U.N. officials were worried over the implications of establishing an international belly laugh committee in such arduous times.
"Then an assistant delegate from Yugoslavia turned the tide by saying he thought it was time the U.N. produced a smile instead of an ulcer."
The chairman cited a gag by a Welsh member of the British delegation as a typical example of what he wants. It concerns three men discussing how they'd like to die. The youngest said he'd like to be shot out of a jet plane travelling through space, and explained, "although I'd die, I'd have seen more of the universe than any other man."
The middle aged man said he'd like to die in church, making amends for his sins. The old man sighed and said, "I'd like to be shot by a jealous husband—who had a right to be jealous."
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