The Choice at the Narrows

In 1876 Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was surrounded by American Indians at what became known as the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Things did not go well for Colonel Custer and his men of the 7th Calvary Regiment that day. They all lost their lives.

Sometime in the 1960s a New York Times reporter, Gay Talese, found himself surrounded by American Indians in a bar in Brooklyn, hard by where the Verrazano-Narrows suspension bridge was being built.

Mr. Talese is still with us today, and at the age of 82 recounts the story of how one of the Mohawk ironworkers wanted to show his friendliness toward Mr. Talese by offering him sex with his sister.  Mr. Talese gives nothing further way, other than to tell us that, "the perks of being a reporter are surprisingly presented to you when you least expect them."

General Custer in his zeal to eradicate American Indians died with his boots on, probably next to his dead horse.

Gay Talese, during his assignment to interview American Indian ironworkers building the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, may or may not have gotten lucky one night in the 60s, but nevertheless has certainly lived well and into his 80s, extremely well-dressed and ready to tell tales.

This of course is just one more example of how the pen is mightier than the sword.

The times, they are always a changin'.

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