The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1873-1875, 1874-09-16
But As a Geologist he Is Rath-
er Thin.
WHAT He DON'T KNOW ABOUT
GOLD IN TIE BLACK HILLS.
The Tribune Gives the Lie to His
Reports.
AND PROVES IT BY UNI1Q
PEACHABLE EVIDENCE.

Statement Of Practical Miners
Who Accompanied the
Expedition.
Prof. Winchell, who accompanied the
expedition, has published a report, in
which he speaks of the Black Hills. He
says they have a delightful climate,
pure waters, abundance of pine timber,
sufficient quantity Of arabic land to
sustain thick population; that gyp-
sum, marble, slate, ETC., may be found
in unlimited quantities, but on the gold
question he says: "The miners that
accompanied the expedition report the
finding Of gold and silver, though I saw
none Of the gold, nor did see any Of
the auriferous quartz. l have taken
the report with large grain Of al.
lowance." &s.a
This in his official report, but the
Minneapolis Tribune reports Winchell
as follows: ..l
Prof. Winehel said that he did not see any gold in
the Black Hills ner did any one bring any TO him for
examination. Some brought what they thought was
gold bearing quartz, but examination he found it
to be mica scales stained with iron rust Iron often
gets into mica and colors it, causing frequent mis-
takes in that way. He would not say but what there
was gold there and parties may have discovered
gola but he saw none, and therefore he was Of the
opinion that there was none there. He was led to
believe that the reports ofgod were groundess from
who talked up the expedition urging the government
to explore the Black Hill, would lead any one to
distrust their statements. These men were miners
and adventures who profess to be practical miners,
! ment. They we're stock jobbers who probably own
extinct claims now in different parts Of the country
and who wish oproft out Of this expedition. He
s iy Ssn sse @ sr ss the men %'Fx heg syhss sy
! have been practical miners but they were also
PRACTICAL sCHHMERs.
The reporters accompanying the expedition derived
all their information concerning the reported gold
discoveries from those men, and so did Gen. Custer
No one but these men pretended to have taken out
| any gold, or to have seen any anywhere It would
have been very easy for them with the view of rails
ing this EXCITEMENT to have taken with them quaint
ty Of gold dust and then washed it in their pans. He
would not say that they did so but that they might
have done So and indeed the possibilities for SO 90
ing were so great that he thought good reason for
| dstrusting their statement.
| IfProf. Winchell has made such re-
ports as the above be has written him
self an ass, and deserves the appellation
of Dogberry Of the first water. What
he says in his report is we'll enough.
Perhaps he did not see gold, but that
does not prove that it is not there; the
miners did not report to him, were not
expected to report to him. He went
there as geologist, the miners as
miners, and each took there own cours-
es The miners found the gold; the
Geologists did not. u
! Did q scientific man ever find gold
! mine through his science? There is not
4 single case on record. His science
,may be able to tell him where gold or
| iginates; il takes the experienced miner
to determine its resting place.
The Omaha Herald quotes from Hay
lden to show that many years ago he
reported on this country, proncuncing
| it gold bearing. A hundred other au-
ithorities have been quoted to prove
THAT gold exists there-and now all that
Winchell can say is that he did not see
any, and therefore, distrusts the re-
ports.
He is reported, however, as saying
! that he was led to believe the reports
eroundless from the character Of the
men who tslked up the expedition,
urging the Government to explore the
Hills.
Think Of such statement from .
| man who prides himselfon his learn'ng'
| He thinks there was no gold because
he did not see any, and distrusts the
reported discoveries because Of the
character Of the men who wanted the
| Black Hills explored. Throws sway