The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1873-1875, 1874-08-19

The height of this mountain is 1,1O0
feet above it's base and 7,70o feet above
the sea, being $500 feet higher than
any other point of land in the United
States. The mountain covers about u
square miles.
A PARADISE.
Floral valley I believe is one of the
most beautiful spots on Gods green
earth. Beautiful flowers are on every
hand. from which cavalrymen gathered
bouquets while on their horses. Springs
from the mountain sides form beautiful
rills which ripple along over their peb-
bly, beds, the waters colorless, tasteless
and pure. ..
When the band plays, the music
dances on the mountain tops, dives into
the caves, rushes through the valleys
and is returned again by the charming
echoes, and the noise of rifle sounds
like that of a cannon. No wonder the
Indians regard this the home of the
Great Spirit. My pen fails me is des'
cribing the. flowers of this valley. Among
them may be found geraniums, asters,
the gorgeous lily, the modest daisy, the
retiring violet, the coarse gaudy sun
flower; and about fifty other varieties.
Game abounds on every hand. Elk an.
tiers are strewn over the prairies, as
are buffalo horns at Bismarck.
This is indeed beautiful land, very
paradise, and no wonder the untutorea
savage guards it with jealous care. The
soul would be dead indeed, which could
not appreciate the beauties Of this re.
gion.
CASTLE VALLEY.
The march continues, the scenery
changing from lovely to grand. High
precipices rise on either hand several
hundred feet; trout brooks spring from
the mountain sides. The command
feast on wild fruits of almost every kind.
There are thousands of acres of rasp-
berries, fine and luscious. The hills
are;pine clad, ,and magnificent, resembling
castles, from which the name was de-
rived. Through this valley Castle
Creek flows into French Greek, branch
the South Fork of the Cheyenne.
CUSTER PARK.
This beautiful valley in which we are
now encamped, exceeds in beauty, love-
liness and grandeur all others. Travel
ers tell me that nothing known COM
pares with it. The scenery in more
interesting, more varied and more
charming than that of the Yosemite, Of
the Yellowstone or Central Park. The
Park is about fifteen miles long by three
wide. I'll not attempt description but
leave that for abler pens.
NOT ALL GOLD THAT GLlTTERs.
The micaceous rocks in the hill sides,
as we approach this park, glisten in the
sun, and the mountains sometime look
as ifset with silver gems, and in some
instances the sky and landscapes are
reflected as in mirrors, but all is not
gold that giitters.
FOUND AT LAST.
In this valley gold was at last found,
and though bedrock has not been
reached, the most skeptical must be
convinced that it is here.
Messrs. Ross and Mckay are confident
there are rich diggings in this region
as were ever discovered, but those who
come out expecting to fill their saddle
bags, haversacks, pockets, &C., with the
precious metal. are disappointed, for
the largest chunks are not on the sur
face. The explorers have secured in
some instances as high as fifty cents from
one pan. While the researches have
not been extensive, enough is known to
warrant the statement that the placer
and quartz mines are rich beyond COM
parison, while there is every facility for
mining. The country tho is sheltered
and operations can be carried on until
late in the fall, and early in the spring.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS.
On the 3Otb. 1t. Chances horse fell