Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-09-08
THE BLACK HILLS.
Return Of Clusters Expedition to Fort
Lincoln.

BISMARCK, ID. T., August 81, 1874.
Clusters expedition arrived at For
Lincoln last night, having, in fifty days,
marched about 300 miles, and = portion
OF the command $50 miles further
Three men lost by disease, N by &C
cident and fifteen horses and mules com
prise the losses. The general health oil
the command has been good. The pre-
vailing disease has been ~dyssntery.
The command marched southwsstsrly
from Bismarck to the hssdwsters Of the
Little Missouri, striking it in Montana,
and in a general direction Travelled south
into Wyoming. thence eastward into the
Black Hills, which are principally in
Dakota.
The gold discoveries were made in q
stream running in the vicinity OF Horn
less Peak, which is correctly located on
Mitchell's New Atlas OF the United
States" and about seven miles south OF
Il. in q region hereafter to be known As
Clusters Park.
TIE EXPLORATIONS % GOLD
were not very extensive. but were
enough 80 to satisfy all hat gold
abounds in unlimited quantities. One
case is reported where gold was found in
the grass roots to the extent Of five
cents to the pan. A shaft was sunk
eight feet, and the yield proving better
and estimated at twenty cents to the pan
at that depth. with every facility for
mining at hand, twenty persons accom-.
panying the expedition here staked
claims and posted notices, declaring
their intentions OF taking possession as
soon : psaceablc possession OF the
country can be obtained. Gold was dis
covered at various points, also plumba-
20, iron, lead and silver, galena and
gypsum in unlimited quantities. Tbs
country il as rich as any in the United
States. It seems to be as much q para
disc as an FL Dorado. The command
spent t~wenty-siI days in
EXPLORING THE MILLS.
and in doing this marched nearly 800
miles within their rocky walls and al
most impossible barriers. They re-
turned to Bear Butte, just outside the
hills, at their northeastern extremity,
August 18th. Here four Indians, sup
posed to be hostile, came into camp and
reported the story told by Horns, that
the whole Sioux nations on the head
waters OF the Missouri were determined
to intercept them. II 1t took halt their
braves. On the 18th Custer. with his
command. started over to see about ii
the better to locate the Little Missuri,
he says, in his official report; but he
really hoped to find the Indians. But
no natives were there; whereat Gus
tsr'smsn, at least, were greatly disgustsd.
They had, however. burned the prairiss
from the head waters OF tho Heart
through the whole country west and
northwest OF the hills, destroying the
grazing and making the return march a
tedious one.
THE RETURN
Was made by easy marches, except. the
last few days, when. grazing being again
good and the supply Of forage and ra.
tons short. the command was hurried
along, marching on the time to which
they were limited by their necessities.
The country west Of Bismarck, alongth
Valley Of the Heart, through which the
surveyed line Of the Northern Pacific
runs (the command following Stanlcy's
trail on the rsturn), is said to be an ex-
csedingly fine one. yielding an abund-
ancs OF wood. water and grazing. What
II roLIcY OF THE oovDnSMESr
Will be about persons going into the
Black Hills country remains to be seen.
II let alone parties will winter there,
and II will take many more troops than
are stationed In this department. to make
any interference successful. The explorer
who made the discoveries will lead a
party back, probably this Fall, starting
from Bismarck, whichis about $50 miles
in q direct line from Hornlsss Peak.