Page 6
University Daily Kansan Thursday, Feb. 13, 1964
Horse's Problems Continue Even After Death
FAMOUS HORSE—Comanche, the only survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, stands in a display case on the second floor of the Museum of Natural History in Dyche Hall. The mounted horse has been the subject of controversy ever since it has been at KU. The U.S. Army and the State of Montana have both contested ownership of Comanche.
Author Lived as Negro
Governor George C. Wallace of Alabama should darken his skin to learn what it is like to live without civil rights, an author said in Topeka this week.
That pronouncement was made by a white man who did actually darken his skin and pass for a Negro in the South in 1959-60.
John Howard Griffin, author of "Black Like Me," best-selling study on Negro life, spoke to a group Tuesday night and told of his exposure to the white man's racism.
A KU GROUP had attempted to bring Griffin here, but his schedule was too crowded. "I don't have a day off until March," Griffin said.
Griffin said when his book first appeared in the south all copies of it were bought or confiscated by White Citizens Council. Since then, the book has been circulated "in paper sacks." Churches have also distributed the book.
Asked if he believed other social researchers should darken their skins to learn about Negro life, Griffin said, "I don't dare recommend such a hazardous thing."
In his talk, Griffin said the "Negro is imprisoned by his pigmentation," and so, is not permitted to be himself. He must act in accordance with an image whites have of him, the affable, rhythmic, carefree Negro who cares little for ethical conduct.
"It is as if the Negro were cut into the shape of a sausage and dropped into a sausage sack, and the tom tied." Griffin said.
WHEN THE NEGRO asserts his individuality by not conforming to the white's stereotype of him, he is branded as "uppity," or "a smart alce." Griffin said.
The only change Griffin made about his person besides darkening his skin was to shave his head. He did not change his name or personal papers before entering Negro society in the South.
Griffin is a tall well-proportioned man in his forties.
He lost his eyesight for ten years
Government Rules Record 'Unintelligible'
WASHINGTON — (UPI)— The government has given up trying to figure out what rock 'n' roll record "Louie Louie" is all about.
There were complaints that the platter, recorded on the Wane label by the Kingsmen, had off-color lyrics which could be detected when the 45 r.p.m. disc was played at 33-1/3.
The Federal Communications Commission, the Post Office Department and the Justice Department started an investigation, but finally gave up after listening at speeds ranging from 16 r.p.m. to 78 r.p.m.
"We found the record unintelligible at any speed we played it," an FCC spokesman said.
as the result of a bomb blast when Griffin was smuggling Jews out of Austria during the wave of pre-war Nazi race hysteria. Until his sight was partially restored by surgery, he had never seen his wife and children.
By Bob Jones
When officials at Dyche Museum of Natural History talk about "watering the horse" they don't mean they are tending a live animal.
Instead, they are making sure there is enough moisture in the glass cabinet which holds the mounted remains of Comanche, the only survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Now located on the second floor of the museum, the horse has seen exciting times, both before and after his death.
BORN ABOUT 1860, Comanche was once a member of a wild herd in the Dakotas. It is believed he was captured by the Dakota Indians and through traders found his way to Fort Riley, Kan.
In 1876, Keogh, then a captain, rode Comanche into the Battle of the Little Big Horn, commonly known as Custer's Last Stand.
He soon became one of the horses in the 7th Cavalry, and was purchased for a personal mount by Lt. Miles Keogh.
LATER, HE WAS shipped to Ft. Riley, where he died in 1891 of colic.
Comanche was found after the battle with arrows protruding from his body and several bullet wounds. But because he was the only living thing found on the battlefield, he was taken to Ft. Abraham Lincoln and nursed back to health.
There were several soldiers at the fort who had developed a liking for the old horse. They contacted L. L. Dyche at KU and asked him to mount the remains of the horse.
to mount the remains of the horse. Prof. Dyche agreed to do the mounting for $400, on the condition that he be allowed to exhibit Comanche at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.
When Comanche was returned
from the fair, the soldiers at Ft. Riley were unable to pay the $400. Prof. Dyche claimed the horse for KU.
THE ADVENTURES OF Comanche at KU are just as fascinating a story as his exploits with the 7th Cavalry. They began in 1926 after the horse had been on display in the museum for many years.
Brig. Gen, Malin Graig wrote an editorial in the Kansas City Star charging that the horse KU had on display was not Comanche.
He based his charge on the color of the horse, saying Comanche was a large, powerful grey.
A check of U.S. Army records, and interviews and letters from people who had seen Comanche proved that it was indeed Comanche (a red) who stood in Dyche Museum.
IN THE EARLY 1930's the museum was closed and, until its opening in 1941, Comanche occupied a place in a corner of Hoch Auditorium's basement.
In 1947, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright wrote the governor, the State Board of Regents and various generals in order to obtain Comanche for the U.S. government.
former Chancellor Deane W. Malott resisted Gen. Wainwright's actions. And Comanche remained in his glass case in the museum.
THE BIGGEST MOMENT in Comanche's activities at KU came in 1953 when the Lewistown, Mont., Kiwian Club tried to acquire him for a museum on the site of the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
The Lewistown Kiwians said the people at the university did not appreciate Comanche, and that he was being allowed to become dusty and moth-eaten.
They wrote a letter to then Kansas governor, Edward Arn, telling him they believed an injustice had been
done in allowing the remains of Comanche to leave Montana.
State officials agreed with Dr. Raymond Hall, curator of the museum when he said, "we're going to keep him. Possession is nine points of the law. As to Comanche being moth-eaten, that's ridiculous."
"THE HORSE HAS been treated with insecticide, and sealed in an air-tight case to protect him from dust."
But the Montanians were insistent. They tried to prove that Kansas had no claim to the horse. A group from the University of Montana even offered to steal him.
After the dust had cleared, Comanche was still in his same old "pasture" in the glass case in Dyche Museum.
Since then, only appearances in some motion pictures have disturbed the serenity of the old horse, the latest of these in 1958, when he was shown in a Walt Disney production, "Tonka."
We are taking applications for temporary
Overload Trainees Secretaries Stenos Typists Must be experienced to qualify
Milliken's SOS Call for appt. VI 3-5920
WILLIAM H. AVERY
MEMBER OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
TONIGHT
GOP CANDIDATE FOR
7:30 THURSDAY FEB.13th
GOVERNOR
JAYHAWK ROOM KANSAS UNION
EVERYONE INVITED
(EVEN DEMOCRATS)
YOUNG REPUBLICANS