Captain Marsh's story of how he learned of the Custer tragedy is strange, and almost unreal. He related later that, as he waited on the river for word from the military commanders, a Crow Indian peered from the brush along the shore and signed that he wished to board the boat. On deck the Indian, unable to speak a word of English, squatted and began to make signs. He drew a group of dots, designated them with the Crow word for "white men." Then he showed a circle of dots around the white men, and for them spoke the word for "Sioux." And then, with a sweep of his hand, he wiped out the inner group of dots. In this simple, abrupt manner, Marsh related, the tragedy was first told to the world. The story of Custer's annihilation was put on the telegraph wires by Col. C. A. Lounsberry. James W. Foley, North Dakota poet laureate, has commented: "It was, for stark tragedy, horror and surprise, perhaps the greatest news story ever flashed over a telegraph wire to a stunned and stricken country, in the history of the United States." The Little Big Horn disaster was the beginning of the end of the era of Indian fighting in this region, and troops were withdrawn from Fort Abraham Lincoln in 1891, after which the buildings were carried off piecemeal by the settlers in the vicinity. A new infantry post, known as Fort Lincoln, was later established across the river (_see Tour 8_). Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is being developed for recreational and historical purposes by the Federal Government in cooperation with the State historical society. The grounds are being landscaped, foot trails laid out, and picnic shelters built. Under construction between the Indian village and the Fort Lincoln site is a museum which will house some archeological material being unearthed on the sites of the old earth lodges and historical material dealing with Fort McKeen and Fort Abraham Lincoln. ROOSEVELT REGIONAL STATE PARKS =Season:= Open year round. June to September most favorable period. =Tourist Information:= State Historical Society of North Dakota, Liberty Memorial Building, Bismarck, N. Dak. =Admission:= Free. =Transportation:= _North Park._ Entrances: E. entrance, US 85 (_see Tour 4_); N. entrance--less desirable--dirt road from Arnegard (_see Tour 4_). Branch of Great Northern Ry., Fairview, Mont., to Watford City; Carpenter Bus Line from Williston. Roads: 14 m. gravel and scoria highway; 10 m. horse or hike trail. No guide service. _South Park._ Entrances: E. entrance, W. entrance, US 10 (_see Tour 8_). Main line Northern Pacific Ry. and Northland Greyhound Bus Line to Medora (_see Tour 8_). Roads: 10 m. gravel and scoria highway; 10 m. graveled truck trail; 5 m. horse or hike trail. Guide service: Buddy Ranch, 1.5 m. E. of Medora on US 10. =Accommodations:=