, 1874-08-23

beaEn. including tho grizzly species, Also maxi
their abode in the hills.
Tho expedition, as We hnve seen, entered ths
Black HILLS upon the northeast side: and PRO pr,
ceeding in direction 8 little east OF south. tht
| miners proupected all the country from the Betlt
Fonrcha Creek to Harncy's Peak, where ths
scout left them, but OF precious metals they dit
not got the color until they crossed the divide
very marked change in the geological appearance
| OF tho country was visible. Slate and quhrl2
are the unerring indces Of gold bearing lodes
aud here these latter we're abundant Stimulates
by the prospect, the miners opcrated on the beds
OF creeks, and found ine-snot gold within foe!
| Of the surface, in quantities ranging from to
/ 8 cents to the pam In the country around
| French Crock. whore Reynolds left tue Expeal-
| ton. the miners found shot gold in the dry
| creeks. and gold and silver bearing quartz in
! abundance everywhere.
From the pnint OF Reynolds departure, which
is on the headwatezb of French Creek, the ex-
pedltton returns in northcrly direction to Bear
Duttes; and it ls the opinion OF tue miners,
gold Inns gradually increased in quantity in this
direction, the richest digglngs are Jos to be
found.
Since the first knowledge the white man gained
Of the Indians and their hunts on the Upper
Missouri, tho Black Hills have been recognized
as the Indians sanctlied ground; but, until
Clusters expedition explored tho country, it re-
ulained matter of speculative mystery why
the Black Hills were assduoasly kept
sacred from tho foot Of the white
nau. The reason is now apparent The
abundance Of game OF all kinds, aud tue unsur-
passed stock ranges afforded BY tho well-watered
and heavlly-tin1bered valleys, afforded both pro-
lection and sustonance to the families OF the
Indians, while the heads OF tho latter were out
making raids on neiehboring tribes, or on their
regular visits to tile various agencies for Govern
ment anuuities; added to which the Indians
were aware that u knowledge Of tho rich mineral
deposits that lay undeveloped within its limits
would be ? powerful incentive to stimulate white
OCCUPANCY. Mr.. Reynolds says that all through
the Hills woro found fresh traces Of largo Indian
camps, but the Indians took the pEecaution to
move out of the route OF the Custer Invasion.
The vague notions that have beon entertained
about where the mineral belt of the Black Hills
il located must iu tho light OF information
gained by the explorations Of tho Custer e1pe.i-
tion, become reyoutionized. Many persons, sup
posed to be we'll posted Oh the Blaok-Hllls re-
gions. couteDdod that the northwestern range or
tier Of tho Black Hills Was whore tho mineral
wealth would be discovered. but the develop
n,cnts brought to light By the miners and e1-
plorers accompanying the expedition show that
the precious metals are found. ii not exclusive
ly, at least in the greatest abundance,
on the east side Of tbs Black. Hills
shot gold have bean discovered on every
stream aud rayiue that empties into the
Missouri that has been -prospectcd, fact that
will be fully appreciated, as it will givo to this
city aud tho routes rndiating from here de-
cihed preference with the army OF pioneers that
will in the near future lmmisrate to this latest
and apparently greatest El Dorado.
Gen. Custer expects to reach Fort A. Lincoln
on the 1st of September, where the expedition
will be disbanded. 1t is currently believed that
ere the expedition returns, site for fort in m
accessible and commanding positi N in the Black
Hills will be selected, With view of at once
it's erection and immediate occu-
pAucy.